Power and influence of institutionalised religion

Published: Sun, 11/12/23

RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Monday, November 13, 2023

Rationale, the magazine of the Rationalist Society of Australia

Good morning ,

In our first 2 articles below, more examples of the power and influence of institutionalised religion (sorry to be banging on about this but it's just relentless).

Apparently some Christians think "Satan" is the enemy of the Australian Defence Forces (rather than China? Russia?) because of moves to "secularise" chaplaincy roles.

And Labor caves in to the religious lobby, promising (again!) to exempt "religious expression" from its proposed legislation to curb misinformation.

And in Qld, the Labor govt has reneged on its promise to turn over the old Sandgate fire and rescue station to the community, instead handing it over to the Catholic church.

And ... in news that I find particularly saddening, Ayaan Hirsi Ali has declared she has 'become' a Christian - because she thinks only Judeo-Christian values can 'save Western civilisation' and because she misses religion. Read Jerry Coyne's withering response below...

Lead stories

Christian fellowship group's 'operation' in Defence seeks to counter 'Satan's' desire for secular reform of chaplaincy | Rationalist Society of Australia

We have discovered a strategic plan on the website of the Military Christian Fellowship (MCF) detailing what the group has labelled its ‘Operation Fruitful Tree’ 2015-2019. Among other things, this plan says Christians within the Defence Forces, including high ranking ones, must "counter Satan", who, apparently, is "the enemy" who is persecuting Christians for their beliefs and wants to "secularise chaplaincy roles" in Defence.

Protections for religious expression as Labor revises controversial misinformation laws

Yet again we see the power and influence of organised religion as Labor indicates it will provide "clear exemption" for "religious expression" in its proposed misinformation laws. While the RSA supports freedom of belief (an internal mindset) and appropriately circumscribed freedom of expression, the way those beliefs are manifest in society (behaviour) should be subject to the same laws as apply to everyone else. So it all depends on the breadth of the exemptions to be afforded religious expression!

RSA seeks details from Victorian government on plan to replace parliament prayers | Rationalist Society of Australia

We have written to Victorian AG, Jaclyn Symes, asking when her govt will act on its promise to replace exclusively Christian prayer at the opening of daily parliamentary proceedings with something more appropriate to Victoria's multicultural society.

Other stories of interest

Australians aren't joining in any more - and it appears to be having big political consequences

People don't join civic and political groups as they used to - but that's not the end of activism. Instead of joining clubs and associations (like the RSA), people show their support by signing petitions and making donations to their preferred causes. Just a different model.

Scott Morrison's heartless yearning for Armageddon - Pearls and Irritations

"Christian Zionists believe that Christ will return to earth in a place called Megiddo .. smack in the middle of Israel .. they wait impatiently for the End-Times so that they can be taken to heaven to be with Christ .. If Jesus ever truly existed and was just a peace-loving hippy wandering around Galilee, he surely would be horrified to know that all kinds of inhumanity and evilness has been deemed justifiable in his name".

Philosophical fashions and conceptual progress - Rationale Magazine

RSA Fellow Paul Monk reflects on whether there has been 'progress' within philosophy - "If Plato began by seeking to distinguish between error, opinion, true opinion and knowledge, we find ourselves, 2400 years later, swamped by activist ideological movements that systematically blur all these things. They thrive on ‘narratives’ that frequently consist of wholly spurious history and sociology. They seek to silence – ‘deplatform’ or ‘cancel’ – those of whom they disapprove and to rewrite the history and literature of the past according to their pseudo-egalitarian norms.

This is not progress in philosophy. It is the demolition of critical rationalism and philosophical scepticism."

Ayaan Hirsi Ali ditches atheism, becomes a Christian

Jerry Coyne counters the reasons Hirsi Ali proffers for her recent declaration - "religion might give you a meaning and purpose of life, but they are bogus ones .. you make your own purpose and meaning"

Got a comment on any of these stories?

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au