A brief study of ancient and modern history will demonstrate that since the beginning of recorded history, the privileges of:
the value of the individual and
the freedoms we currently enjoy
were not the normal human experience. The freedoms that developed in the Western world have taken a long time to develop. Currently many of these freedoms are under threat.
The Source of Freedom
Genesis 1:26-27 states that people, both male and female are made in the image of God. This fact is the foundation of the ideas of (i) the dignity of the individual and of (ii) the freedoms which we currently enjoy in Australia. These freedoms are the bedrock of our society. They include freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and the rule of law.
Threat to Freedom of Religion
At this point in time, the free exercise of religion is under threat in Australia. The recent recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission that threaten the ability of faith-based educational institutions to employ staff of the same faith demonstrate not only a threat to Christian schools but also to religious freedom in Australia. (See the accompanying article that Terry has written on this topic). See Below
Current Protections
The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is protected under international law in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Also, Section 116 of the Australian Constitution gives some protection to the freedom of religion. Similarly, there are some protective exemptions in the Commonwealth’s Sex Discrimination Act (1984), however many in the current Federal Government in Canberra are seeking to remove these protections. Ultimately, protection of religious freedom usually falls to state and territory anti-discrimination laws, which vary significantly.
An Answer
One prominent legal opinion is that Australia needs an overarching Federal law, which acknowledges and protects the freedom of religion. Such a Federal law would override any anti-religious state or territory law, which may be designed to reduce or remove religious freedom.
What Can We Do?
If you are concerned about being free to not only worship but to also live according to the teachings of God and His Word and if you want faith-based institutions to be free to operate according to their values, it is important to act on your concerns. Things that you can do, include:
Pray for the protection of freedom of religion in Australia
Read, learn, and talk about the issues especially with your high school students.
See the Australian Christian Lobby’s https://www.acl.org.au/religious-freedom/ page
Sign the petition re. Protecting Christian Education https://www.acl.org.au/campaigns/cm-alrc-2304/
Contact your federal member and your state’s federal senators about your concerns.
Doing one or any of these 5 activities would be a good learning experience for high schoolers. Doing these and having discussions about the issues, clearly align with the Australian Curriculum’s Humanities and Social Sciences [HASS] Achievement Standard called “Civics and Citizenship”
Whilst all Australians enjoy the freedoms mentioned in this article, not many are aware of them or can explain them, as we can often take them for granted. This ignorance of the freedoms we live in can be described as a case of “Fish don’t know that they are wet.”
We need to be aware of our freedoms and of the attacks upon them. We also need to act so as to preserve these freedoms in particular, the freedom of religion, for future generations.
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