Articles

A Christian Republic for New Zealand?

There has long been speculation that with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and her replacement by King Charles III, New Zealand may give more consideration to becoming a republic. However, if that becomes possible, it is likely that New Zealand will simply exchange its current status from a Christian constitutional monarchy to a Christian republic.
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A Proposal for a Worldview Education Course in Schools

Zelda Bailey argues that "Presently in Australia teachers are labouring under a bewildering array of different approaches to worldview education across the States and Territories, especially regarding the place of Religious Instruction/Religious Education and the role of Chaplains in schools. It also does little to inform and prepare students for the diverse worldviews that exist across the world, many of which play dominant roles in contentious global issues... deeper reflection and improved self-knowledge would heighten sensitivity to the situation of others and lead to positive feelings and an appreciation of our common humanity." She offers a plan to achieve these ends.
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The Revolution that Needs to Happen: a Political Take on Humanism

Even when the pioneering world-shattering Universal Declaration of Human Rights was being drawn up, the evidence was there. States involved in drafting it were often more interested in preserving their historical customs, religions, power, prejudice and convenience, at the expense of ensuring truly genuine, equal enjoyment by all citizens of the rights that they were advocating. We are part of a political revolution: one that is failing badly throughout the world. To bring about a humanist/human rights revolution much needs to be done.
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Children are Entitled to a Secular Education

Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) identifies the right of every child to an education, and that right to an education be directed toward “the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
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What does ‘freedom of religion’ really mean?

“Dishonesty should not be rewarded, yet a religious minority is flooding the Ruddock Review claiming their ‘freedom’ is denied,” says NSL ambassador and science communicator, Professor Paul Willis. Prof. Willis said it was “disingenuous at best” for church organisations to saturate this Religious Freedom Review with submissions based on fear, distortions, and claims not backed by evidence.
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Framing New Zealand’s funding of religious schools

In 1975 the New Zealand government, flying in the face of constitutional separation of church and state, legislated to integrate religious schools into the government school system. Substantial funding of these schools soon followed. Max Wallace analyses this history finding the likely reason for the funding was more to do with politics than 'justice' for students in religious schools.
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We hold that Australia is currently a ‘soft theocracy’, with the state favouring religious institutions via financial and legislative privileges.

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