Re: Australia Bans Prayers for Troons-- Up to 5 Years in Prison for Unauthorized Praying

On 5/3/2025 2:26 PM, BTR1701 wrote:

On May 3, 2025 at 11:12:26 AM PDT, "moviePig" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote:
 

On 5/3/2025 1:17 PM, BTR1701 wrote:

  On May 3, 2025 at 8:47:26 AM PDT, "moviePig" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote:
 

  On 5/3/2025 1:29 AM, BTR1701 wrote:

>
     The scope of this law is so broad, you could probably make a prima facie
  claim
    that I'm violating it right now by making this post if someone in New
South
    Wales were to read it.

>
  "Conversion therapy" is outlawed in NSW. And, apparently, someone there
  believes in the power of prayer to effect it.
>
  This is an argument about the material efficacy of religious belief.

    So why wouldn't a gender activist be equally guilty for encouraging someone
to
  transition, then? That's every bit the equivalent of praying for them *not*
to
  transition and could likely shown to be more effective since it has the
power
  of the state reinforcing it.

>
I take as a given that "conversion therapy" is illegal in NSW.  But I
don't know if its definition includes, e.g., dick-lopping, etc. .

 The relevant part of the law says, "...with the intent to change or suppress
their sexuality or gender identity".
 A gender activist who encourages someone to transition is engaging in
counseling with the intent to change that person's gender identity. So why
would they not be guilty of violating this law?

Because 'encouragement' (i.e., advice) is part of normal (i.e., consensual) discourse ...whereas 'prayer' goes beyond advice by invoking the unilateral intercession of an all-powerful despot.