Andy Ruminations

Kevin Rudd

And so this man now leads the Labor Party, and could be Australia's next prime minister. (Though remember Mark Latham was greeted in the same way ... somehow I think young Rudd has potential to go further than Latham did!)

Kevin Rudd is a committed and publicly open Christian. See here, and here, and here, and here, and here for some good examples of Kevin Rudd's views in his own words, either interviews with him or his own written pieces.

He has some interesting things to say on the interaction of faith and politics. I particularly like how he has highlighted that being a socially conservative, evangelical Christian does not necessarily mean your politics always swings to the right, and does not necessarily mean you will vote Liberal. Or in his words, he has rejected the notion that "God has become the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Liberal Party". Perhaps a bit of rhetoric on Rudd's part there, and no doubt there's an element of playing to Christian voters to win them back to the Labor Party. But why not, when Costello rocks up to Hillsong in a blatant attempt to shore up political support amongst the aspirational, wealthy pentecostal voters.

Rudd has challenged the notion that so-called "family values" should be restricted to matters of sexual morality, and has argued that "family values" and "moral values" might also encompass, for example, industrial relations, health policy and our approach towards refugees.

I also like what Rudd has to say about separation of church and state and how this does not mean (as many secularists would have us believe) that decisions based on Christian conviction have no part to play in a secular state. Rudd seems to be an example of a politician who explicitly articulates his political views and policy stances as being informed by his Christian belief. Good on him!

posted by Andy M @ 10:26 pm