Why I am a monarchist

In Australia's republic referendum in 1999, I voted "yes" to become a republic. But over the last 12 years I've swung completely around on the question, and I am now a confirmed monarchist. What has changed? It's not through any particular affection for the royal family. But I've read a lot of history over the last decade, and I've come to realise that a stable system of government is not something you should take for granted. Look through history, and you will see that people are inventing new governments all the time. Most of them fail, and the ones that succeed only do so after a lot of pain. Australia is lucky - we inherited a good working system from Britain, a system which had been refined over the course of hundreds of years. I can't see any reason to substantially changed a constitution that has worked so well for over a hundred years. Nothing to gain - and lots to lose if we get it wrong...

William Wilberforce on Idleness

"No man has a right to be idle. Where is it that in such a world as this, that health, and leisure, and affluence may not find some ignorance to instruct, some wrong to redress, some want to supply, some misery to alleviate?"

Genesis 1 and Poetry

And... just to prove that Sydney Anglicans are not monochrome on this issue, here is a piece by Scott Newling on the Sola Panel asserting the historicity of Genesis 1. The fascinating thing about Scott's piece is that he manages to hold his position while treating those who disagree with him with respect. I hope certain other young earthers will follow his example...

Still here!

Haven't posted much lately - been a bit tired with some sickness going around the house, lots on at work, and preparing to host a substantial ministry in our house over the next 3 months. Followers of recent discussions will be interested to know that I have just purchased this book - Flat Earth: The History of an Infamous Idea. As far as I can see, it is the most comprehensive and scholarly book available on this subject. There is certainly some interesting info in there, and I'll be posting up some quotes and comments in due course.