Rationalist Society of Australia

The challenge of Chinese communist historiography - Rationale Magazine It is widely understood that the Chinese Communist Party exercises intense control over its own history and does what it can to impose its own interpretation of China’s modern history on its own long-...

“...the history of three decades before 1949 bears very little resemblance to the version of it propagated by the Chinese communists…” In #Rationale magazine, Paul Monk reviews historian Frank Dikötter’s new book on China’s path to communism.
rationalemagazine.com/index.php/20...

Australian Federal Police see growth in reports of forced marriage A survivor of underage forced marriage is using her lived experience to raise critical awareness amid a growth in reports of the crime in Australia.

James Cockayne, the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, says the practice of forced marriage remains “highly prevalent in a range of settings, both in certain cultural contexts and in high control religious groups of a range of faith backgrounds." Read more: www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dodged answering a direct question on when his government would deliver on its commitment to protect students and teachers from discrimination in religious schools – a promise repeatedly made by Labor when in opposition.
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Non-religious people “significantly less likely” to vote for the Liberal Party, review finds | Rationalist Society of Australia Non-religious Australians were “significantly less likely” to vote for the Liberal Party at the 2025 federal election, according to analysis in the party’s internal review of its disastrous election c...

Non-religious Australians were “significantly less likely” to vote for the Liberal Party at the 2025 federal election, according to analysis in the party’s internal review of its disastrous election campaign. Read more: rationalist.com.au/non-religiou...
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Before you share that story about how troops were told the Iran War is for "Armageddon," read this The narrative is dramatic. The sourcing is thin. And skepticism matters, especially on something this serious.

Leading atheist commentator Hemant Mehta, from the Friendly Atheist podcast, has raised concerns about the accuracy of reports that are going viral today and claiming US military commanders have told their troops the Iran war is part of God’s plan. Read more: www.friendlyatheist.com/p/before-you...

Living with ‘AI anxiety’ - Rationale Magazine A patient said to me the other day, half-smiling but clearly unsettled: “I think I’ve got anxiety about AI.” They weren’t having a panic attack or describing clinical anxiety. What they were expressin...

“At this moment in history, AI anxiety is not irrational… Neither denial nor panic is helpful.” In #Rationale magazine, Grant Blashki writes about ‘AI anxiety’ and the growing concerns about how artificial intelligence is impacting our lives.
rationalemagazine.com/index.php/20...

Colander-wearing Pastafarian strains the rules with Queensland driver’s licence photo Syaban Shadikillah told to get new driver’s licence after being issued one using photo of him with colander on his head

The Guardian reports that the Queensland government has ordered a Pastafarian to return his driver’s licence and get a new one after the government issued him a licence featuring a photo of him wearing a colander on his head.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
#QLDpol

RSA urges Albanese govt against further privileging religion through a faith advisory body | Rationalist Society of Australia The Rationalist Society of Australia has urged the Albanese government against further privileging the voices of religious communities through the establishment of a national faith advisory body, this...

We have urged the Albanese govt against further privileging the voices of religious communities through the establishment of a national faith advisory body, this week raising discrimination and constitutional concerns with the nation’s first law-officer: rationalist.com.au/rsa-urges-al...
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Scientology and Jehovah's Witnesses among alleged high-control groups An analysis of submissions to Victoria's inquiry into cults and fringe groups shows many of the groups hold charity status.

An ABC analysis of submissions to the Victorian Parliament’s inquiry into cults and fringe groups reveals that several of the religious groups accused of coercive control and abusive practices have charity status. Read: www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
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Increase in religious schools and home schooling could prevent ‘deeper social cohesion’, Julian Hill says Labor MP says some children reach adulthood without mixing with people from different cultures and religions

The Guardian reports that a federal Labor MP will today warn that the rise in faith-based education and home schooling risks Australian children growing up without any meaningful exposure to peers outside their cultural and ethnic groups.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
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How climate scientists balance the tension between research and public protest - Rationale Magazine From marches and demonstrations to civil disobedience, scientists are increasingly turning to climate protest. As a social psychologist, I’ve been investigating why researchers – who are trained to va...

“The rise of scientist activism reflects this shifting terrain, and the difficult choices it brings.” In #Rationale magazine, Samuel Finnerty writes on why some climate scientists are turning to protest.
rationalemagazine.com/index.php/20...

Exclusive: Albanese government expresses interest in setting up privileged faith advisory body | Rationalist Society of Australia Federal government ministers have expressed interest in establishing a faith affairs advisory body that would give religious clerics privileged access to government ministers and influence in the poli...

Federal government ministers have expressed interest in establishing a faith affairs advisory body that would give religious clerics privileged access to government ministers and influence in the policy-making process. Read more: rationalist.com.au/exclusive-al...
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Thinking clearly about Iran - Rationale Magazine How are we to think rationally and clearly about the drama unfolding in Iran? As a veteran historian and analyst of international affairs, I was asked to give an address on this topic on 11 February, ...

In our #Rationale magazine, Paul Monk writes on the unfolding events in Iran and what history can teach us about where the nation might be heading.
rationalemagazine.com/index.php/20...

When their colleagues at Oberon Council stood for Christian prayers at the opening of Tuesday night's council meeting, non-religious councillors Ian Tucker and Katie Graham headed for the door. Read our report from yesterday: rationalist.com.au/non-religiou...
#NSWpol #auspol

Non-religious councillors walk out over Oberon’s prayers | Rationalist Society of Australia Two elected representatives at a New South Wales council have walked out of a meeting instead of standing with their colleagues to observe Christian prayers, marking a defining moment in their push to...

Two elected representatives at Oberon Council in NSW have walked out of a meeting instead of standing with their colleagues to observe Christian prayers, marking a defining moment in their push to remove acts of religious worship from local government: rationalist.com.au/non-religiou...
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In your 2026 Australian Census response, stand up for who you are.

