RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Monday, November 6, 2023

Good morning ,

As you probably know, since 2015 I have avoided reference to articles referencing Donald Trump - perhaps a forlorn hope that he will just 'go away'.

But I urge you to read the second article below, which shows how Trump's behaviour has been and increasingly is fascist. I realise it's all too easy to throw such labels around but it's also too easy to become so accustomed to his behaviour that you don't see it for what it is. The triumph of fascism has happened before and it can happen again.

Lead stories

In the UK, the Minister of State for Defence has said that the UK is "aware that the Armed Forces of Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands employ humanist pastoral carers (or similar)" and that therefore, "We are working to create and sustain an environment where everyone feels respected and able to achieve their full potential." And yet Australia's Defence Forces are being held back by the RACS (Religious Advisory Committee to the Services), a small group of clerics dominated by Pentacostals. 

A scholar who specialises in the political philosophy of fascism writes, "..fascists see violence as something to be used for more than just personal retribution and intimidation. It is to be used to create wider social disruption and destruction. Not only are individuals to be subject to attack, but institutions and norms as well."

I keep an eye on Caldron Pool, a website that exemplifies a Christian nationalist mindset. Here is but one example: an Australian physicist with a PhD from UWA and "a biblical creationist worldview". Here, he writes that it is not "settled science" that coal, petroleum and natural gas were created in the earth "a very long time ago", and insists that energy from fossil fuels is a gift from god.

Other stories of interest

Sydney Catholic school scraps same-sex formal ban following backlash

Researchers Discover Miracle Cure For Gender Dysphoria Called 'Deleting TikTok'

"By cutting off access to videos of pink-haired men yelling online about being born in the wrong body, the study led by Dr. Mendez found a one-hundred percent drop in cases of teens who visited his office identifying as trans." [Before you get outraged, this article is satire!]

Australian court rules in favor of govt over Syria repatriations

Cats Have Hundreds of Distinct Facial Expressions We Never Knew About

I know, I know.

Got a comment on any of these stories? 

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au

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