As a Christian, I shook my head in utter incredulity at the comments of the Vision Network ecumenical Church spokesperson Glyn Carpenter, and Christian Council of Social Services spokesperson Ruby Duncan, that the now-illegal Occupy Aotea Square (Auckland) protest was on the level of a biblically prophetic event.

A fundamental precept of the Christian faith is to obey the rule of law. The “Occupy” protest is about as “biblical” as a spontaneous dorm party down at the local beach.

“Occupy” has no coherent message, no organised leadership, no overall strategy, and no democratic constituency. It it is simply a bunch of bored, light-thinking “yoof” and anarcho-stirrers having a laugh, and their peculiar and mis-directed derision will be especially reserved for those who are taken in by their message.

What is even funnier is that Vision Network and the Christian Council of Social services take this movement seriously, and attempt to legitimise the wholly illegitimate. Such a response by the aforesaid sanctimonious self-appointed quangos is yet another example of why the church is becoming increasingly irrelevant in the world – because it attempts to be more like the world.

– Steve Taylor
Greenlane, Auckland