What comes after same-sex marriage?
What comes after same-sex marriage? You only have to look to the countries that have already redefined the institution to get an idea. Here are twelve examples. Example #1: John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, has argued that the fight for “equality” is not over until churches abandon their faith. “We don’t want to behave like it’s all over [now that SSM is legal]… I still feel we’ll only have proper equal marriage when you can bloody well get married in a church if you want to do so, without having to fight for the equality that should…
When does life begin? Professor of cell biology, anatomy, and human embryology gives the final answer
C. Ward Kischer, Ph. D. is an emeritus professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy, specialty in Human Embryology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona. He is Chairman of the American Bioethics Advisory Commission. Virtually every human embryologist and every major textbook of Human Embryology states that fertilization marks the beginning of the life of the new individual human being. The reason why this is true is the following: From the moment when the sperm makes contact with the oocyte, under conditions we have come to understand and describe as normal, all subsequent development to birth of a living…
The Victorian Government do not own your children, but they think they do
The School Policy and Advisory Guide is said to provide Victorian government schools with “quick and easy access to government and operational policies and advice.” Under the title Student Health there is a sub category called Specific Condition Support. This section is designed to “support students with a range of medical conditions; provide support for student pregnancy and parenting; and manage medical incidents including response to and treatment of: anaphylaxis and asthma.” A list is then provided of various policies within this section. These policies relate to conditions such as, allergies, diabetes, epilepsy and… gender identity. The Gender Identity policy…
The Meaning of “Day” in Genesis: Figurative or Literal?
How do we understand the story of creation told in Genesis 1:1-2:3? Interpreters have basically fallen into one of two camps. Either the six days of creation represent six literal 24 hour days, or each “day” refers only to an age, an epoch, an unspecified period of time. So, which interpretation should we prefer? When it comes to interpreting the Bible, the best place to look is the Bible. And likewise, when it comes to understanding a particular author, the best place to look is that same author. So, what did Moses mean by the mention of “day” in Genesis…
Campbell Markham Speaks on Freedom of Religion
Campbell Markham speaks on Freedom of Religon at the More Than Marriage event held on Saturday 23 September 2017. “There are many people, perhaps in this room, who lament that the debate over marriage is not an even fight. Because those who want to redefine marriage – they’ve got the opinion polls on their side, they’ve got Facebook and Apple and Airbnb on their side. They’ve got the Prime Minister and the opposition leader on their side. They’ve got Fairfax and the ABC and SBS on their side. They’ve got Quantas and the AFL and the Wallabies on their side,…
Dr Pansy Lai speaks on Safe Schools
Dr Pansy Lai speaking on Safe Schools at the More Than Marriage event held on Saturday 23 September 2017.
Teaching An Angry Prophet (Jonah 4:1-11)
God has been gracious to Nineveh and to Jonah – sending Jonah to the pagan city, chasing the disobedient prophet across the Mediterranean, preserving him in the great fish, and finally using him to reach the Ninevites. In many ways we could expect the book to finish at the end of chapter 3 – the king of Nineveh is walking about in sackcloth, and the people have turned from their wicked ways. Maybe a little prayer of thanksgiving would have been a nice way to finish the book. Instead we get one major temper tantrum from one cantankerous minor prophet.…
Nineveh Repents (Jonah 3:1-10)
God has chased Jonah across the Mediterranean Sea, and finally brought him to the point where, in the belly of the great fish, Jonah repented, looked to the sacrifices of the temple, and declared that he would obey God. God is now ready to use Jonah again, so Jonah is spat out onto the beach – all rather undignified but effective (2:10)! God’s grace in recommissioning Jonah The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time (3:1-2). Some have tried to see a slightly different message here but it seems essentially the same as the original message. There…
Coming to One’s Senses (Jonah 2)
