Source:         www.assistnews.net

Date:            May 29, 2007

By Garth George, Editor, Challenge Weekly, New Zealand
Special to ASSIST News Service

AUCKLAND, NZ (ANS) -- Bishop Brian Tamaki, leader of New Zealand's Destiny Church, is calling on Christian-based countries to unashamedly declare their religious identity or risk losing it forever.

Bishop Brian Tamaki

His statement comes in response to a political endeavour by what he calls New Zealand's left-wing Labour-led Government to declare New Zealand to be religiously neutral.

Bishop Tamaki pointed to the social upheaval being experienced globally, and in particular in countries such Britain and France, where "the proliferation of Islam has significantly weakened their sense of national safety and security".

"I believe we are at a point where Christian-based nations must not be afraid to declare their religious allegiance, not to the exclusion of other religions, but to ensure that future generations can enjoy the moral traditions, values, safety and freedoms that Christianity affords.

"This would mean that alternative or foreign religions would not be afforded equal status to the established national religion, therefore certain restrictions on those religions would need to apply, " said Bishop Tamaki.

As a commonwealth nation, New Zealand had a significant Christian heritage that is interwoven throughout its constitutional, judicial, political and social arrangements. 

"Political correctness, fear of terrorism and secularisation has caused many Western Christian countries to be religiously and politically susceptible," said Bishop Tamaki.

"But you must understand there is no such thing as a religiously neutral country - as we are experiencing.

"Even a Government or organisation such as the United Nations that seeks to minimise religion is in fact imposing its own, which is the religion of secular humanism.

"I affirm the separate functions of Church and state and freedom of religious choice. But I don't see why we should minimise or deny our Christian heritage for fear of causing offence to an individual, group or country of alternative religious persuasions." 

To that end, Bishop Tamaki is leading a delegation of church representatives to uphold and promote New Zealand's Christian heritage.

A key part of his presentation will be seeking to officially recognise New Zealand as a Christian nation.

The event coincides with the New Zealand Prime Minister's Asia Pacific Inter-religious Forum on Tuesday this week at Waitangi.

Bishop Tamaki will also send an open letter to foreign delegates attending the forum pointing out New Zealand's Christian heritage.