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The Secular Party of Australia Freedom from Religion |
The Separation of Church and State
We stand for:
- Teaching secular values in education
- Phasing out of government funding for religious schools
- Removing religious references from statutory oaths and pledges
- Abolishing parliamentary prayers
- Ending state support for religious institutions and personnel
- Removal of tax advantages for religious institutions
We stand against:
- Religious indoctrination of minors
- The wearing of religious attire in schools
- Government support or endorsement of any religion
The separation of "church and state" is the essence of secularism. In view of Section 116 of Australia's constitution, ("The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance ..."), it is commonly believed that Australia is already a "secular state". This is a gross misconception. In 1981, the High Court determined that there is in fact no constitutional separation of church and state in Australia. Partly as a result, rather than a secular state, Australia now more closely resembles a pluralistic theocracy, where numerous religions have been "established".
Despite this however there is nothing in the constitution that necessitates the legislative establishment of multiple religions, or that prevents the creation of a truly secular state. This is what the Secular Party proposes to achieve.
The trend of recent decades towards the effective state endorsement of multiple religions, if not reversed, will have dire consequences for the future harmony of Australian society. Despite all pretences towards tolerance, religions necessarily engender a false sense of moral superiority. This is inherently divisive and is becoming increasingly problematic, in Australia and globally.
The intrusion of particular religious opinions into public life, in such a way that the rights and privileges of all citizens may be affected, is unwarranted. This generally arises due to unjustified presumptions of religious superiority, resulting in imposition of inappropriate and archaic value systems. The Secular Party asserts the superiority of universal value systems independent of any religion, and asserts the right of all citizens, anywhere, to be free from laws based on unfounded and mythological religious doctrines.
The Secular Party believes that it is imperative that Australia leads the way in establishing a society free of sectarian strife arising from ancient beliefs, especially those for which there is no evidence or which contradict known facts. It is urgently necessary for Australia, and for the world, to assume a globalist ethic based on universal moral principles. Without this, freedom and democracy may prove increasingly difficult to maintain.
"In every country and in every age the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot." Thomas Jefferson
Authorised by John Goldbaum, Secular Party of Australia,
7 Rockwall Crescent, Potts Point NSW 2011
Links
- International Humanist and Ethical Union IHEU
- National Secular Society (UK) NSS
- Council for Secular Humanism CSH .
Australian Humanist Societies
- The Council of Australian Humanist Societies (CAHS).
- in Queensland (Brisbane).
- in NSW Inc. (Sydney).
- in Victoria Inc. (Melbourne).
- in South Australia Inc. (Adelaide).
- in Western Australia (Perth).
Other groups
Overseas groups
Books
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