Editorial - 23

I believe in miracles
This week is our “Beliefs” issue. We’re not talking about what you think exists (I, for instance, refuse to believe in exclamation marks, despite being constantly confronted with evidence to the contrary). We’re talking about the views you hold dear, the ideas that define you as a person, whether they be religious (see page 18), ethical (page 22) or social (page 26 for our interview with Hone Harawira). This is, after all, a secular nation, so there’s no reason to think that only the religious have strong convictions.
Then again, while New Zealand may claim to be secular, there are still some jarring inconsistencies in our society. In 2007, MPs voted to keep the prayer at the start of every parliamentary sitting. This isn’t just any old prayer, congratulating God on his fine work with the lambs and the pretty flowers. It goes a little like this: “Almighty God, humbly acknowledging our need for Thy guidance in all things ... we beseech thee to grant that we may conduct the affairs of this House and of our country to the glory of Thy holy name … through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” The New Zealand MPs can’t even use the US excuse, that “God” could refer to any number of deities; they just used the J-bomb, after all.
The whole opening prayer thang isn’t just restricted to our elected officials, it’s pretty common practice in the older public schools around the country. I love vintage as much as the next op-shop hoarder, but using the “it’s traditional” defence just doesn’t make up for the fact that such behaviour prioritises one religion over another. Praying itself isn’t the problem; it’s using religion-specific, or belief-specific prayers that’s not so great. Perhaps a little “Hey bros, let’s make some good decisions today” would be less alienating to the Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, atheists and so on in parliament. Similarly, a “hey isn’t this school great and isn’t the weather nice today?” could be a more appropriate start to the school assembly.
Although the numbers of atheists is rising (34.7% in the 2006 Census, up from 29.6% in 2001), our almost religious fervour around the Rugby World Cup is showing no signs of slowing down. I particularly enjoyed following the coverage of the World Cup build-up, from the brain-damaged folk who get themselves tattooed with "Congratulations to the world champions All Blacks 2011 NZ", to the frantic letters to the editor begging everyone to please get along lest we look stupid in front of the tourists (side note: it may be a giveaway that we’re not the most advanced nation in the world when Rugby World Cup attendees have to use portaloos because the stadium forgot to build enough toilets).
 
At the end of the day (and as trite as it may be) regardless of the content of our beliefs, whether they be in the spirit of the All Blacks, the abhorrence of exclamation marks, or the flying spaghetti monster, we should be free to hold them without judgement, and without feeling alienated.
 
Yours lovingly,
 
Julia Hollingsworth
Posted 2:21am Monday 12th September 2011 by Editor.