Easter is a time of hope and love. It is celebrated in the Australian community, not just by the religiously observant, but by millions who have faith in an increasingly secular world.
Faith has been part of Australian life from the day our Constitution was proclaimed; indeed, it provided the very foundation of this vital document. ‘The blessing of Almighty God’ that our forebears humbly relied on is still relevant today.
Its significance appears in several important ways. Religious observance is maintained by many, representing a meaningful connection between individuals and their larger concerns of life and its purpose. The processes that have come to represent this observance; attending church, engaging in prayer and allowing religious principles to inform one’s judgement; should not be ridiculed or dismissed as out-of-touch.
Indeed, they are part of a foundation of considered action that is in many ways preferable to the rash, tokenistic judgements that often characterise the modern era, many of which are guided more by populist sentiment than substance.
The fundamental principles of our nation have arisen from a Judeo-Christian framework, with a consistent focus on developing and supporting an egalitarian society.
Indeed, our law, developed within this structure, represents a codification of morality. Neglecting such principles can lead only to a loss of order and morality; a state in which our basic freedoms and shared future are compromised.
Supporting Judeo-Christian values means looking beyond theological differences and to the greater message of religious teachings. We may not all share one belief, but it is overwhelmingly true that we use religiously-minded values when we decide how best to act and how to respond on occasions when others disappoint us.
It is unwise and even reckless for our society to lose touch with the vital ways in which principles of faith inform our daily lives. Even those who do not see themselves as religious use Judeo-Christian principles to guide their conduct: we treat others as we would like to be treated; are respectful and strive to make a distinction between right and wrong. Parents raise their children in the hope that such principles will be perpetuated.
Faith in God and the principles of religious observance represent one of the pillars that supports both our freedom and, in turn, our future. That is why Easter celebrations need to remain such an important part of the Australian calendar.
Cory Bernardi is the author of seven books and has been a member of the Australian rowing team, a publican, an investment portfolio manager and spent nearly 14 years as an Australian Senator.
