A detail from William Blake’s God answers Job (c. 1804). The Gods of Moses in the Old Testament, Jesus in the New Testament and Muhammad in the Quran have a similarly complex and ambivalent character.
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The founder of Islam, Muhammad, saw himself as the last in a line of prophets that reached back through Jesus to Moses, Abraham and Noah. But while the three religions worship the same God, he divides as much as he unites.
India’s multifaith society is a perfect example of how various beliefs are integrated into work ethics.
Ben Dalton/Flickr
What is the impact of religiosity and spirituality on ethical decision-making at work? India has a rich experience of such behaviours.
If marriage is to be redefined, substantial protections should be provided for conscientious objectors.
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Conscience protections for those opposed to same-sex marriage should not be seen as excusing bigotry. Rather, it is a legitimate means of best promoting everyone’s welfare.
« La danseuse de cordes s'accompagne avec ses ombres », by Man Ray (1916).
Haka004/Flickr
A biologist and a philosopher discuss the illusion of being oneself and religion.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, a self-styled Indian guru, was convicted and sentenced for the rape of two of his female followers.
EPA
The Dera Sacha Sauda episode has several important questions, mostly related to the crisis of spirituality and modernity in India today.
Increasing numbers of Australians agree with the notion of same-sex couples having the same rights as different-sex couples.
AAP/James Ross
HILDA data reveal an overwhelming tide of support toward the rights of same-sex couples within Australian society.
Marriage is not an automatic right for anyone.
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We need to get beyond hyperbole and half-truths from those both for and against marriage equality, and go back to basics.
Barack Obama on a 2013 visit to South Africa.
Kim Ludbrook/EPA
Barack Obama may have chosen Mandela’s words for his tweet precisely because they offered some distance from the political space in the US.
Faith is accommodated In Australia, but there is piecemeal protection for religious freedom.
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Religious freedom in Australia can be a source of division with examples of respect for and of government interference with that freedom.
Community leaders will play a very important role in whipping votes for or against in the same-sex marriage plebiscite.
AAP/Alan Porritt
Social conservatism among many ethnic communities will be a key factor in deciding the result of the upcoming same-sex marriage survey.
Formally organised forms of religion are only one part of the picture of Australian society.
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The relationship of Australians to religion is changing, as people find other ways to connect with their personal beliefs.
It is inconsistent with Australia’s religious diversity for federal parliament to have official prayers based on one particular religious denomination.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Australia’s federal MPs are apparently servants of the Christian God, working for His glory.
Christianity’s effect on Australian politics is far from waning.
Jonathan James
In a nation labelled secular, many of our elected representatives have strong religious ties, and this affects they way they the country is run.
What’s the role of faith in service?
European Commission DG ECHO
Religious values, deeply rooted in texts, serve as an important motivator for giving. Religious Americans volunteer more, give more, and give more often.
Former US Vice President and Chair of the Climate Reality Project Al Gore and Victoria’s climate and energy minister Lily D'Ambrosio (right) ride on a tram after speaking at the climate conference in Melbourne.
AAP/Tracey Nearmy
Taking inspiration from the spread of world religions, Quentin Atkinson and Shaun Hendy argue scientists need to do more to signal commitment to ideas they want to spread.
Debates over whether priests should break the confessional seal if they hear reports of abuse in confession are largely symbolic.
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Reporting child sexual abuse to police, and any subsequent investigation or trial, is a time of profound instability for victims and their families.
The debate about Africa’s middle class has largely ignored earlier analyses on African elites.
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We should be wary of simplified and sweeping explanations about the scope for potential social and political reforms the middle classes can promote.
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Engaging with views we disagree with is a more effective way to serve the purposes of free speech.
Religious opponents of assisted dying laws most often appeal to the sanctity of human life.
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Christianity’s long tradition of compassionate care for both the dying and the dead means it brings some wisdom and experience to the voluntary assisted dying issue.
Contraceptives lie at the heart of proper family planning but in Nigeria uptake has been slow.
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Nigeria must reduce its population growth to increase the quality of life for people in the country. A better knowledge of contraceptives can help achieve this.