'The negatives get flicked off the circuit board.' 'The positives go there,' he explains, when we die. Connected to a supreme creator from a different dimension. 'Are they trying to hide the fact that we are of divine origin?' 'Why are they lying about the shape of the Earth?' he asks me. He talks conspiracies and devil worshippers. Lee and Artigas, the two people who turned up to the flat-Earth convention. He's comfortable holding court, cracking jokes, sharing stories. Judd seems restless, flicking glances at the entrance, as if willing more people to show up. It quickly becomes apparent that this, the three of us sitting around a small coffee table in Darling Park's reception, is the flat-Earth convention. He's wearing a T-shirt that says 'Flat Earther.' Soares is Uruguayan, English is his second language. Judd says he turns 53 this year, but he could easily pass for 35.Īrtigas Soares is attendee No. In the end, two people show up to the flat-Earth convention. He isn't expecting many people to arrive, and he's right. It's now Saturday morning and he's sheepish. Now it was more like drinks with like-minded Flat Earthers.

The flyer promised a convention, but that had been scaled back. He'd been careful to temper my expectations. In the lead-up to the flat-Earth convention, I'd spoken with Lee Maxwell Judd a few times. I'm standing outside Darling Park, a modern set of tower blocks with harbor views. An unusually hot afternoon, even by Sydney standards.

By the 3rd century BC, Hellenistic astronomy cemented it as a given.Ī scale model of Darling Park, where the convention took place. The concept was discussed as early as the 6th century BC. Humans established the Earth's spherical nature over 2,000 years ago. It made me wonder: Are all flat Earthers like my friend John? Or was he the exception? The setup John was successful, the kind of guy you wanted to impress. The John I knew was razor sharp, intelligent, funny. A man who'd put friendships (and his marriage) at risk in favor of his resolute belief the Earth was flat.

I'd profiled my friend 'John' in 2016, a medical doctor who, in a short period of time, had gone from devil's advocate to full-fledged believer. After watching a friend disappear down the rabbit hole, I'd become obsessed with flat-Earth culture and the people involved with it.Īfter watching a friend disappear down the rabbit hole, I'd become obsessed with flat-Earth culture and the people involved with it.

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