Promoting science, reason & critical thinking with a rational A-theist perspective to advance the secular political agenda

Opinion: SAC takes on CPAC

Published on Australian Independent Media Network on 29.11.23 Secular Australia justifiably expects equal media attention to that given to CPAC — the Conservative Political Action Conference that stages rallies promoting authoritarian agendas. Notably, the Secularism Australia Conference, SAC, is the polar opposite! On 2nd December SAC sets out to “reclaim the middle ground” with 18 […]

Opinion: Psychopathic link to Climate Denial

Published on Australian Independent Media Network 6.8.2023 State and federal politicians are generally quite bright — although we can all write a list of those who are anything but! And it’s true that many MPs and senators have similar attributes to the classic CEO. She/he is “… a strategic thinker who can master the details. […]

Opinion: Atheophobia – the Myopia of Monopolised Media

Published on Australian Independent Media Network (AIMN) 20.6.23 How bad is this? Australia ranks 3rd behind the state-owned print media of China and Egypt, as the most highly concentrated media in private hands. Corporate monopolies dominate the economy, and global gambling syndicates monopolise Australian sport. Both fit comfortably with the nation’s monopolised media. But let’s […]

Opinion: A Republic? YES – a Christian Republic? NO

Published on Australian Independent Media Network 20.5.23 So where is the roadblock to an Australian republic? Too many have assumed, for too long, it was simply hereditary monarchy — once Queen Elizabeth had passed the bejewelled orb and sceptres to Charles the road was then clear. Incontrovertibly, the need to precisely frame a sound referendum […]

Opinion: ABC’s Historical Veto of “Secular Voice”

Published by the Australian Independent Media Network on 25.4.23 Let’s be forensically clear about this — ABC radio and television programming has a deep philosophical problem that needs to be fairly and openly discussed. ABC PR and publicity is fiercely and pretentiously strident on “diversity and inclusion”; and one assumes that should include an overt […]

Opinion: Timely reminder Religion/Politics don’t mix

Published by Australian Independent Media Network on 7th April 2023 If Easter is a time of reflection it may well be relevant for both major parties to reflect on that age-old conundrum — is mixing religion with politics such a good idea?  Certainly that’s not currently so for the Liberal Party, as we shall see […]

Opinion: Enraged evangelists subvert Christianity

Published by the Australian Independent Media Network on 11th July 2022 Staggeringly, there are more than 45,000 incarnations of Christianity in the world, according to the Centre for the Study of Global Christianity. And they should know! Every religion has been riven with division, from the time of their own particular deity — or myriad […]

Sec-Net: Interim Results of “A-theism” Survey + other

Sec-Net: Interim Results of “A-theism” Survey + other:  21.4.22 Sec-Net email to the whole Secular Network NSL blog post also run with National Secular Lobby *  Interim Results of the “A-theism” Survey, still open till 30.4.22 *  NSL blog extends reach of the “A-theism” Survey *  AIM Network publishes piece on “A-theism” and Easter *  […]

Media Release: Easter rooted in A-theism

“A-theism” — the historical genesis of Easter Published in: Australian Independent Media Network on 14.4.22 Relevant comments follow the published media release. (1) “A-theism” is not, per se, “anti-religious”; nor malign “people” with a private belief. (2) But it reserves the right to “fact-check” and challenge the roots of religious history. (3) Why A-theism needs […]

Opinion: Canberra Times – Consequences of the biased question on religion. 10.8.21

The 2021 Census has far more meaning to the secular majority than simply raising the ‘No Religion’ demographic to above the misleading low of 30% in the 2016 census. There are consequences for ABS maintaining their distorted figure of religiosity — with its biased question: “What is the person’s religion?”.  That implicitly assumes every person […]

Opinion: Census must change to stop “Spiritual Pork-barrellling”

Published by Australian Independent Media Network 7.8.21 Authoritarian religion — throughout history — has had a seamless simpatico relationship with authoritarian governments. Think middle-ages, the Conquistadors, and Catholic pogroms against heretics. Over recent decades it’s become a triumvirate of conservative clerics, politicians and media hacks — trying to stamp out rationalism! This census is a […]

Radio Interview: ABC Sunshine Coast – Census is “Spiritual Pork-barrelling”

Brian Morris interview with ABC Sunshine Coast; Annie Gaffney 5.8.21 Why the census question on religion continues to be skewed;  (1) the ‘evidence’ from a new Essential Poll (see media release 5.8.21) and the study “Religiosity in Australia“. (2) Why the question must be changed.  (3) What the consequence are of ABS and the government […]

Media Release: “Spiritual pork-barrelling” skews Census Question on Religion

Brian Morris interview with ABC Sunshine Coast 5.8.21    See next post: Point 1:  This week’s Essential Poll proves the census is flawed. Point 2:  ABS admit collecting ‘childhood’ beliefs inflates the data. Point 3:  There’s no ABS “continuity” argument to keep the religious question “A national Essential Poll — just released — shows new evidence […]

Radio Interview: ABC Victoria – Census question 23 on Religion 30.7.21

Brian Morris interview with Fiona Parker; ABC Central Victoria. 30.7.21 Brian speaks on why census question 23, on Religious Affiliation, is heavily biased, and which greatly inflates the level of religious belief.  This is important to secular Australia as billions in taxpayer dollars are unjustifiably gifted — by federal governments — to religious institutions to […]

Radio Interview: ABC Sydney – Census question on Religion is flawed

ABC Radio Sydney:  13th July, 2021 Plain Reason’s media release 12.7.21 naturally linked to Neil Francis and his excellent 152-page report “Religiosity in Australia“, so it was pleasing that ABC’s Cassie McCullagh called requesting an interview with Neil.  He did an excellent job, and Cassie included several callers.  In two parts, the file is too […]

Opinion: Corrupted census data on religion ‘gifts’ billions to Churches

Published by Australian Independent Media Network 11.7.21 Published by Independent Australia 25.7.21 Corrupted census data on religion ‘gifts’ billions to Churches On Tuesday 10th August every Australian will be asked to complete the 5-yearly census. A primary objective of each census is to collect accurate data from individuals and households, allowing the federal government to […]

Media Release – Flawed Census question on Religion

New research: Census flawed by 50 percent, on religious belief    11.7.21 On 10th August all Australians will be asked to fill out the census. One question will still get is wrong — and badly skew the data on religious belief inAustralia! “Inflating census data on religious belief serves only to allow governments to fund unjustified […]

Opinion: Dominionism: nothing to see here

Published on Australian Independent Media Network on 16.4.21 Published on Independent Australia on 30.5.21 With the rise of Pentecostal and charismatic megachurches there’s a rational concern that a ‘literal’ belief in the Bible has lead to anti-science trolls, climate denial and an anti-vax movement. But the endgame will be more serious if the trend continues […]

Opinion: The Power of Politics and Religion

Published by Australian Independent Media Network 10.3.21 Politics and religion have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship since Christianity became the Church of Rome in the 4th century. That legacy continues with impending federal legislation. Power does have a tendency to corrupt and – in the hands of many political and religious leaders (over many centuries) – […]