In the wake of a debate about Australian values and radical Islam, Federal Treasurer Peter Costello is set to deliver a landmark speech on "Christian values and Australia's heritage' tomorrow.
Mr Costello will address the national conference of the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL), who have been lobbying the Federal Government on the differences between "Australian and Islamic values' as part of the wider community debate on values.
"If these values contradict, how can differences be reconciled?" asks an ACL information brief released this week.
"Beyond curbing the various manifestations of ‘radical Islam’ there remains a need for clarification and action by Australian Islamic authorities in regards to apparent contradictions between Australian values and Islamic values," the ACL statement says.
Amongst the issues raised by ACL are Imam's attitudes to polygamy, domestic violence against women, and Muslims who convert to other faiths.
The Prime Minister John Howard fired up a debate about Australian values and multiculturalism earlier this month when he said the government was concerned about radical Islamic teaching.
Mr Howard has also proposed a new citizenship text for migrants.
At the ACL conference, Labor heavyweight Wayne Swan will deliver the Opposition's "Blueprint to halt the splintering of a nation'.
Sydney Anglican apologetics expert and director of CASE Dr Greg Clarke will also be speaking on the question, "Are Christian values Australian values?'
Dr Clarke is concerned that a citizenship test that tries to define Australian values will limit religious freedom.
He is particularly critical of Mr Howard’s comment to Muslim leaders that "our common values as Australians transcend any other allegiances or commitments'.
"I am hard-pressed to think of any serious religious believer"”Jewish, Muslim, Christian, or otherwise"”who would be satisfied with this comment," Dr Clarke says.
"When we start to talk about specific beliefs and the values that flow from them, the question of what values we share gets harder to answer.
“The only way I can see to answer the question, "Are Australian values Christian values?' is to say, "Some are, some aren't'.
"This moderate response steers a sensible path between the remote poles of theocracy and separatism.
“It admits that there is a Christian story in the background of much of Australian life"”for instance, in our approaches to work, law and education " "tools, rules and schools'. It also recognizes that Australia is far from "a Christian nation'."
The first National Forum on Australia's Christian Heritage was held in Parliament House, Canberra, last month, chaired by Associate Professor Stuart Piggin, Director of the Centre for the History of Christian Thought and Experience at Macquarie University.
Photo: Robert Edwards
