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Thought I'd add Bill's article for a conservative view in regards to same-sex marriage. Bill presents a rather bleak picture of the extremes that society could go to if same-sex marriage is accepted in Australia.

Homosexual Marriage and the Slippery Slope
Bill Muehlenberg, 22nd November 2010

"The headline in yesterday’s Vancouver Sun says it all: “Polygamy reference case could open door to legalizing multiple marriage”. The short reply is, ‘And why not? If we are happy to redefine marriage out of existence with homosexual marriage, then why not group marriage? Both are based on exactly the same argument.’

Here is how the story begins: “Canada is on the cusp of either legalizing polygamy or strengthening the 120-year prohibition against multiple marriage. That’s what is at stake in the constitutional reference case that will begin Monday in B.C. Supreme Court and is scheduled to last at least until the end of January. The case will weigh whether Canada’s anti-polygamy law is constitutional.”

A study by the University of Queensland has found that 83.9% suffer mental distress. One would imagine such distress is particularly high around exam time. Here is the official report:

80% uni students mentally stressed

The University of Queensland, 22nd November 2010

"More than 80 percent of university students are struggling with psychological distress with almost one-fifth of these classified as having a serious mental illness, according to a UQ study.

Further, the rate of psychological distress among university students surveyed (83.9 percent) is almost three times higher than in the general population (29 percent).

The study, published in the November edition of Australian Psychologist, found rates of serious mental illness among the sample (19.2 percent) were more than five times higher than in the general population (three percent)....

"Both life experience and experience as a student also seem to be protective factors," Dr Stallman said.

"Older students and postgraduate students seem more resilient, perhaps because of increased coping strategies, or at postgraduate level, self-selection of students who have effective coping measures."

Dr Stallman said the study highlighted a need for universities to be proactive in promoting the mental health and wellbeing of students in addition to specific traditionally targeted areas such as alcohol abuse."

Click here to go to the University's press release.

What stresses you out in regards to your studies? What is your best coping mechanism? Have your say on our forum.

Here is a very fascinating article from Christopher Pearson and while there are some contentious points that do not fit into a biblical perspective it does pose several reasons why the motives for those driving same-sex marriage should be questioned.

Gay marriage demands should be left on shelf
Christopher Pearson, The Australian, 20th November 2010

"The most obvious thing about arguments for same-sex marriage is their shallowness.

In last Saturday's Focus, Paul Kelly wrote a memorable piece, taking issue with Labor senator Mark Arbib's suggestion that it's time for the ALP to support gay marriage.

"Why is it time?" Kelly asked. "Because the Greens are stealing Labor's votes, that's why. So Labor should cynically abandon its support for the foundational social institution, a move that will trigger a deeply polarising debate and brand Labor indelibly as a libertarian personal rights party ready to ditch any institution or principle. In the process, Labor will alienate permanently an important section of its base."

Kelly's analysis was in marked contrast to that of The Age's political editor, Michelle Grattan. She told ABC Radio National's Breakfast show this week that Julia Gillard would have to change tack on the subject, preferably sooner rather than later....

The most obvious thing about the arguments in support of same-sex marriage is their shallowness. The best Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young could manage last week was to remind us breathlessly that we are living in the year 2010, as though that settled the matter. The Greens' line that all loving couples deserve to be treated equally is just as specious.

Few have argued more consistently over many years than I have done that same-sex partners should get a fair deal on superannuation and other entitlements of that kind. Labor's reforms in the last parliament mean that couples are treated pretty much equally except in the matter of marriage.

But the few remaining privileges reserved for matrimony are there for sound, practical reasons.

Men and women tend to have different needs and priorities when they enter a mature sexual relationship....

Among the reasons the Greens are so keen on same-sex marriage is that they want to reduce the population and drive down national fertility. Their refusal to discriminate positively in favour of heterosexuality and uphold the distinctive value of normal marriage shows their political project yet again for what it is: a dead end....

Running the risk of alienating so much of your traditional support base, at this stage in federal Labor's history, is daylight madness. At least Gillard seems to have grasped that fact."

Click here to go to the full article on The Australian's website.

Article by Cameron Spink

A Pakistani Christian woman, Asia Noreen, has received the death penalty for allegedly blaspheming both Muhammad and the Quran. The facts indicate that Asia was dobbed in to the local Muslim cleric when she would not convert to Islam.

The Pakistani district court has sentenced Asia to be hanged for her crime against section 295-C & 295-D of Pakistan's "blasphemy" laws. Such laws are reported to be prone to misuse by those wishing to settle grudges against minority groups, such as Christians, who make up approximately 2% of Pakistan's population.

Although the death penalty has never been actually under the "blasphemy" charges (in 974 occurances) there is still great cause for concern for Asia. She could still face significant jail time, like Zaibunnisa, who spent 14 years in jail despite it being held that there was "no evidence".

In this case there are similar signs of corruption. The district judge ruled out any possibility of the charges being false, even though the facts suggested that "reasonable doubt" (to use a western legal term very liberally) existed. What is more there is undisputed testimony as to mitigating factors to which the judge dismissed without hesitation.

It seems that there is a great fear, even in the Pakistani judiciary, of the extremist mob who can manipulate public figures merely by the power of numbers. Last year Rashid Emmanuel and his brother were killed outside the courts when the mob got wind that there was expert evidence exonerating them from the "blasphemy" charges. In another act of violence a judge was killed after he acquitted a "blasphemer".

There are various other incidents of Islamic extremism overwhelming justice and due process. This means, for Asia, regardless of what happens inside the courtroom she may very well have the death penalty over her head for the rest of her life. We must play that she is successful in her appeal to the Lahore High Court and get involved by signing the petition demanding her release.

http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/pakistan/28345/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/family-leads-outcry-at-blasphemy-death-penalty-2135011.html

http://au.christiantoday.com/article/christian-woman-sentenced-to-death-in-pakistan-for-blasphemy/9541.htm

http://www.smh.com.au/world/outcry-over-death-sentence-for-blasphemy-mother-who-offered-farmhands-water-20101112-17pri.html

I was going to write an article on the two girls from the Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School but since Bill has beaten me to it (and stolen all of my points) I will merely post his article.

More PC Mischief and Mayhem

Article by Bill Muehlenberg

"Whenever the forces of political correctness and a morally bankrupt mainstream media come together, you know there is going to be trouble, big time. Indeed, simply get a lesbian couple screaming 'discrimination' and you have created a media firestorm. The radical homosexual lobby has milked this story for all its worth, and the MSM is quite happy to play this up worldwide.

Article by Cameron Spink

The Bible offers advice for a myriad of situations including in times of trials. For such times a good dose of James 1 is required. To this end I will expand on six lessons from the first chapter of James.

1. We all get tested

It is an incorrect assumption to expect that one can avoid trials by excessive wealth. This is debunked in James where he states "". This is reflected in the lives of the "rich and famous". It seems very few celebrities are able to go through their lives without one scandal or another. However, trials are just as prevalent in the everyday person's life. Our lives still contain anguish, hatred and death and none of these can be avoided by cheque, credit or cash.