Sex, Race and Religion - an unstable cocktail?

Sex, race and religion - three subjects driving New Zealanders apart.

Profiling on the basis of race and religion - a subtext in the Zaoui case, attacks on Jewish graves, the recent decision of the Presbyterian Church to discriminate against gays and de factos in leadership, and the shadowy emergence of the Destiny Church, all raise disturbing questions about the mix of these three unstable elements.

To clarify the issues at stake the St Andrew¹s Trust for the Study of Religion and Society will host two important presentations in the next two weeks.

Following his insightful Listener article on the significance of the Destiny Church, Dr Peter Lineham will reflect on the interplay between sex and religion in “Sexuality and the Churches” and Dr Marion Maddox, from Victoria University's Religious Studies Department, will present an address on “Race and Religion” which includes the consideration of western fear of Islam.

"Religion should be a way of drawing the best from us" says Dr Margaret Mayman, Minister of St Andrews on the Terrace and Chair of the St Andrews Study Trust. "But too often it provides a rationale for discrimination and abuse. We hope the lecture series Backlash! Religion, Race, and Sex in New Zealand will provide an opportunity to explore the three ingredients in this potentially explosive cocktail, and to seek more convergence and less combustion."

The presentations will take place at St Andrews on the Terrace at 12.15pm on Tuesday 16 November and Tuesday 23 November.

Series Title: “Backlash! Religion, Race, and Sex in New Zealand” 16 November: Dr Peter Lineham, “Sexuality and the Churches” 23 November: Dr Marion Maddox, “Race and Religion” Admission Free. (Suggested donation $5)

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Rev. Dr. Margaret Mayman St. Andrew's on The Terrace Hato Anaru o Te Parehua

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