Religious Freedom, Exemption, and Festivals in Australia | Discourse! November 2021 (with video)

The Religious Studies Project

In this month’s episode of discourse we have an update from Australia. Professor Carole Cusack (University of Sydney) and Ray Radford (University of Sydney and RSP) sit down with Dr. Breann Fallon (Sydney Jewish Museum and RSP) to discuss religion in Australian current affairs. This team of three first consider a conservative article on the amendments Equal Opportunity Bill in Victoria which claims “religion cancelled” and “parents cancelled.” Yet, there is no denying that the three are speaking from lockdown and the conversation turns to religious exemption from vaccination, including the history of this in Australia, as well as religious symbolism at anti-lockdown protests. To end the episode, the trio discuss the interesting timing of opening up in time for Christmas — is this an offering at the temple of consumerism? Whilst there is no answer, it is an interesting take on the impact of COVID-19 on religious festivals.

• “Is there likely to be a religious exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine?“
• “A pattern of anti-family, anti-religion legislation is emerging in Victoria“
• “‘Australians are very sceptical’: Michael Kirby warns against ‘excessive protection’ of religious freedoms“
• “Scott Morrison pushes premiers to stick to vaccination plan and allow interstate travel by Christmas“

Check out the video of this episode!