Dr Paul Allen

The   Conversion Practices Ban Act  2024 (NSW)   (“the Act”) is now in force, having commenced operation on 4 April 2025. I  previously posted  a paper expressing concerns about the Act's operation in relation to religious freedom. In this post, I want to reiterate briefly some of those concerns  and comment on “guidance” on the operation of the Act provided by NSW government officials. I commend the previous paper to readers for more details. However, the following extracts may help set the scene for my comments on the NSW government guidance. Below, I will be referring to the “ Frequently Asked Questions ” (“FAQ”) page produced by “Anti-Discrimination NSW” (ADNSW)- the version I am commenting on was dated 7 April 2025. (ADNSW is the “online identity” of the body formally known as the “Anti-Discrimination Board” established under the  Anti-Discrimination Act 1977  (NSW); the President of the Board receives initial complaints under the Act- see s ...

Image via Wikipedia Sex Is Cheap  - Here’s an interesting article from Slate with a look at today’s sexual economics. “Despite the fact that women are holding the sexual purse strings, they aren’t asking for much in return these days—the market ‘price’ of sex is currently very low.”

Image via Wikipedia Do you see through people or into people?  This question has been challenging me to examine how I interact and communicate with the people around me.  The problem is I find it hard to remember names? Do you? As a pastor / leader it is easy to get caught up into thinking only about  my  world,  my  struggles, and  my  priorities; so much so that my interaction with others can become automated and disingenuous. The question causes me to wonder just how many opportunities I have missed to connect with others more deeply and to truly serve them. How do you see people?  Before you answer that question, consider these five characteristics of someone that sees through people. A person that sees through people … Sees only the consequences of people’s actions and not the pain and struggle they are going through that causes them to behave in a certain way. Sees an opportunity to ask a question but hopes they don’t hav...