Government’s pandering to religion ‘fills me with horror’

Editor’s note: If you would like to submit a letter for possible publication, please email it to editor@rationalist.com.au. See our Publishing Guideline   Dear Editor, In a world where science has managed to get us to the moon, drastically decrease infant mortality, and increase human longevity, the idea of pandering to beliefs that cannot be demonstrated to be true fills me with horror and disgust (‘Exclusive: Albanese government expresses interest in setting up privileged faith advisory body’, 21 February 2026, Rationalist Society of Australia). “Respecting religion” has no place in a rational world. By all means, practise it. But special privileges? That’s a hard no. For too long, these clubs have received special dispensation, including exemption from laws and taxes. And for what? Collecting money from the poor and the desperate. This racketeering must stop. Tanjil Wright   Oberon's non-religious councillors understand 'separation of church and state' Dear Editor, Recently, Ian Tucker and Katie Graham, were the only councillors of Oberon Council to understand what the “separation of church and state” means (‘Non-religious councillors walk out over Oberon’s prayers’, 18 February 2026, Rationalist Society of Australia). They were also the only councillors who did not display religious bigotry. The rest of the council and the prayer-giver should be publicly outed and named as religious bigots. Let's not have the separation of media and religion fail us, as well. Wh...