A quarter century ago, religion retreated to the margins of Australian public life. Faith was personal, private, practised quietly. Today, that’s changed. Religious identity is celebrated and amplified across social media, where belief systems compete for hearts and minds.
But this renewal has coincided with something darker. Acts of violence committed in religion’s name – like the Bondi Beach shootings – have forced an uncomfortable reckoning. When faith becomes potent in fractured societies, does it risk becoming a weapon?
Throughout history, religion has inspired both extraordinary compassion and devastating cruelty. So as Australia grapples with religious violence, we must ask: Is the problem religion itself? Or how faith is exploited by those seeking power or redemption through violence?
Should we implement ‘faith guard rails’? Where does religious freedom end and public safety begin?
Rev. Bill Crews sits down with Simon Smart from the Centre for Public Christianity – one of Australia’s most thoughtful voices on faith in public life.
A conversation about belief, violence, and whether our diverse society can withstand the strains of religious division.
The Discussion. Available now.
