Countering counter-Enlightenment New Theism; animals 1 vs Islam/Judaism 0

Published: Wed, 02/14/24

RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Rationale, the magazine of the Rationalist Society of Australia

Good morning ,

Do you get sick of those who claim institutionalised religion is, on balance, a good thing for society - because humans are so pathetic that we just need something to fill that 'God-shaped hole' in our lives? Read (or at least skim) our Lead Story by philosopher Daniel Sharp. [Hint: it ain't true!]

And apologies ahead of time for the language (@#$!) in our last story. But it is very funny.

Lead stories

Against the 'New Theism'

Philosopher Daniel Sharp excoriates 'New Theism', a counter-Enlightenment movement that defends religion, particularly Christianity, based on its perceived social value rather than its truthfulness. Think Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Jordan Peterson. A useful piece that lists the reasons why religion, as supported by the New Theists, is not the antidote to all the ills of Western societies.

Top human rights court backs Belgian religious slaughter bans

Some good news: the ritual slaughter of animals without prior stunning doesn't breach the European Convention on Human Rights, despite protests by the antediluvian Muslim and Jewish religious establishments, who claim "prohibiting the slaughter of conscious animals by religious rite violated their freedom of religion". What about the animals??

Other stories of interest

Defending Weak Naturalism: Not a Trivial Position "

I've often said that the basic reason I am not religious is that "there is no evidence" for a supernatural Being. In this essay, former RSA board member Hugh Harris explains this position with clarity and force.

Public Schools Are Not Sunday Schools

From Time magazine: The "wall of separation" between church and state in the US is being progressively undermined. As this writer says, "The intent behind employing chaplains as counselors could not be clearer: send “chaplains” into public schools to serve as Christian missionaries." Yep, we could have told them that!

When You Got Your Period May Impact Dementia Risk, Study Finds

The more, the better, it seems!

What if Putin's translator was an Aussie?

Even my North American correspondent thought this was funny!

Got a comment on any of these stories?

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au