Jonah rebelled against God’s clear command to go to Nineveh, and instead took off to Tarshish in a ship. But you cannot hide from God, and God sends a great storm which eventually leads to Jonah’s being tossed overboard, and spending three days in the belly of a great fish or whale. This has caused a lot of controversy. Many whales cannot swallow an orange, let alone a man, although sperm whales are the exception. One hears all sorts of stories – C. F. Keil tells of a whole horse (dead, admittedly) being found in a shark, and also of…
Trying to Flee from God (Jonah 1:4-17)
Jonah had been given the onerous task of going to Nineveh to preach against its sins. Instead, he had taken off in the opposite direction, not because he was a coward but because he feared that God would forgive the Ninevites. He wanted God to do to Nineveh what He had done to Sodom and Gomorrah. Before God dealt with Nineveh, He had to deal with His backsliding servant, Jonah. Because God loves His people, He chastens them (Heb.12:5-6). God closes in on Jonah. God chastens the backslider The Lord sent a great storm which threatened the ship. So afraid…
The Prophet Commissioned (Jonah 1:1-3)
Everybody knows the story of Jonah – how he tried to run away from God, but was swallowed by a great fish, and then went on to preach at Nineveh. But there are actually two main stories going on – how God deals with Jonah and how God deals with Nineveh. So we will be looking at both subjects in our study. Martin Luther commented about the prophet Jonah: ‘a queer and odd saint who is angry because of God’s mercy for sinners … And yet he is God’s dear child.’ Jonah is all about history We have to say…
Transgender youth and the risk of suicide
The Telethon Kids Institute recently released a study which found transgender youth are at an alarmingly high risk of suicide and serious depression. The Trans Pathways survey, which examined the mental health of young transgenders revealed the following: Almost 80% of trans people aged 14-25 years had self-harmed, compared to almost 11% in the general population. 48% attempted suicide, compared to 2.4% of the general population. Trans youth suffer symptoms of depression almost 10 times the rate of the Australian average for young people. They have anxiety disorders 10-13 times the rate of the average Australian young person.
In what sense is Safe Schools compulsory?
In what sense is Safe Schools compulsory? The Safe Schools program was designed for a “whole-school approach.” That means, when properly implemented, it ought to reach every aspect of the school and wider community. In fact, the Safe Schools Guide encourages all schools to adopt this broader approach. While the Safe Schools program may not be compulsory for all schools, the “whole-school approach” essentially makes it compulsory for all students once a school decides to participate. [poll id=”2″] The Safe Schools Guide suggests that teachers integrate LGBTQ issues into school assemblies, social media, by displaying posters and stickers celebrating homosexuality,…
Two mothers can’t replace a father. Two fathers can’t replace a mother.
Are mothers and fathers replaceable, or do they both play a unique role in the lives of their children? Can two fathers replace a mother? Can two mothers replace a father? Consider the following statistics which demonstrate the tragic outcome of fatherless homes: 90% of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of the Census 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes. Source: Criminal Justice & Behaviour, Vol 14, pp. 403-26, 1978 71% of pregnant teenagers lack a father. Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human…
Redefining marriage for 0.2% of the population
In Australia, marriage is currently defined as “the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.” Proponents of Same-Sex Marriage want this definition changed, so that marriage will no longer be exclusively limited to “the union of a man and a woman.” The redefining of marriage will allow for couples of the same gender to marry each other. Given the attention this subject has been granted of late, you’d be forgiven for thinking that same-sex couples made up a large percentage of the population. But in reality, that’s just not…
Love is love: Nobody believes that
If “love is love” is a sufficient enough reason to redefine marriage for same-sex couples, then it’s also a sufficient enough reason to redefine marriage for throuples. If “love” is the qualifier, and if we dare not impose our definition of love on others, then how can we prevent anyone from calling anything “marriage” and demanding equal recognition? Should we allow siblings to marry, provided they love each other? After all, love is love. What about the man from South Korea who married a pillow? Should we recognise this as a true marriage, or do we deny him that “human…
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