If just playing with a kid who doesn't believe is that risky, you have to wonder about them. Is their faith really /so/ pathetically fragile?

**(one of whom in fact, did believe in god at the time – though adding that a lot of the biblical accounts 'obviously don't make sense' . In fact that one may still believe for all I know – presumably picking it up from contact with other kids at school. I felt no burning need to dissuade the nascent belief, but nowadays if it gets brought up I do make it clear what I think. I didn't discuss my own beliefs until well after they were old enough to disagree with me and hold up their end of any discussion. No brainwashing in my house, thanks.)

It's provided by an interfaith council (meaning of course Christian faiths)

like the fact that by law, things like religious beliefs (amongst other topics) are not permitted to be discussed at formal workplace interviews. Doesn't stop employers and HR people enquiring, but I feel confident enough these days to pick them up on the illegality of the question

Wonder how this will work under the proposed changes to Victorian discrimination laws

I can relate to Efrique's comment about how having young children suddenly exposes you as a parent to all these "christians" who have concerns about your children's morals etc. Oddly enough, the church itself (and the school owned by the church) had no problems at all with the fact that neither of the kids were baptized nor regular church attendees.

I think we are tremendously lucky in Australia for we do have a lot of freedom to think and believe what we choose. And even if we believe we are being discriminated against on religious grounds, we do have the backing of the law to protect us (and I seem to recall a few years ago a case in Victoria where an atheist took his employer to task and won).

I like the fact that by law, things like religious beliefs (amongst other topics) are not permitted to be discussed at formal workplace interviews. Doesn't stop employers and HR people enquiring, but I feel confident enough these days to pick them up on the illegality of the question.

Suddenly, my atheism because an issue for a great many christians who otherwise would have said nothing – and some of whom I had known quite well for years.
"How will your children learn morals?"
"How can you raise children without god?"
"But of course your children will go to church?!"
etc etc etc.

Suddenly, as soon as some parents found out we were atheists, their children were not allowed to play with our kids, not to invite them over and so on (though they did get invitations to go to church). This was even from parents who had previously remarked how well-behaved and polite they were.

My kids are at a different school now, which seems to have a distinctly different culture, and we're also more cautious about telling other parents we're atheists. In any case, the problem is less noticeable.

So, while in most cases I'd say that anti-atheist prejudice is lower in Australia, there are times when it does seem to intrude.