Nick Xenophon’s attack on the tax free status Church of Scientology last night was laudable, and long overdue, but did not go nearly far enough, writes Jane Shaw.
Life / Society / Religion
Xenophon: Scientology is a criminal
organisation
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon hit out against the Church of Scientology in a speech to Parliament yesterday, accusing the organisation of widespread abuse and criminal conduct. Read his full speech here.
Gay marriage: an issue of both the legal and the spiritual
If there is a God, surely she wouldn’t have intended for Australia to let gay and lesbian people and their families to feel so ostracised from the church, writes Steve Dow.
Rev. Sun Myung Moon and the crisis at the Washington Times
Everything is breaking down at US paper the Washington Times: top execs have been fired, one has disappeared, armed guards are patrolling the offices — and it’s all thanks to cultists the Moonies.
Why question defence force loyalty because of religion?
Our troops have a job to do. We should allow them to do it and not waste their or our own time with moronic speculations based on isolated incidents.
Video of the Day: Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry vs. The Catholics
Is the Catholic church a force for good in the world? On the affirmative, Archbishop John Onaiyekan and British MP Ann Widdencombe. On the negative, Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry. Let’s get it on!
Hockey: Why I’m a Christian even though I don’t agree with other Christians
MP Joe Hockey gives a damning view of literal interpretations of the Bible in Christianity in last night’s speech to the Sydney Institute. We need to embrace the diversity of religions and not commit acts of war because of it, he says.
QUIZ: Are you a true Jew?
Gawker put together a silly quiz to test how ‘jewy’ you are, with bagels, Larry David and blintzes. But there’s a serious side, with children of converted progressive Jews being discriminated against like Harry Potter Mudbloods.
The great atheist debate
Is there an atheist schism? Ophelia Benson explores the different disagreements amongst atheists, from those who just want to not believe and shut up and those who wish to preach the atheist movement. Is there an ironic war brewing?
Mohammad: The Movie
A $150m English-language film about the Prophet Mohammad is going to begin shooting soon in Qatar. Just one problem: Islam strictly forbids visual depictions of him. So how do you make a biopic about a guy you can’t show?
A history of Scientology’s legal battles
In light of today’s fraud conviction against the Church of Scientology in France, CSM looks back at the organisation’s long and abiding relationship with courts all over the globe.
Give us a break, the fake sheik’s not worth the effort
You’ve heard of tabloid media going after thick sheiks. Now some are even using fake sheiks. And even our PM is being questioned on whether their citizenship should be stripped.
John Safran’s Race Relations pulls it off. Just.
Former ABC religion reporter Peter Kirkwood reviews John Safran’s controversial new show, Race Relations: Safran may be the ” “holy fool” of secular culture, but he gets away with it.
Rudd the naughty choirboy
Kevin Rudd’s religious beliefs are well known, from his weekly church door-stops to his writings in The Monthly. So, how well is his Christian faith sitting with his current hard-line asylum seeker stance? asks Chris Uhlmann.
PHOTO GALLERY: Whoever said Canberra was boring? The mass exorcism of Parliament House
Last weekend, a mass political “prayer offensive” at Mt Ainslie against alleged satanic rituals included Christian singalongs, speaking in tongues and some Atheist, gay and Pagan gatecrashers. A rollicking good time was had by all.
Dick Gross: Why I love the hijab
My godless heart leaps with joy when I see brave, veiled Muslim women walking in Australian streets, says Dick Gross. But what’s an atheistic, pro-feminist Jew doing praising the Islamic veil?
Why Islam needs a sexual revolution
German-Turkish writer Seyran Ates reckons what Islam needs is a good sexual revolution: young Muslims are too sexually repressed, and parents consider their daughters’ in-tact hymens as “capital”.
How the evangelicals converted Rob Hulls
Victoria’s Attorney-General Rob Hulls has decided that religious groups should remain exempt from many of the state’s anti-discrimination laws. Is Hulls pandering to the Christian Right? asks Luke Williams.
VIDEO: Bill O’Reilly vs. Richard Dawkins
Hoo boy, you just know you’re in for an epic shit-fight: a smack-down between conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly and militant Atheist Richard Dawkins. Naturally, the f-word gets an airing: fascism, that is.
graph pr0n 
A quarter of the world is Muslim
Almost a quarter of the world’s population is Muslim, according to a new study. Livemint maps the world’s Muslim population, and the results may surprise some people: the majority of Islamic practitioners live in Asia, not the Middle East.
Guantánamo guard: “Why I converted to Islam”
Six months into his work in the US military as a guard at the notorious Gitmo, Terry Holdbrooks converted to Islam with the help and mentoring of the prisoners. What made him do it?
Muslims moan: Why Keysar Trad? Why?
Kayser Trad is the typical Muslim extremist that is dragged out to flog controversial ideas. But why aren’t the voices of socially conservative Muslims who don’t engage in hate speech being heard? asks Shakira Hussein.
Reports of Ahmedinejad’s Judaism are greatly exaggerated
The weekend’s much-hyped reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has Jewish roots are incorrect, says Meir Javedanfar, who says his bloodline may in fact flow back to the Prophet Muhammad.
The ABC: now Godless
ABC GM Mark Scott has failed to make good on his promise to give more mainstream coverage to religious issues since axing Radio National’s The Religion Report, says Paul Collins. An analysis of last week alone shows the broadcaster missed at least five big stories.
Guy Rundle: Hitchens not such a lovely little thinker
Guy Rundle recounts Christopher Hitchens’ talk at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, where the crowd had their highly specific appetites and prejudices flattered, and loved every second of it.
