Monty Python on the coronation; Carl Sagan on how the ancient knew the earth is round

Published: Wed, 05/03/23

RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Rationale, the magazine of the Rationalist Society of Australia

Good morning ,

As the palace PR machine (predictably) goes into overdrive, I thought I'd bring you Monty Python's view of it all:

A peasant asks King Arthur how he became king and Arthur replies: "The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by Divine Providence that I, Arthur, should carry Excalibur!"

To which another peasant says, "Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!"

Having contributed this gem to the ARM, I rest my case.

Lead stories

What coronation? Many Australians don't know when it's on and few seem inclined to recite the oath

No way I will be pledging "fealty" to some foreign nation's king...

ABC to finally air shelved Israel Folau documentary

In an era of cancel culture, it'll be interesting to see how this is received. Airs at 8pm on Thursday 18 May.

Peak body for Victoria's local governments set to consider directive on prayer | Rationalist Society of Australia

They'll vote on the following motion:

That the Municipal Association of Victoria write to member Councils advising that the MAV supports the removal of prayer from Council meetings, on the grounds that a Council prayer no longer reflects community expectations, is not inclusive and may be unlawful.

Carl Sagan explains how the Ancient Greek knew the earth was round

Eratosthenes, a Greek mathematician and head of the library at Alexandria, deduced the Earth's spherical shape and calculated its circumference by measuring the difference in shadow length between a stick planted in Alexandria and another in Syene, a city south of Alexandria, on the summer solstice. By hiring someone to pace the distance between the two cities and using simple proportions, Eratosthenes estimated the Earth's circumference to be around 40,000 kilometres, a remarkably accurate figure given the available technology of his time.

Other stories of interest

Why Earth is worth protecting - and not just for our sake - Rationale Magazine

By an environmental philosopher. I didn't know there was such a thing.

Turkey: singer sentenced over joke about religious schools

Her crime? Joking that the "perversion" of one of her musicians came from attending a religious school, for goodness' sake!

Religious Freedom: Exposing the Western Hypocrisy

An argument that distinguishes between 'proselytising' and 'non-proselytising' religions. An interesting angle I hadn't considered before.

A better future for our little girls - Eternity News

Eternity News is a religious publication but this may not be what you think...

Got a comment on any of these stories?

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au