{"id":16007,"date":"2025-12-31T01:07:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T14:07:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/?p=16007"},"modified":"2025-12-31T15:27:38","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T04:27:38","slug":"rationales-top-reads-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/31\/rationales-top-reads-of-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Rationale\u2019s top reads of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the end of each year, we bring you the top articles that have captivated our members and readers the most over the past 12 months, according to our readership data.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2025, Rationale<\/em> has continued to help serve the mission of the Rationalist Society of Australia by providing a platform for rationalist thinkers to share their opinions on important issues. We\u2019ve published articles and letters from many contributors on a wide range of topics, reaching an audience of thousands of readers across Australia and the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interestingly, the most-read article of 2025 was actually published in the previous year! Clare Heath-McIvor\u2019s <\/span>piece on the challenges of leaving cults<\/span><\/a> \u2013 published in August 2024 \u2013 achieved the highest readership for the second year running. No doubt this was partly due to the high public interest in the impacts of cults following the Victorian Parliament\u2019s new inquiry into the issue in 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Setting that aside, let\u2019s take a look at the top 5 articles published in 2025:<\/span><\/p>\n

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1.<\/em> The world \u201cdoes have intelligent design\u201d, says Andrew Hastie\u00a0<\/i><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In October, Si Gladman reported on Liberal MP Andrew Hastie\u2019s comments to a church podcast that he believes Genesis \u201canswers a few of the big questions upfront\u201d, including on origins, and that the world \u201cdoes have intelligent design\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2.<\/em>\u00a0Robert Harris, Edward Berger and the Vatican<\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n

In February, Paul Monk wrote about the Vatican\u2019s traditional practice of electing a new pope, and how this has been depicted in Robert Harris\u2019 book, <\/span>Conclave<\/span><\/i>, and a new film of the same title.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3.<\/em>\u00a0 Christian extremism: An American ideological contagion in the Australian context<\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n

In September, following the alleged shooting of a Victorian police officer by a Sovereign Citizen and then the assassination of Christian Right figure Charlie Kirk in the United States, Clare Heath-McIvor explored the growing threats of Christian nationalism and far-right extremism in Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4.<\/em>\u00a0 Cult survivors on a mission for meaningful change<\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n

In July, Clare Heath-McIvor wrote about how the newly established Victorian parliamentary inquiry into cults and fringe groups had sparked collaboration among cult survivors in a push for policy responses.<\/span><\/p>\n

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5.<\/em> \u00a0As Christian nationalism\u2019s new figurehead, Trump inspires Australia\u2019s extremes<\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n

In February, Clare Heath-McIvor wrote about the rise of the Christian nationalist threat under the second Trump administration and how it was inspiring the religious Right in Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How to get the most out of <\/b>Rationale<\/i><\/b> in 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you enjoy reading <\/span>Rationale<\/span><\/i>, there are many ways to access our articles and contribute to the content we publish.<\/span><\/p>\n