Should a Rabbi, Minister or Imam tell you how to cast your political vote?

Many would argue that their tradition dictates clear-cut and morally defensible positions in the ballot box.  But is that always true?

The Torah, the Christian Bible and the Koran were all written in ancient times, far different from our world today.  Keeping concubines, slaves and under-age children as labourers was  acceptable. Men occupied a superior position over women and capital punishment for relatively minor deeds was the norm. These out-dated practices were all reflected in our sacred texts. 

Leadership is ultimately a spiritual undertaking. I know that does not accord with most people’s idea of being a leader, which is about corralling disparate people into a single line going in one direction, with you at the head. It’s the ‘pied piper’ image, and anyone that falls out of line is expelled or pushed back into line, forcibly if necessary. 

In praise of The Other Side of the Story

"Rachael Kohn is a wise and morally generous writer. Her voice is one of calm, judicious and yet companionable evaluation. She understands the issues she writes about at the deepest level and as well as providing a way through the thorniest controversies always keeps a sense of the shape of the whole argument that she's dealing with. This is a superb volume of insightful essays which everyone interested in the religious dimension of life should enjoy. Rachael is especially helpful on the points at which different religious traditions interact and sometimes conflict." Greg Sheridan, foreign editor The Australian and author of Christians, the Urgent Case for Jesus in our World and God is Good for You.