Letters to the editor for March

AMS Staff | 27 February 2007

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Greens not so black and white

I am writing to express my concern over the report, “Fred goes Green for NSW’s Future” (SC, Feb).

My problem lies in the fact that many of the Rev Fred Nile’s statements against the NSW Greens were not documented or sourced.

As a Christian I take some things on that list very seriously indeed. But where is the evidence for these claims?

The reporter should have asked Mr Nile for sources. For example, is banning scripture teaching in public schools a codified, definite policy already drawn up or is it just a potential outcome of an education policy? Will Christian schools specifically have to employ a gay teacher if they apply, or is that just a potential outcome of some vaguer wording in a bill? Are these claims true, or just sound-bytes designed to grab the Christian vote? Readers cannot know without sifting through hours and hours of online policy documents.

I strongly suggest that the Southern Cross ‘Google’ “Why Christians should vote Green” and see if they can interview the author Jim Reiher. As a Christian in the Greens party, he should at least be given the right of reply to many of Mr Nile’s claims.

Dave Lankshear
email supplied

Thanks so much for the excellent article ‘Fred goes green for NSW’s Future’ (SC, Feb) about the Rev Fred Nile and the Christian Democratic Party’s attempts to answer some of the environmental concerns that are often the exclusive domain of the Greens.

It was a wake-up call to those of us who are inclined to see the Greens as a party without an agenda other than a ‘green’ one. In reality their social agenda is at odds with Christian thought and practice at several points including euthanasia, human sexuality and the place of Scripture in schools.

Like many of us, I am convinced the responsible care and nurture of our environment is not optional for Christians.

Fred Nile is to be congratulated for seeking to reflect this in the policies of the CDP and giving voters an alternative ‘green’ choice in the Senate vote at the coming State election.

Claire Smith
Chatswood, NSW

Missing men a class problem

Your feature last month on ‘Why Don’t Men go to Church’ raises a very good question, but unfortunately not many good answers.

Many women too find church leadership weak, and think church services are boring and lack risk.

In contrast there are lots and lots of men who sing in choirs, or who are the carers of their children, or who want to express their feelings. Some men even like safety! Why else do some men buy Volvos?

The example of the ‘Backyard Angels’ sounds great. They’re meeting a community need and giving certain men an outlet for their gifts. But it’s not for all men. In our family, I’m the one who owns the tools and fixes the toilets and drills the holes.

The issues you raised are really about class, not gender. The so-called ‘male issue’ is really a class problem. The much maligned ‘café latte’ set is not just made up of women. After all there are male coffee drinkers out there too!

So how can we really answer this question of why men don’t go to church? Southern Cross is right to remind us that this has been an issue for at least a hundred years.

Indeed, Nancy Pearcey in her book Total Truth gives the best explanation I’ve heard. She argues that since the industrial revolution, Western life has been split into two spheres: public and private. Some things belong to the public sphere: business, science and facts, for example. Other things belong to the private sphere: for example, emotions, morality and religion.
Unfortunately, genders have been separated in this split. Men belong in the public sphere, and women belong in the private sphere and it’s hard to cross the divide.

The problem of why men don’t go to church requires far bigger solutions than just making cosmetic changes to the services or the style of leadership. It’s a cultural problem which can only change if religion and belief are taken back into the public sphere, or if men become part of the private sphere, or both.

On a final note: I’m mildly alarmed by the idea of Jesus being the ultimate male. Yes, he showed these wonderful qualities: authority in teaching, resoluteness, bravery, wit and compassion. But if these are seen as only male qualities, where does that leave me as a woman?

Cecily Paterson
Mittagong, NSW

Missions no laughing matter

I was appalled at the Cartoon Spot in the February edition entitled ‘Short-Term Mission Trip’, portraying a view that people sacrificing their time and money on mission are merely using that as a front to buy cheap overseas merchandise and visit exotic locations. Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of ALL nations”. Now I know that ‘all nations’ could include a Sydney suburb but it’s probably more likely that the average Joe from Sydney will have more exposure to the gospel already than, say, a destitute orphan in the slums of Nairobi. Please, keep your cynicism to yourself and don’t make such a generalised and negative portrayal of missions in a media piece that is distributed around Christian communities all over Australia.

Tim Fitzmaurice
Pennant Hills, NSW

Love can re-light Europe

The December copy of Southern Cross had an article on the possible death of Christianity in Europe. In some quarters this has been attributed to the two Great Wars when people felt deserted by God. However, others have attributed it in part to the non-Christian behaviour of many professed Christians. In Germany, many in the Church stood by and did nothing to condemn Hitler’s actions. There was a neglect of the second great commandment, ‘to love your neighbour as yourself’.

This commandment has been a light to Christ for many and when it is extinguished people turn away from the Church. In the present time we need to make certain that we keep that commandment and do not use the Bible to justify demonising groups because of our own hang-ups.

Pamela Shaw
email supplied

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