BHA launches secularism booklet

The New Humanist’s Paul Simms reports on the recent launch of the BHA’s secularism pamphlet.

The debate was opened by philosopher David Papineau…who put his case for a secular society as one intended not to cause differences, but rather to ensure that all citizens are free to practice their religion (or lack thereof) as they please, with the state favouring none. He presented secularism as a fair system, and one which encourages the loyalty of all groups to the state, since they have no need to fear that it is infringing on their religious autonomy.

Polly Toynbee appointed new President of the British Humanist Association

Political and social commentator Polly Toynbee has been appointed as the new President of the British Humanist Association (BHA), taking up the office that fell vacant with the death of comedian Linda Smith last year.

Accepting the appointment, Polly said, ‘I am honoured to be appointed President of the BHA at a time when not for many years has there been such a need to promote a Humanist view of the world. Religious fanaticism is the clear and present danger all round the world. We need to oppose religious zealotry by promoting the positive and liberating case for believing life on earth is precious because the here and now is all there is and our destiny is in our own hands. Mankind itself has all the innate moral strength it needs, without inventing divine reward and wrath.

‘Humanism is tolerant of all beliefs, so long as they oppress no-one else, including weak members of their own communities, and so long as they seek no special privileges from the state. The Humanist view of life is progressive and optimistic, in awe of human potential, living without fear of judgement and death, finding enough purpose and meaning in life, love and leaving a good legacy.’

Welcoming the appointment, chief exec Hanne Stinson said, ‘We are all delighted. Polly is highly articulate, and well respected as a commentator on social affairs and religion: just the person we need to raise the profile of the BHA and help us get the views of the people we represent across to government and opinion-formers. She is a great opinion-former herself, and I am sure she will do a wonderful job for us. Linda Smith – the BHA’s much loved President until her tragically early death last year – will be a very hard act to follow, but I am sure that Polly can do it.’

O Project article calls for non-religious to be included in ‘inter-faith’ dialogue

I have an article published in Catalyst today – “Faith no More?” - looking at inter-faith dialogue and calling for non-religious groups to be included. 

Catalyst is a magazine at the forefront of new thinking on race relations and racial equality today, both in Britain and abroad.

Commission on Integration and Cohesion calls for dialogue between the religious and non-religious

The final report of the Commission on Integration and Cohesion was published today setting out the steps that need to be taken to build strong, cohesive and integrated communities.

The independent Commission chaired by Darra Singh (pictured) was established by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly and tasked with considering what local and practical action is needed to overcome the barriers to integration and cohesion. Over the past year they have visited towns and cities across the country gathering evidence on how communities themselves are taking action in response to their own circumstances and particular cohesion challenges.

The Commission’s report, Our Shared Future puts forward a wide-ranging set of recommendations for practical action to address cohesion and integration issues at a local level, along with suggestions for a national framework to support these.

Some of the key areas covered by the report include how the government promotes and supports English language speaking, developing a new role for local authorities with strengthened support from national government and how it puts a renewed focus on citizenship. It recommends that unless there is a clear business and equalities case, single group funding should not be promoted. In exceptional cases where such funding is awarded the provider should demonstrate clearly how its policies will promote community integration and cohesion.

It also contains a number of messages about the importance of both faith communities and local government developing and deepening inter faith programmes. Encouragingly it also calls for “a more constructive conversation between those who are religious and those who are not”.

It also states that “there is a case to be made for a review of some aspects of the way Government, both central and local, supports, consults and engages with faith-based bodies. These might include: grant giving (and appropriate guidelines for this); issues linked to contracts for the delivery of public services; and forms of engagement with non-religious belief groups, such as Humanists. There are also wider debates to be held about the role of faith in society more generally.”

The British Humanist Association has welcomed parts of it, but warned that there are important omissions and some flaws in some of the recommendations made.

The report is covered in the Guardian (“Racial strife more likely in country villages than big towns, says report”) and the Telegraph (“Violence’ warning over immigration“)

Twinning of British and Indian humanist groups

The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) reports on the twinning relationship between Dorset Humanists, an affiliate of the British Humanist Association, and the International School of Humanitarian Thoughts and Practice in India. “… it is good for Western Humanists to visit Humanists in the developing world because it gives you an outside perspective on our materialistic culture.” It is part of IHEU’s twinning programme which aims to expand co-operation between member organisations, and to make available advice and assistance in setting up practical projects to groups that needed it.

British Humanist Association calls for dialogue between the religious and non-religious

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has given its submission to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion. The Commission is inviting national organisations, local organisations and individuals in communities across the country to say what they think integration and cohesion means to them - and what practical steps can be taken to make our communities more cohesive and integrated places to live. The BHA’s considered response agues that where inter-community working is organised along the lines of belief, “we do not believe it is sufficient for such initiatives to be inclusive only of religious individuals or groups. In a society with large numbers of non-religious people and enormous diversity as to belief, practice and affiliation even within religious categories, any drive for greater cohesion and integration will fail if it does not reflect the reality of society…we urge the great need for dialogue between the religious and the non-religious – a need too often obscured by the orthodoxy of a ‘multi-faith’ approach.” Read full submission

17 Million Humanists

An Ipsos MORI poll commissioned by the British Humanist Association (BHA) and released today has found that:

36% of Britons (equivalent to 17million people) prefer humanist answers to religious ones on key questions of morality and understanding the universe, with large majorities also preferring individual statements of humanist belief.

‘Religious Groups and Leaders’ tops the list of domestic groups that the British public believe have too much influence on Government, coming second only to ‘Leaders of other countries’.

View full results at www.humanism.org.uk