With your 2026 Australian Census response, ensure everyone is fairly and accurately represented.

In your 2026 Australian Census response, don't be swayed by bias in the question.

If you’re considering marking ‘No religion’ when you complete the Census this year, here are three good reasons for why you should: Authenticity; Fairness; and Integrity. Find out more on our campaign website: censusnotreligious.org.au
#Census26 #NotReligious

In the #Rationale magazine, cartoonist Matt Bissett-Johnson gives his take on what’s happening in current affairs. Check out his other recent cartoons here: rationalemagazine.com/index.php/au...
@mbjcartoonist.bsky.social #auspol

NSW government won’t intervene to prevent discrimination against non-religious councillors | Rationalist Society of Australia The New South Wales government will not intervene to prevent discrimination against non-religious elected representatives of local governments, despite concerns that the practice of imposing religious...

The NSW government will not intervene to prevent discrimination against non-religious elected representatives of local governments, despite concerns that the practice of imposing religious worship is unlawful and undermines social cohesion. Read more: rationalist.com.au/nsw-governme...
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Landmark High Court ruling finds Catholic Church liable for harm A man who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a priest in the 1960s has won his High Court battle over liability, but had his compensation nearly halved.

ABC reports that the High Court has, in a ruling that breaks new ground in the fight for compensation by victims, found the Catholic Church liable for the harm caused to a 13-year-old boy who suffered abuse at the hands of a paedophile priest in the late 1960s.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Plymouth Brethren charity launches US lawsuit against survivor podcast host, who says she was abused by an elder as a child The controversial church’s charity arm has asked an American court to intervene over the use of its logo on the former member’s YouTube channel.

The Age reports that the Exclusive Brethren’s Australian-based charity, the Rapid Relief Team, is suing a former member who escaped the church aged 17 after what she says was years of childhood sexual abuse. www.theage.com.au/national/bre...
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It’s been 1650 days since the Victorian govt promised to replace the parliament’s imposed daily acts of Christian worship with a “model that is purpose fit for Victoria”. Yet, it has so far failed to deliver on this simple commitment. Follow our campaign: rationalist.com.au/category/sec...
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Christian schools teaching “God’s great creation” and “Noah’s flood” as part of science classes | Rationalist Society of Australia Queensland-based Christian schools receiving millions of dollars from taxpayers are teaching religious myths, including "God’s great creation" and "Noah’s flood", as part of science classes, it can be...

Queensland-based Christian schools receiving millions of dollars from taxpayers are teaching religious myths, including “God’s great creation” and “Noah’s flood”, as part of science classes, it can be revealed. Read more: rationalist.com.au/christian-sc...
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In a speech in the Senate this week, Nick McKim called on the Albanese government to deliver on its promise to remove religious exemptions from federal anti-discrimination laws. Follow our campaign against religious exemptions on our website: www.rationalist.com.au
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Regulator probes charity status of 'apocalyptic Christian cult' The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission says it is investigating the charity status of Shincheonji, which featured prominently in the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into cults and fri...

The ABC reports that the national charities regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), has announced it is investigating the fringe Christian group Shincheonji. Read more: www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
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Pressed on prayers issue, NSW faith advisory body to weigh up rights for non-religious people | Rationalist Society of Australia A controversial advisory body of religious clerics appointed by the New South Wales government will this week decide whether to speak up for the fundamental rights of non-religious people to freedom o...

An advisory body of religious clerics appointed by the NSW govt will this week decide whether to speak up for the fundamental rights of non-religious people in responding to community concerns about the imposition of prayers in local governments. Read more:
rationalist.com.au/pressed-on-p...
#NSWpol

The Census Files: When the ABS made its decision (Part 3) - Rationale Magazine This is Part 3 in our ‘The Census Files’ series. Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. In early October 2024, the tide was turning against the new religion question as executives prepared for a meeting with the head of the ABS, David Gruen (pictured), to make a decision on the way forward. Without any

In part 3 of our ‘The Census Files’ series, revealing documents obtained under FOI laws, @sigladman.bsky.social writes about the meeting at which executives of the Bureau of Statistics decided to re-use the biased religion question for the 2026 Census.
rationalemagazine.com/index.php/20...

At the Universal Periodic Review this past week, a few UN member nations called on Australia to address discrimination on the grounds of religion & belief, while some also urged the country to remove exemptions to anti-discrimination laws in faith schools. More: rationalist.com.au/rsa-calls-fo...

Exclusive: ABS knew religion question “may lead respondents to a particular response”, documents reveal | Rationalist Society of Australia Executives of the Australian Bureau of Statistics were aware that the biased Census question about religious affiliation “may lead respondents to a particular response” when they opted to re-use it fo...

Executives of the Australian Bureau of Statistics were aware that the biased Census question about religious affiliation “may lead respondents to a particular response” when they opted to re-use it for the 2026 Census, it has been revealed. Read more: rationalist.com.au/exclusive-ab...
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Religious lobbyists raised a number of concerns about the proposed changes to the Census religion question when they met with the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2024, documents obtained by us show. Read part 2 of our ‘The Census Files’ series: rationalemagazine.com/index.php/20...
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RSA calls for Special Rapporteur visit as Universal Periodic Review overlooks discrimination against non-religious people | Rationalist Society of Australia The Rationalist Society of Australia is urging the United Nations Special Rapporteur on religion and belief to visit Australia to conduct an investigation of the discriminatory treatment of non-religi...

We're urging the UN Special Rapporteur on religion & belief to visit Australia to investigate the discriminatory treatment of non-religious people in govt institutions & programs, following Australia’s appearance at the Universal Period Review this week.
rationalist.com.au/rsa-calls-fo...
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