Good morning ,
The Secularism Australia conference is coming up soon, on Saturday. And
then I'm off to the wintry wonderlands of Maine and Massachusetts. Can't wait!
Chair of the conference, Mike Dove, managed to get an op ed published in the Canberra Times this morning. It's so rare for the MSM to give attention to the non-religious in proportion to our numbers! In Mike's
article, he lists 3 characteristics of genuine secularism - see below. Hope Janet Albrechtsen takes note.
The Australian failed to print this letter to the editor by RSA Fellow Neil Francis:
"Gosh it must be exhausting to be Janet Albrechtsen (The Oz, New secularism shortcut to bad ideas, 23 Nov).
In
a triggered galaxy of offences by perceived “opponents” before anybody at the upcoming secular conference has even ventured towards a mic, Ms Albrechtsen lazily invokes multiple stereotypes against which to rail. She conflates religiosity with ideologism, and secularism with the view that the world should unquestioningly and automatically accommodate itself to every requirement of the most ideological far left. Absent is the possibility that — quelle horreur! — a diversity of views might
be shared.
Secularism seeks to employ naturalistic considerations in the absence of supernatural explanations, rules and “authority”. That’s it. Everything else is up for grabs. Bring on the (rational) debates.
Neil Francis
Fellow
Rationalist Society of Australia".
