Morrison's dangerous religiosity; inside the Christian Right in Australia; France enshrines a woman's right to abortion

Published: Wed, 03/06/24

RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Rationale, the magazine of the Rationalist Society of Australia

Good morning ,

Well, yesterday's RSAD was a blooper, wasn't it? Must have been distracted by my North American correspondent flying back stateside for a week to be with a not-so-well family member.

Anyway, this morning we feature an article by David Hardaker, one of the few journalists who took seriously Scott Morrison's religiosity. As he says, people for whom religion is ... well, irrelevant ... find it hard to understand how dangerous Morrison's self-belief actually was.

And the (looong) campaign to allow those facing the horrors of dementia to set in stone their desire for assisted dying at a given point is gaining momentum.

Watch out tomorrow for a big one - the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is exposed as unscientific, unethical, and dangerous for children and other vulnerable people. The evidence is out!

Lead stories

'Nobody quite understood': What role did religion play in Scott Morrison's 'bulldozer' moves?

David Hardaker, one of the very few journalists who dared to question the link between Scott Morrison's religiosity and his politics, writes: "Ultimately, it may take the insights of a religious insider – rather than a secular expert – to explain Morrison’s actions .. the Pentecostal model is that God has blessed me and my decisions .. the idea of the God-anointed leader has been fundamental in the governance of many Pentecostal churches in Australia .. unless and until the leader had “misjudgments or character defects”.

Inside the Christian Right Conspiracy to "Take Over Government" · Caldron Pool

I don't often include articles from the radical right, but this one provides a useful insight into the mind of the Christian nationalist: "They’re on a not well-hidden mission to wind back the clock of landmark social progress such as marriage equality, gender theory, reproductive choice, completely decriminalised sex work and legalised voluntary assisted dying ... the conspiracy to make Australian politicians humble under the blessing of Almighty God is finally being exposed."

Other stories of interest

France becomes first country to enshrine abortion rights into the constitution

"Out of 925 MPs and senators eligible to vote, 780 supported the amendment giving women the “guaranteed freedom” to choose an abortion."

RSA seeks meeting with government to discuss discrimination against non-religious Australians | Rationalist Society of Australia

If the ACL (Australian Christian Lobby) can get meetings with the Attorney-General, why not us? Read what we'd like to discuss with him ...

Ireland to vote on removing 'a woman's place is in the home' from constitution on International Women's Day

Ireland's constitution contains this: "The State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved." !!!

We should all have the right to die on our own terms - current assisted-dying laws deny this to people with dementia

"As the child of end-of-life dementia patients, I don’t wish to suffer the ignominy of reverting to a childlike state; of outliving the ability to love and support those closest to me; of losing my essence .. I want to be able to take the decision out of the hands of my loved ones – not because I fear I may be the one in five who will suffer elder abuse at the hands of grasping offspring – but because I don’t want them to bear the responsibility of making the decision for me if I am no longer of sound mind".

Got a comment on any of these stories?

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au