Update from the Conservative Humanists

Aggressive secularism?

There have been some open and unjustified attacks on secularism within the last couple of weeks. Baroness Warsi, Shadow Social Action Minister, announced at the conservative party conference last week that there has been “a growing intolerance and illiberal attitude towards those who believe in God,” blaming BHA Vice President Dr Evan Harris MP for “driving this secular agenda” into the public sector.

Similarly, Tony Blair took it upon himself to declare that “we face an aggressive secular attack from without” when speaking to an American Muslim ‘interfaith’ organisation. He went on to describe how, “those who scorn God and those who do violence in God’s name, both represent views of religion. But both offer no hope for faith in the twenty first century.”

These attacks, despite coming from people heavily involved in the ‘interfaith’ debate both seem to misunderstanding the meaning of secular. Secular, means that the state is neutral concerning religious and non-religious beliefs and is not, therefore, an attack on faith. Instead, it creates a safe and equal space for individuals to practice their religion or belief within the democratically decided law without the state privileging or disadvantaging one set of beliefs over another.

Most people would agree that this is a fair and legitimate system of government, yet there are still those who equate the levelling of the playing field by removing religious privileges as an attack on the faithful. The BHA will be contacting both individuals above to complain about their remarks and may well be sending them a copy of this with the letters.

Humanists celebrate first anniversary of Conservative Humanist Association

The BHA, together with the Conservative Humanist Association (CHA), held a fringe event at the Conservative Party annual conference in Manchester, marking the first anniversary of the CHA.

 The meeting was introduced by Jeff Peel, Chair of the CHA and Andrew Copson, BHA Director of Education and Public Affairs, who both drew attention to the successes of the last year for both organisations, and the need for political humanist groups to keep attempting to influence party policy.

Science writer and broadcaster Simon Singh addressed the well-attended reception with a presentation focused on science and in particular his own ongoing legal case, where he is being sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association.