Religious vilification laws
Are religious vilification laws good or bad? Do they help or harm the society?
These articles provide insights into these questions.
The trouble with religious hatred law
Steve Edwards, Policy magazine, Centre for Independent Studies, Spring 2008.
Religious vilification: confused policy, unsound principle and unfortunate law
Rex Tauati Ahdar,University of Queensland Law Journal, December 2007.
Rex is Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Otago in New Zealand.
This detailed article argues against religious vilification laws. He uses the Islamic Council of Victoria v Catch the Fire Ministries case to highlight that the outcome did not encourage harmony which is a stated objective of the law - in fact it had the opposite effect.
The article is only available on Find Articles - 25 short pages - but is well worth reading.
Do We Really Need Religious Vilification Laws?
Steve Edwards, Policy magazine, Centre for Independent Studies, Autumn 2005.
Religious vilification laws are diminishing freedom of speech.
Religious Vilification laws in Victoria - Background to the law and cases
By Jenny Stokes, June 2005
Prepared as a background paper for the Christian Legal Society seminar on the R&RTA, June 2005.
Enforcing Tolerance
Professor Patrick Parkinson.
An excellent paper arguing against vilification laws. Paper for Eleventh Annual International Law and Religion Symposium: "Religion in the Public Sphere: Challenges and Opportunities",Provo, Utah, Oct. 3rd-6th 2004.
Attached below.
The Agenda behind religious vilification laws
Augusto Zimmermann LLB, LLB (Hons), PhD.
Attached below.
The Problem with Vilification Laws
by Bill Muehlenberg .
Ten reasons, written from a secular perspective, as to why religious vilification laws are undesirable.
Problems with Religious Support for Vilification Laws
by Bill Muehlenberg
Ten common arguments that are used to justify vilification laws. Bill responds to each of these. The ten are: 'The example of Jesus'; 'How we preach the gospel'; 'Christians should not vilify'; 'We must respect other beliefs'; 'The Sermon on the Mount'; 'Just say 'sorry''; 'Persecution is to be expected'; 'They got what they deserved'; 'Tolerance is a Christian virtue' and 'Unity and harmony must come first'.
Forum: Victoria's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act
The following two papers were presented at a forum on Victoria's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act held on 29 May 2005 at St Johns Uniting Church, Mount Waverley.
Putting Victoria's religious vilification laws into the international context
Elizabeth Kendal , Principal Researcher, World Evangelical Alliance, Religious Liberty Commission.
Elizabeth looks at international agreements and the situation around the world regarding religious liberty.
Attached below.
An Act in need of Revision
Dr Mark Durie.
Attached below.
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