Onward (less) Christian Soldiers! A breakthrough for rationality at the Memorial

Update 28 June 2025

The meeting has been held and RSA was encouraged by it.

The Rationalist Society of Australia and three non-religious veterans met with two representatives of the War Memorial on Wednesday to discuss the dominance of the annual Dawn Service by one religious tradition – Christianity.

Following the meeting, RSA Executive Director Si Gladman said the discussions were positive and constructive.

“The War Memorial’s representatives were very generous with their time and eager to listen to the views of the non-religious veterans in attendance,” he said.

“Our delegation made a compelling case on the need for change to the Dawn Service, sharing personal experiences of how the imposition of religion and acts of religious worship in the Dawn Service alienate many non-religious, ex-religious and non-Christian religious people, and put up barriers to them wanting to attend.

“We impressed on the War Memorial the opportunity it has to host Dawn Services that are more meaningful to all Australians and that better reflect the religious and non-religious diversity of modern-day Australia.”

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Honest History has followed the tortured path taken by the Australian War Memorial and the RSL ACT Branch to catch up with the reality of Australia’s multi-ethnic, multi-faith community. Earlier posts.

The fight on the side of reason has been carried by the Rationalist Society of Australia (RSA) who have announced this week that the Memorial has agreed to meet with non-religious veterans and pro-secular advocates to discuss the domination of Anzac Day Dawn Services by Christianity.

We see this as a matter of human rights. All Australians should feel welcome in attending Anzac Day Dawn Services [said the RSA’s Si Gladman]. We hope that the War Memorial will gain a clear understanding of how the imposition of religion on our nation’s most important day of commemoration at our nation’s most important site of remembrance alienates many people and puts up barriers to many veterans and Australians wanting to attend.

24 June 2025

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