Islam
This Page includes articles related to:.......The Catch the Fire Religious Vilification case
.......A Common Faith between Us a You
“These papers are made available on this website for the purpose of helping to ripen mature Christian opinion but the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria or its Church and Nation Committee.”
a) The Government's Deeply Flawed Religious Vilification Legislation
Author: David PalmerOpinion Piece published in The Age Newspaper
Date Published: 1st May 2006
Abstract:
The Government’s Deeply Flawed Religious Vilification Legislation
Next (This) week, unless the Government has a last minute change of heart, the Parliament will approve some minor amendments to its Racial and Religious Tolerance Act. In proposing such legislation, the Government will have chosen to ignore the widespread and deep opposition to the Act across the full spectrum of the Christian Church – Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox......
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b) Supreme Court Upholds Religious Vilification Appeal
Author: David PalmerOpinion piece published in New Life Newspaper
Date Published: February 2007
Abstract:
Almost two years to the day after Judge Higgins, Vice President of VCAT found Catch the Fire Ministries Inc and Pastors Danny Nalliah and Daniel Scot in breach of section 8 of Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 guilty of vilifying Islamic belief and practices during a Seminar, three Judges sitting in the Supreme Court of Victoria, in unanimously upholding the Appeal against the Tribunal’s decision, effectively unravelled that finding and the basis on which it was constructed.
With the penalties set aside, the Court has sent the matter back to the Tribunal with the stipulation that be heard by another Judge and without the calling of further evidence.......
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c) Anatomy of a Dispute
Author: David Palmer7th July 2007
Published in August 2007 edition of Australian Presbyterian
Abstract:
It seemed good to me, having followed all things related to the now notorious Victorian religious vilification case closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Presbyterians.
The Course of the Dispute
On the 9th March 2002, Daniel Scot, an expert on the teaching of the Qur’an and Hadith (collections of the sayings of Muhammad) and some years earlier forced to flee Pakistan on account of facing the death penalty under that country’s then newly enacted blasphemy laws, spoke at a Seminar organised by Pastor Danny Nalliah of Catch the Fire Ministries (CTFM).......................
This paper covers the course of the dispute to resolution with concluding remarks
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d) Muslims and Christians to share a Common Faith?
Author: David Palmer5th January 2008
Published in the February 2008 edition of Australian Presbyterian
Abstract:
Something quite unusual has happened in the past year on the world stage regarding religion. Muslims have said to Christians, ‘come now, let us reason together for the sake of peace between us’.
In late 2006 Pope Benedict XVI sent the Islamic world into one of its periodic tantrums when during a speech at the University of Regensburg, Germany, he quoted from a 14th century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologus who had said to a Muslim scholar, “show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached”.
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e) Online Opinion Article: "Finding common ground between Muslims and Christians"
Author: David Palmer3rd March 2008
Abstract:
Something quite unusual has happened in the past year on the world stage regarding religion. Muslims have said to Christians, ‘come now, let us reason together for the sake of peace between us’.
In late 2006 Pope Benedict XVI sent the Islamic world into one of its periodic tantrums when during a speech at the University of Regensburg, Germany, he quoted from a 14th century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologus who had said to a Muslim scholar, “show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached”.
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