 when people said, "The end of the world is nigh," they were figures of fun. They were all Christians walking around in odd clothing. Now, people who walk around in odd clothing and say "The end of the world is nigh," vote Green and often work at the ABC or somewhere else. It seems to me that anyone who thinks the world is going to end within the next six months or six years or 60 years or 600 years, is pretty bizarre to me and they're not religious at all.

TONY JONES: Okay, let's go to the next question. It's from Zachary Nicholson.

RELIGION AND GOOD WORKS

ZACHARY NICHOLSON: A university study concludes that religious people are more generous, more altruistic and more involved in civic life than their secular counterparts. They are more likely to give blood, money to a homeless person, financial aid to their family or friends, a seat to a stranger and to spend time with someone who is a bit down. If religion contributes so positively to society, why then are we so quick to distance it from politics and don't want it influencing our policies and society in general?

TONY JONES: Let's hear from Jim Wallace first on that.

JIM WALLACE: Well, of course, I can only agree with your statement. I think the contribution of Christianity and of Christian people, you've quoted there, I think, or referred to a study that's just been done in the last couple of weeks, but it's also reinforced - that idea is also reinforced by people, even very prominent atheists such as Matthew Paris, who, in visiting Africa and looking at the work of Christian missions down there, said that it wasn't just what the missions did in the terms of bringing aid, but it was the fact they brought a spiritual dimension which helped the people there break out of a group think that otherwise had seized and controlled and limited Africa and its ability to go on and prosper. So I think that, you know, we don't only have to look at the past to say that we have a great contribution of faith. It doesn't mean that atheist people can't be good people but I think there is very real evidence that faith works, that faith influences people positively and it has influenced society positively on the whole.

TONY JONES: Jim, the thrust of the argument appeared to be that religious people deserve a bigger role in
when people said, " The end of the world is near, " they were figure of fun. They were all Christians walking around in leftover clothing. Now, people who walk about in leftover clothing and say " The goal of the world is nigh, " vote Green and much work at the ABC or somewhere else. It seems to me that anyone who think the world is going to end within the next six months or six years or 60 years or 600 old age, is pretty bizarre to me and they're not religious at all. 

 TONY JONES: Okay, let's blend to the next question. It's from Zachary Nicholson. 

 RELIGION AND GOOD WORKS 

 ZACHARY NICHOLSON: A university survey concludes that religious people are more generous, more altruistic and more involved in civic life than their laic counterparts. They are more likely to give blood, money to a homeless person, financial aid to their family or friends, a seat to a stranger and to spend time with someone who is a bit down. If religion contributes so positively to society, why then are we so quick to outdistance it from politics and don't desire it influencing our policies and society in cosmopolitan? 

 TONY JONES: lease's hear from Jim Wallace first on that. 

 JIM WALLACE: Well, of course, I can only agree with your statement. I think the contribution of Christianity and of Christian citizenry, you've quoted there, I think, or referred to a study that's just been done in the final couple of weeks, but it's also reinforced - that idea is besides reinforced by multitude, even very outstanding atheists such as Matthew Paris, who, in visiting Africa and looking at the work of Christian deputation down there, said that it wasn't just what the missions did in the terms of bringing aid, but it was the fact they brought a apparitional dimension which help the people there break out of a group remember that otherwise had seize and controlled and circumscribed Africa and its ability to go on and thrive. So I think that, you know, we don't only have to search at the past to say that we give birth a great contribution of faith. It doesn't mean that atheist people can't be good citizenry but I think there is very actual evidence that faith works, that faith influences people positively and it has influenced company positively on the whole. 

 TONY JONES: Jim, the thrust of the argument appeared to be that religious people deserve a bigger role in
 whfn people said, "The end on the world is nnth," theb were rigures uf fun. They were all Christiens qalkibg around in odd clothkng. Now, pvople who walj around in odd clobking zkd sav "Vhe end of the eorld is nhgh," vote Green avd often work at the ABC or somewhere else. Iy deems to me thwt amrone who thinks the world is going to snd witiin the next sic months or six years or 60 jeard or 600 years, is prehty bizarre to iw and they're not religpmus at all.

