TRUE TOLERANCE:

The moral decay of Australia (Peter Costello, June 1, 2004, The Age)

Our society was founded by British colonists. And the single most decisive feature that determined the way it developed was the Judeo-Christian-Western tradition. As a society, we are who we are because of that heritage.

I am not sure this is well understood in Australia today. It may be that a majority of Australians no longer believes the orthodox Christian faith. But whether they believe it or not, the society they share is one founded on that faith and one that draws on the Judeo-Christian tradition.

The foundation of that tradition is, of course, the Ten Commandments. How many Australians today could recite them? Perhaps very few. But they are the foundation of our law and our society, whether we know them or not.

And so we have the rule of law, respect for life, private property rights, respect of others - values that spring from the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Tolerance under the law is a great part of this tradition. Tolerance does not mean that all views are the same. It does not mean that differing views are equally right. What it means is that where there are differences, no matter how strongly held, different people will respect the right of others to hold them.

I mention this because The Age reported (May 10, 2004) that my appearance at this service has been criticised by the Islamic Council of Victoria. According to the president of that council, by speaking here I could be giving legitimacy to parties that the Islamic Council is suing under Victoria's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001.

It is not my intention to influence those proceedings. But nor will I be deterred from attending a service of Christian thanksgiving. Since the issue has been raised I will state my view. I do not think we should resolve differences about religious views in our community with lawsuits between the different religions.

Respecting someone's right to believe something you know to be wrong and even telling them they're wrong is perfectly consistent with tolerance.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 5, 2004 7:23 AM