Weekend Wrap for 20 July 2025

Art Jipson: What is the ‘Seven Mountains Mandate’ and how is it linked to political extremism?
"The concept was originally proposed in 1975 by evangelical leader Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. Now known as ‘Cru’, the Campus Crusade for Christ was founded as a global ministry in 1951 to promote Christian evangelism, especially on college campuses. United by a shared vision to influence society through Christian values, Bright partnered with Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission, a major international missionary training and outreach organisation, in the 1970s. The mandate was popularised by theologian Francis Schaeffer, who linked it to a larger critique of secularism and liberal culture. Over time, it evolved." (11 Jul 2025)
Read more at Rationale Magazine

Abraham Edwards: Key recommendations from the Antisemitism Special Envoy’s Report
"Segal’s plan is to use various arms of the state to combat opponents of Israel’s apartheid and genocide. This includes putting the threat of defunding on the table — for cultural institutions, universities, charities and so on — with ‘public education’ of government officials, courts, cops, immigration officials and so on. School children are to be taught about antisemitism and the Holocaust, as they have particularly different perceptions of the Middle East. Teachers who resist will inevitably have to reckon with the power of state and federal governments, who will understand antisemitism through the IHRA definition, and Segal’s proposed guidelines on it. Regardless, they’ll still be stuck with new curricula teaching the right message. Universities will face more aggressive reshaping, with academics, staff, centres and even universities facing defunding where Segal gives them inadequate grades on their commitment to fighting antisemitism. Segal will also work with businesses, sports — basically any area she can think of — to explain the new understanding of antisemitism, and their roles in fighting it. She’ll monitor publicly funded media to ensure it doesn’t present distorted narratives — there is not yet a threat of defunding the ABC, but if it doesn’t shape up enough, that may be where this goes." (12 Jul 2025)
Read more at Medium

Denis Hay: Why Zionist Influence in Australia Silences Truth
"Zionism began as a Jewish nationalist movement in the late 19th century advocating for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. After the establishment of Israel in 1948, it evolved into a political ideology justifying the Israeli state’s actions, including occupation, displacement, and militarisation. In Australia, Zionism is embedded in influential Jewish organisations, media representation, and foreign policy. It’s less about cultural identity and more about unconditional political allegiance to Israel. Zionist influence in Australia continues to shape key foreign policy decisions, despite mounting evidence of human rights abuses." (13 Jul 2025)
Read more at the AIMN

Abraham Edwards: The political context of the Segal antisemitism plan
"In February, ECAJ released its plan to fight antisemitism. The 15 points would address schools, universities, charities, immigration reform, social media laws, and funding for cultural institutions. Many of these recommendations were incorporated into the Antisemitism Envoy’s plan to fight antisemitism. Back in March, before the election, these proposals were politely rejected by the ALP, as Albanese refused to comment on them, and simply outlined what measures he had already taken. The Coalition, on the other hand, embraced the plan. If Albanese was unwilling to adopt the (fewer) recommendations from the first ECAJ plan, would he be willing to adopt the stronger recommendations from Segal?" (14 Jul 2025)
Read more at Medium

Nick Newling: What is the controversial definition of antisemitism that institutions are being told to adopt?
"Antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal released a plan last week with 49 steps to tackle rising discrimination against Jewish Australians. At the core of the report is a definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which has become a lightning rod for criticism. ... While the definition itself has largely been viewed as uncontroversial, subsequent “examples of antisemitism in public life” published alongside the definition have been criticised as limiting freedom of speech. Among the 11 examples provided by IHRA are 'denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination ... by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour', 'drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis', and 'holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel'." (15 Jul 2025)
Read more at The Age

Neil Foster: Vilification laws and religious free speech
"I am presenting a paper on “Hate Speech – Vilification Laws and Threats to Freedom” this week, and a copy is available here to download for those interested. As well as comment on a number of other cases, there is some comment on the recent Wertheim v Haddad s 18C decision, and the litigation involving 'Billboard Chris'." (15 Jul 2025)
Read more at Law and Religion Australia

Louise Chappell: Antisemitism plan fails on a number of fronts – a contentious definition of hate is just the start
"The antisemitism strategy presented to the Albanese government has attracted considerable – and wholly justifed – criticism. Produced by Jillian Segal, the special envoy to combat antisemitism, the blueprint falls short in a range of areas essential to good public policy. This is due to its biased arguments, weak evidence and recommendation overreach. There is also the adoption of a contentious definition of antisemitism which has been criticised for conflating disapproval of Israel with anti-Jewish prejudice." (15 Jul 2025)
Read more at The Conversation

Ed Husic (Labor MP) on ABC Radio National: 'Focus on what brings us together': Ed Husic on plans to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia
"Australia's former Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, has shared his views on special envoy Jillian Segal's plan to combat antisemitism, along with the upcoming plan from special envoy Aftab Malik to combat Islamophobia. Mr Husic, who was one of the country's first two Muslim federal ministers sworn into office, says both plans need to focus on 'what brings us together.'" (16 Jul 2025)
Listen to this piece at ABC Radio National

Gemma Schooneveldt: How coercive control operates in religious settings
'Since the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013–2017), Australia has become more attuned to the complexities of power, consent, and exploitation within trusted institutions. While much public attention has rightly focused on the abuse of children and the trauma of survivors, less has been said about coercive control and boundary violations involving adults, particularly within religious settings." (17 Jul 2025)
Read more at Eureka Street