We seem to have entered an era where a misguided idea of freedom of speech and free religious expression have usurped more important things, such as not being a dropkick.
Let’s get something very clear from the outset: there is not one defender of Israel Folau on the basis of ‘freedom of speech’ that would condone everything any other person says, nor their right to say it.
» UPDATE: Israel Folau and Rugby AU reach settlement
Everyone has a line somewhere. The Instagram post incident, at least on social media, saw far more people defending Folau than attacking him.
The most common defence was, even though a person might disagree, he has the right to express his opinion. But of course, it was only a matter of time before he said something else, even more ridiculous.
Folau directly blamed the existence of gay marriage and abortion for the recent fires in Queensland and New South Wales. Presumably, he considers this some kind of divine punishment.
God is teaching that if we go against his teachings, he will murder us? Or something like that. Okay.
So the social media collective was less accepting of this. But for those that did accept it, there was once again a common theme: he has the right to express his religious beliefs.
Well, in that case, we have a right to critique those beliefs and Folau’s rather, let’s say, selective adoption of said beliefs.
So, despite the Bible claiming God is the ultimate judge, Folau seems to have appointed himself in this role.
Transgender people, according to him, are evil, and homosexuality is a sin worthy of earning yourself a place in Hell’s literal pit of fire, for eternity.
So, while we’re on the topic, I thought I might point out some more of Christianity’s main beliefs and teachings.
The third of the deadly sins: Greed. Quoting directly from the Bible: Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
Wait a minute… I thought Folau cared about his beliefs above all else? I thought he was happy to go down as a martyr, sacrificing his rugby career in order to not be pushed around by those trying to oppress his right to religious freedom?
I thought that, well, until he tried to sue Rugby Australia for $14 million, most of which he was never going to get from them, even had they not terminated his contract.
I challenge anyone who defends Folau on the basis of his adherence to his beliefs, to explain how asking for $14 million is not greedy.
Regarding the seventh deadly sin, pride, the Bible says the following in Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Let not the mighty man boast of his might…but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me”.
Well, this is an easy one. Izzy, you were never going to be captain. The fact that the Wallabies had seven vice-captains while you played for them, and not one of them was you, sums up the entire issue.
So to all his defenders, I’ll say this to you: understand what you’re defending. If it’s Folau’s freedom of speech, don’t then get upset when he says something you don’t like. If it’s his freedom of religious expression, well, perhaps reflect on just how strongly he adheres to his religion.
Folau represented Rugby terribly, and he was rightly removed from it.
He’s currently representing both humanity and Christianity in an even worse way. By all means, let the man talk. At this point, it’s showing him for the hypocrite he is.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I am surprised you have waded into these dark waters. The AFL site has been very quite and if I see another article on home game advantage!!! I too wade in but with a very low care factor. There are some serious campaigners here. The whole thing is a silly storm in a teacup with Israel and J beating their chests. Embarrassing for all. But Israel clearly won. Accept it and move on.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Yeah but don't expect Folau's supporters to be consistently honest. I mean it's not like dishonesty is wrong or anything .......
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Brave ? Fronting RA immediately after making his instagram post would have been brave. But instead he hid. Walking away as promised would have been brave, honourable even. But he didn't do that. Funding his own legal action would have been brave. But he hid behind crowdfunding.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
IF as the spartan's said ................
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Yeah at least 8 that's what I heard. By the way do you wanna buy a bridge ?
MW7
Roar Rookie
Yep. Happy to sign a new deal with RA last year, an organisation that supports SSM and inclusiveness. Was happy to wear the sponsors logo, QANTAS who his backers of accused of making the decision to sack him. No doubt there are other sponsors who were exactly the same, yet he took their filthy lucre.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
It’s not that straight forward JM, but if you think it is fair enough.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No. He just said being gay was a sin. Being a straight man is not a sin. Therefore you are singling out gay people.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No they didn't. Folau is not prevented from plying his trade as a professional footballer. RA just said if that's what you are going to say, we don't want it to be with us.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Please articulate the freedom that he is guaranteed.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Israel Folau absolutely could have had a "private" instagram page which would be restricted to users who he allows to follow him only. He has a public page, which he also has gone to the trouble to verify, which is where you confirm with them that you are the public figure you say you are. Essentially making it known as the official account for that person.
J.M
Guest
Paulo. "Yelling fire in a crowded room" is not protected under freedom of speech. But you can actually yell FIRE in a crowded room if there is an actual fire. That is a call to action which is significantly different than freedom of speech. Saying "I hate [insert group]" is very different from calling people to "go and attack that person right there." What Folau said is protected under freedom of religion and expression. He never called for violence against a certain group. So nothing that he said at all was a violation of Freedom of Expression/Speech.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@You'll stop feeding the troll. The Folau disaster was crazy and embarrassing from day 1. Saga is finished now - over. Move on and hopefully we'll never hear from the hypocrite again.
TeamAustralia
Roar Rookie
Hey, all good. I just spoke with God who said he endowed Izzy with superb natural abilities but, as it was late Saturday, he forgot to add brains and compassion. God says he forgives Izzy and so should the rest of us. PS - his Omnipotence also let slip his favourite team are the Sydney Convicts.
Minz
Guest
Hmm, not very charitable of Rugby Australia to give Folau all that money... do they want the poor man to go to hell? (I do wonder how Folau feels about Mark 10:25... but then, he gives the impression of one who hasn't read a lot of the New Testament)
Melburnian
Roar Pro
I'm not religious but perhaps more indifferent than atheist. However I was raised with Christian values which I apply to all ... i.e. treat people as you would want them to treat you.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
The view is that his post curtailed homosexual peoples right to not be discriminated against or vilified. Whether people believe they were or not is not really the point.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Expressing religion is literally communicating about religion. If one can't communicate their religious beliefs then how can they freely express their religion? It's not relevant what other players choose to do, or what RA and their sponsors feel is "offensive"/ "bigotry"/"homophobia" etc, etc, in the new PC regime everyone is supposed to adhere to. The facts are that the Constitution gives him that freedom. Despite how horrible the Bible, Talmud and Koran are we can't stop people like Christians, Jews and Muslims communicating these beliefs, no matter how abhorrent they are!
Ralph
Roar Guru
That's true in an absolute sense. Freedom always has two faces, freedom TO and freedom FROM. My right to be free to use an axe on people must be curtailed by your right not to be attacked by axe wielding maniacs. But nothing Folau said caused any direct or provable harm to anyone, nor curtailed anybody else's rights. Removing freedom just because you don't agree with someone can quickly become the tyranny of the majority or the start of fascism (using a classic definition of fascism of 'dictating ones morality on others with force').
Paulo
Roar Rookie
We don’t have freedom of expression or freedom of speech in that sense in Australia. E.g. You can’t tell FIRE in a crowded room. I can’t decide to call every customer I talk to c..t, and say it’s my religion and I’m just expressing myself. Those freedoms you speak of are limited to allow for society to actually function properly. Some things are fairly clear cut about what you can and can’t say, some are not clear cut, but those restrictions are still there, everywhere, in everything we do. These things make up our societal norms.