There is a storm in a teacup in little old NZ, with the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, trying to rid the country of the evil Christians. Brian Tamaki is standing up to say that we need the Christian heritage and state religion.

my two cents:

"A religion is a set of beliefs and practices generally held by a community, involving adherence to codified beliefs and rituals and study of ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction." True.

Therefore NZ's weekend rugby is religion, brushing your teeth is religion, going to work is religion. They all involve those things to some measure. So do the various practices of most Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, Rationalists, Gays, Lesbians, {insert minority group here}.

Therefore, blaming all of the world's wars & evils on religion is a falsehood, as it is mankind that fights, due to his own petty nature, struggle for power, greed, etc. (See definition of "sin", "politics").

Christ hated religion. His mission was to destroy the religious rituals man had, and replace them with a relationship with the Father God. There is no other way to God but through relationship with him.

Therefore all this talk of NZ's "state religion" is in my opinion a waste of time. NZers in general prefer the religion and relationship they have with their publican. Organised Christian churches are generally failing to be relevant to the secular society, because it cannot see anything that it needs. (Hint, it cannot see God, Christ, reflected in the "followers of Christ").

So, Brian, once your walk equals the talk, then I think some people may listen. Until then you are going to have the majority being the mockers, as you should expect. To try to get Christianity made into the state religion of this or any other country is counter-productive. IT IS NOT ABOUT RELIGION. GET THE RELATIONSHIP. You, too, Helen.