The British Humanist Association (BHA) has responded to attacks by senior figures on secularism, secularists and atheists, writing to Baroness Warsi regarding her speech at the Conservative conference, and to David Miliband to ask him to withdraw his support for Tony Blair to be the so-called first “President of Europe”.
Andrew Copson, BHA Director of Education and Public Affairs, said, ‘In just the last couple of weeks there have been two notable attacks on secularism and atheists made by public figures. First, Baroness Warsi, the Conservatives’ Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action used her platform at the Conservative Party to misrepresent the secularist position, describing it as ‘intolerant’ and illiberal’. In light of the portfolio that Baroness Warsi holds, we were particularly concerned about such gross misrepresentation, which can only be damaging to social cohesion.’
Mr Copson continued, ‘Then, we hear Tony Blair equating violent religious extremism with secularist critique of religion. These comments only aggravate those which he made in Rimini, quoting approvingly a statement of the Pope:
‘In one passage, it describes humanism devoid of faith as “inhuman humanism”: “Without God, man neither knows which way to go, nor even understands who he is.”’
Clearly, Mr Blair is quite unsuitable as permanent president of the EU Council of Ministers. We wrote to the Foreign Secretary to urge him and the UK Government to join the growing number of EU members who are opposed to the appointment of Blair as a potential President of Europe.’
‘For humanists, valuing equality, rights and a neutral state in an open society, the secularist position is the natural one to hold. Of course many people from all religious traditions are also secularists. Unfortunately, the terms of public debates about secularism are frequently confused because those who so vocally oppose it often do not have a real understanding of what secularism is, why it is of value in our 21st century society and why it must be defended.’
Notes
For further comment or information contact Andrew Copson on 020 7079 3584.
In November 2007, the BHA published a work on secularism. Intended as an intervention in an increasingly topical but polarised debate, ‘The Case for Secularism: a neutral state in an open society’ argues for the secular approach in ways intended to appeal both to humanists and to religious believers and is edited by Professor Richard Norman, emeritus professor of moral philosophy at the University of Kent.
The Case for Secularism can be ordered from the BHA at a cost of £5 inc UK postage.
The British Humanist Association represents and supports the non-religious. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.