response to "Politics, Religion, and HIstory

Submitted by Anne Julienne (Australia), Apr 27, 2016 at 06:14

Hi again, Michael

I'm not familiar with the phrase "duking it out" but I'm pretty sure we don't much come to actual blows here in Australia. Still, you may be right and I was just not paying much attention to Sydney Labour politics back in 1966-67.

We would say here (speaking strictly metaphorically) that Gillard knifed Rudd in the back and he responded in kind; and that Turnbull has knifed Abbott in the back and we might, in the future, see a like response. So yes, we have a balance of power between right (which we call "liberal") and left (labour, or what you call "liberal") as well as a balance of power within those camps between the theists (Rudd, Abbott) and the atheist/secularists (Gillard, Turnbull). The latter can also be characterised as a competition between the more "centrist" positions (Rudd, Turnbull) vs the more "extremist" positions (Abbott, Gillard). Your choice.

You asked: "Where do you stand in this mix?"

I'm not a church goer, being a lapsed Roman Catholic (of half a century's standing). Maybe think of me as a God-fearing atheist?

I guess by "religious" - in your (US) context - I'd be referring to people displaying at least some religious zeal as against attending church as a formality of decent citizenship. So a lot of those you mention might be a tad too rational for the category.

Thank you for your "little history". I'm left dizzy and confused! Yes, it's true that our political labels have complex roots in history and are ever-changing in their meaning and demographic coverage.

What to make of the rest of your post?

I do agree with much of your political analysis but I don't myself quote scripture as "authoritative". You are free to do so but it is not, in itself, persuasive for me.

Thank god, I'm not a US citizen and will therefore not be voting. I answered this survey by saying I'd vote for Trump (unhappily) if it meant keeping Clinton out. So, I'd do as you would do. But I think I'd be doing it more for negative reasons (to keep someone else out) rather than for positive reasons (to support a party line).

Best wishes to you and yours, also, from me. :-)

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