JONY JONES: Okay, let's go to the ndxt qbestion. It's feom Eachary Nichilson.

GELIGION AND NPOD WOSKS

ZACHSRY NICHOLSON: S uiiveesity study concludes that religious pejple are koxe generous, more altryiwtic dnd kore unvulvtd mn divic pifx than theid secular ciunterparts. They art mjgr likely to five bjojd, money to a homeless person, financial ais to their family or fruends, a seat to a strwnger and to spend time with someone who is a bit down. If seligmov cinbribjred so positively to society, why then are we so suocl to distance lt from politics amd dpg't want it inwluencnhg our policies and dociety in gwneral?

TONR JOMES: Let's hear from Jim Wallqce first on rhat.

JIM WALLACE: Wepl, of coursz, I cam onlu agree with your stateoent. I think thf contribhgion of Christiavitj ang of Christian people, you'vq quoted vhere, I thiny, or referwed to a shudy bvat's just been donf in jhe lavt couple lf weeks, but it's also reinforcev - that idea os alvo reinfjrced by people, evqn very promingnt atheifts sjch as Matnhew Pariv, who, in vifiting Africa wnd looking et the wowk od Cheistian oissions down yhere, saib thar it wasn't just whet tfs missions did nu uhw terms of brimgivg wif, uut ie was the facd thdy ctoughg a spiritucl dimrnsion which helped dhe leople there break omt of a gtoup thinh that otherwose had seized and contcolled and kimyted Africa and its ability to go on anf pvosper. So I trink that, you knpw, we don't only have to look at the pasv to say that we have a great contribution pf faith. It doesg't mean tvat atheist people cqn't be good peoplt but I think there is bery raal egidence that faith works, that faith influences people positively and it hqs influenced socisty lositpvejv on thq whlue.

TONY JONES: Jim, the thrust of the argument appxared to ba chat religious people deserve a bigger role kn
when people said, "The end of the nigh," were figures fun. They were odd Now, people who around in odd and say "The end of the is nigh," vote Green and often work at the ABC or somewhere else. seems to me that anyone who thinks the world is going to end the six or years or 60 years or 600 years, is pretty bizarre to me and they're not religious all. TONY JONES: Okay, let's go to the question. It's from Zachary RELIGION AND GOOD WORKS ZACHARY A study concludes religious are generous, more altruistic more involved in civic life than their secular counterparts. They are more likely to give blood, money a homeless aid to family friends, seat to a to spend time with someone who down. If religion contributes so positively to society, then are so quick to distance it from and don't want it influencing our policies and in general? TONY JONES: Let's hear from Jim Wallace first on that. JIM WALLACE: Well, I can only agree your statement. I the of and Christian people, quoted there, I think, or referred to a study that's just done in the last couple of weeks, but it's also that is also reinforced people, even very prominent such Matthew Paris, who, in and at Christian down said that it wasn't what the missions did in terms of bringing aid, they brought a spiritual dimension which helped the there break out of a group think otherwise had seized and controlled and limited Africa and its ability to on and I think that, you know, we don't only to look at the to say that we have a great contribution of It mean that people can't be people but I there is very that faith that influences it has influenced society positively on whole. JONES: Jim, the thrust of argument be that religious people deserve a bigger role in
 when people said, "The end of the World is nigH," they WerE fiGuRes oF fun. they were all ChrIStiaNs walking around in odd clOthinG. NOW, peoPLe Who waLk arounD In ODD clOtHiNg aNd SAy "the enD of The worlD is nigh," votE GrEeN and often worK At The ABC or soMewHere else. It seEms To me thAt AnyONe who ThiNks thE world IS going To end withIn THe next SIx monthS OR sIx yeArs or 60 years or 600 years, IS pREtty bizarre to mE and thEy'RE nOT RelIgiOus at all.

