Victorian lawmakers are looking to crack down on 'bad language' in public. Bill James encourages us to cultivate a Christian perspective that 'keeps perspective'. (This is an abridgement of a forthcoming article in Zadok Perspectives.)

A critical look at the "huge culture of leadership", its supporting "(bogus) theology" and the "pervasive industry of training, resourcing and writing"... and a call to more genuine forms of leadership.

"I broke the law. I was caught breaking the law. I got a fine. Open and shut case. I accept this and I will pay my fine. But from a Christian angle, what is going on here? Have I not only got a fine, but have I sinned against God? Or conversely, could the fact that this question even occurs to me indicate that I have internalized a rather toxic religiously framed morality of legalistic pedantry?"

"Secular society sometimes shares a certain reasoning with narrow-minded religion. The logic says: we are able to love only those whose lives we endorse. This can take you in two directions. The religious version reduces the number of people it loves, to match the lifestyles of which it approves. The secular version increases the number of lifestyles it endorses, and derides those who don’t do the same. In both cases the assumption is the same: we are able to love only those whose lives we agree with." (An earlier version of this article appeared on the ABC's 'The Drum' website.)

In the midst of controversies of teaching religion in state schools, Peter Corney reflects on the cultural influence of the King James Bible. Is removing the Bible from schools a form of secularist 'book burning'?

The Ad Hoc Committee opposes proposals to permit an opt out system or presumed consent, any form of trade in human tissue, any practice that fails to respect individual, religious or cultural sensitivities at the time of death or in relation to the body after death, and undue pressure being placed on families and individuals at a vulnerable time.

Over a three year period the previous Victorian State government consulted with the community about revising the Equal Opportunity Act (1995). Revised legislation was enacted in 2010, including changes affecting religious bodies, who were extensively consulted. The Baillieu State government has indicated it shortly intends to reverse some changes. Angus McLeay looks at the context of the Act and the "inherent requirements test". Angus McLeay asks, 'Is the opposition to the changes by many Christian groups simply UnChristian?'

Would a loving God send people to eternal torment for ever? In this look at the furore surrounding Rob Bell’s book 'Love Wins', David Powys probes an underlying problem shared by Rob Bell and its critics.

The Ad Hoc Interfaith Committee submission on the Review of the Operation of the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002 and Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002

Theologian Paul Tyson challenges us to rethink the place of children in the church... and opens up a can of worms. Beth Barnett (Baptist Union of Victoria Children and Families Facilitator) responds.