Rationale: Monthly digest for December

Published: Thu, 12/30/21

Welcome to the monthly digest for December

Hi ,

This holiday period, the Rationale magazine is celebrating rationalism and reason.

In recent days, we have launched our holiday reading series, ‘The season for reason’, featuring a selection of articles from past editions of the former Australian Rationalist magazine.

Click here to view all the articles in the series so far.

We hope you enjoy the series.

Have a happy New Year!

Si Gladman
Editor

Highlights from Rationale

Preaching science and reason is not enough (2013)

By Lyn Allison

When pushing our campaigns about elevating reason and evidence as prerequisites for determining significant beliefs and actions, we need to grapple with the many barriers and complexities created by us humans. But I think we’re up for it.

Read the full article here

Reason in Western civilisation (2016)

By Paul Monk

When I think of ‘Western civilisation’, I am conscious of a heritage dating back at least 3,000 years ... However, the role of reason, in either the formal or critical senses, has been much more episodic than continuous; and has largely been the work of small minorities of people living within ‘Western’ societies. It has not been the defining characteristic or virtue of the mass of Westerners at any point; nor is it now.

Read the full article here

MBJ's view on current affairs

See all of MBJ's recent work here.

This matter of Christmas and hope

By Paul Monk

The notion being peddled by Sheridan and Grant that Jesus as ‘the Son of God’ was born two thousand years ago to save the world from the ‘sin of Adam’ and open the gates to Heaven, closed since the Fall of our ‘first parents’, has no foundation whatsoever in reality.

Read the full article here

When beliefs become deadly

By Carrick Ryan

After five years of working for the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, where I was consumed by the persistent and genuine threat of Islamic terrorism, there is some irony in the fact the very last investigation I played any role in was the world’s first real example of white nationalist terrorism. The uncomfortable truth is – and I can only speak for myself – I did not see it coming.

Read the full article here

The broken message spread through a Christian schools network

By Si Gladman

The distribution of the Christian Schools Australia podcast episode raised concerns among some in the network who have been wanting the schools to modernise their views on homosexuality and provide appropriate support for children experiencing sexuality and gender issues.

Read the full article here