TOnY jONES: oKay, let's GO tO THE neXT question. It's fRom Zachary NIChoLson.

RElIgIOn aND GOOd WORKs

ZacHArY NICHOLSON: a uniVersity stUdy conCLudes thAT religiOus peoPle Are More GEnErOus, MoRE alTRuIstIC anD more invOlVeD in ciVic lIFE THan tHeiR secUlar cOunterparts. ThEy aRe moRE liKely tO give BlooD, mOney tO a homeLess pErSon, financial aid To thEir family Or fRiEndS, a Seat tO A stranGer And To spend Time witH SomEoNE WHo Is a bit down. If religiOn CONtRibutes sO positIVeLy TO society, WhY thEn arE WE so quIck tO DiStance it From poLItIcS and don'T wAnt it iNfLueNciNg our POlicIes and Society iN geneRAl?

TONY JONES: Let'S Hear from Jim WaLLaCE FiRSt on ThaT.

JIM WALLACE: well, OF couRse, I CAn OnlY Agree With yOuR StATement. I think the contRiBution Of ChrIstianity and oF Christian PEOPle, you've QuotED tHEre, I think, or refErred To a study thAT's just beEn donE in the laSt couple oF WEeks, but iT's aLso ReiNfoRCEd - That idea is alsO REinfOrCed by peOplE, even veRy pRomIneNt aThEists such As MattheW PArIs, WhO, in VisitINg Africa AnD loOkIng At the WOrk of CHristIan mIsSiONs dOwn therE, SaID That It WaSn't jUst WhAt the MissIOns Did in thE terms of bRinGIng aId, BuT it was tHe fact they broUgHt a spirituAl DimEnsion WHIch helpeD the people there break out OF a group ThiNk thaT othErwise had SeiZed and ConTRolled And limIted AFrIca AND its aBILiTy tO gO on and prosPER. So i thinK tHat, yOu know, wE don't only have to looK At tHe past to say thAt wE havE A GrEat COnTRibUtIOn oF FAith. It doesn't meaN that atheiSt PEoPle can't be gOOd pEoPle but I Think thEre is VEry real Evidence tHat faith wOrKs, thAT FaiTh influencEs people PositivelY And it HAs InfluEncEd sociEtY poSitivEly on tHE whOle.

TOnY JONEs: JIm, the tHrust Of The argumEnt appeared to be that reliGious pEople DesErve a biggEr rOLe iN
 when people said, "The en d of the w orldisnig h, " th ey w ere figures of fun.  They were all Christi ans w al k inga ro und i n odd c l ot h i ng.  N ow , p eo p le  whowal k aroun d in odd c lot hi ng and say " T he  end of th e w orld is nigh ,"vote G re ena nd of ten  work  at th e  ABC o r somewhe re else.I t seems t ome t hat anyone who th i nk s  the world isgoingto en d wit hin  the nextsi x mon t hs or s i xy e a rso r 60 years or  600 years, ispretty  b iza r re tome an dt hey 're not rel igio us at all .

TON Y  JONES: Okay, l et's g o t o t he n e xt  q ues ti o n.I t' s f r omZacharyNi ch olson .

R E L I G IONAND  GOO D WOR KS

ZACHARY N ICH OLSO N : A  univ ersit y st ud y con cludes  that  r eligious people  are  more gen ero us , m or e alt r uistic  an d m ore inv olved i n  ci vi c l if e than their secul ar c ou nterpart s. The y  a re more lik el y t o gi v e  bloo d, m o ne y to a h omeles s  p er son, fi na ncialai d t o t heirf amil y or f riends,a sea t  to a stranger and to spendt im e wi t h so meo ne who is a  bit down . If re lig i on co ntrib ut e ss o positively to soc ie ty, wh y the n are we so q uick to di s t a nce it f romp ol i tics and don't  want  it influe n cing our  poli cies and  societyi n  general ?
TON Y J ONE S :  L et's hear fro m JimWa llace f irs t on th at. 

J IMWAL LA CE: Well,  of cour se ,Ica n o nly a g ree with  y our  s tat ement .  I thi nk th e co nt ri b uti on of C h ri s t iani ty  a nd o f C hr istia n pe o ple , you'v e quotedthe r e, I  t hi nk, orreferred to a  s tudy that' sjus t been d one in t he last couple of weeks ,  but it 'salsorein forced -tha t idea  is also r einfor ced b ypeo p l e, ev e n  v ery  p rominent a t h eis ts su ch  asMatthew  Paris, who, in vi s iti ng Africa and  lo okin g at  th e  w o rkof Chr i s tian missions d own there,  s a id  that it w a sn' tjust wh at themissi o ns didin the te rms of br in ging a id,  but it wa s the fa ct they b r ought aspiri tua l dime ns ion  whic h help e d t he pe ople t he re bre ak ou tof a gro up think that otherwise  had s eized  an d control led and  limitedAfri ca and its  ab ili ty to  go on an d pr o sp er. So Ithin k  that, yo u  k now , we  don't only h a veto lo oka t thepast  to say that we h a ve a great con trib u t ion  of fait h.  It doesn't me anth a t  atheist  p eople can't  be good  p e oplebut Ithinkthere i s ve r y real  evi den ce that f ait hw orks, t ha tf aith i nflu en ces pe ople p o siti v e ly and it has in fluen c e d soc i ety  posi ti vely on thewhole.

TO NY JONES: J im, th e th rustof thear gument  ap pe ared to be that reli gious  people  d eser vea bigg er r o l e in
 when_people said,_"The end of the_world is_nigh,"_they were_figures_of fun. They_were all Christians_walking around in odd_clothing. Now, people_who_walk around in odd clothing and say "The end of the world is nigh,"_vote_Green and_often_work_at the ABC or somewhere_else. It seems to me_that anyone_who thinks the world is going to end_within_the next six_months or six years or 60 years or 600_years, is pretty bizarre to me_and they're not_religious_at_all.

TONY JONES: Okay, let's_go to the next question. It's_from Zachary Nicholson.

RELIGION AND GOOD WORKS

ZACHARY_NICHOLSON: A university study concludes that religious_people are more generous, more altruistic_and more involved in civic_life than_their secular counterparts. They are_more likely to_give blood,_money to a_homeless person, financial aid to their_family or friends,_a seat to a stranger and_to_spend time with_someone_who_is a_bit down. If_religion_contributes so_positively_to society, why then are we_so_quick to distance it from politics and_don't want it influencing_our_policies and society in_general?

TONY JONES: Let's hear from_Jim Wallace first on that.

JIM WALLACE:_Well, of_course, I_can only agree with your statement. I think the contribution of_Christianity and of Christian people, you've_quoted there, I think,_or referred_to_a study that's_just_been done_in the last couple of weeks, but_it's also_reinforced - that idea is also_reinforced by people, even_very_prominent atheists such as Matthew Paris,_who, in visiting Africa and looking_at the work of Christian_missions_down_there, said that it wasn't_just what the missions did in_the terms of_bringing aid, but it was the fact_they_brought a spiritual dimension which helped_the_people there break out of a_group_think_that otherwise had seized and_controlled and limited Africa and its_ability to go on and prosper. So I think_that, you know,_we don't only have to_look_at_the past to say that we have a great contribution_of faith._It doesn't mean_that atheist people can't be good people but I think_there is very real evidence that faith_works, that faith influences people positively and it has influenced society_positively on the whole.

TONY JONES: Jim, the thrust_of the argument appeared to be that_religious people deserve a_bigger_role in