Name: セキュラリズム (Secularism)
Uploaded: 2021-01-14T05:50:31.000Z
Duration: 15 min 18 s
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再帰代名詞

I'm sometimes asked what I mean when I refer to myself as a secularist.

The term 'secular' has different meanings.

But when I describe my own position as secular

I'm referring to a view encompassing two broad principles.

Firstly, the separation of religion from state leaves religious people free

to practice their religion, provided they don't infringe the freedoms of others

and allows the non-religious to live without the imposition of religion

through law, education, government, employment or health.

This promotes freedom of religion and from religion.

Secondly, the principle of equality before the law seeks to remove all privilege

or penalty for having or lacking religious faith;

to ensure that no belief, religious or otherwise

receives special protection from criticism;

and that inequalities which some support within their religion

Obviously, under this principle, blasphemy and apostasy are non-punishable.

secularism creates an environment of equality that benefits us all

which is why it's supported by theists and atheists

religious and non-religious people alike.

Until recently, many of Britain's Councils began meetings with religious prayer.

But in February this year, after informal requests for this to stop were ignored

the National Secular Society won a legal challenge

when the High Court declared the practice unlawful.

Some commentators and parts of the British media

were quick to portray this as 'militant secularism'.

But where was the injury here? Was religion criticized?

Were councillors told they must abandon their beliefs?

Or stop praying in their own time? No. All that was established was that prayer has

As NSS Campaigns Manager Stephen Evans points out

the absence of prayers "simply creates a neutral space

and removes an unnecessary barrier to local democracy being equally welcoming

Prayer has never been part of any business meeting I've attended.

Nor have religious colleagues taken issue with that.

Even before the High Court ruling, many councils didn't open meetings with prayer.

The fact that some councils have traditionally done this in the past

does not justify them continuing to do so.

A history of doing X doesn't make it okay today.

It was once tradition for only men to vote.

Those who think prayer is a worthwhile use of their time can pray in their own time

but supernatural rituals will naturally fall by the wayside

as fewer and fewer people believe in the supernatural

so it's utterly misguided to try to preserve them as part of our heritage.

Just as I, as an atheist, would oppose inserting atheism into business meetings

bank note design or oaths of national allegiance

- no matter how many of the population are non-believers -

many theists recognize the inappropriateness of inserting theism in those contexts, too.

Michael Langrish, bishop of Exeter, has claimed prayers said before council meetings

set its decisions in 'a wider moral context'

but acts of worship that exclude and alienate people at the outset

create an unnecessarily *narrow* context.

Also, religious rituals are not needed to set a moral context.

Gloucestershire council has replaced its original prayer

with, “May we find the wisdom to carry out our duties,

the humanity to listen to all, the courage to do what is right

and the generosity to treat each other with respect.”

Worthy sentiments, one might think, though eChristianNews reports this as 'shocking'.

Langrish says he finds it sad that what he calls "a tiny minority

are trying to ban a majority, who appreciate this activity".

Being in the majority is not a licence to ignore the impact

And besides, Christianity is in dramatic decline in Britain.

indicates only just over half the population now identify as Christian.

More significantly, of the self-identifying Christians polled

over a third expressed no positive belief in the power of prayer.

The same number said they never or almost never pray from choice.

In fact, when asked why they identify as Christians

fewer than three in ten cited belief in Christian teachings as one of their reasons.

Far more said it was because they were christened

or baptised into the religion or that parents were Christian.

By reporting actual attitudes, rather than assuming them

this research undermines Langrish's assumption that those who identify as Christian

will share his perspective on council prayers, or indeed any other matter.

Andrew Copson of the British Humanist Association

draws attention to the way certain public figures and parts of the media

sensationally misrepresent religious news stories

so as to create a narrative of victimhood and persecution

Christian lobby groups arguing for more influence.

Andrea Williams of Christian Concern, who warns of totalitarian secularism

reveals her motives by urging councils to "[B]e vocal and visible for the Lord Jesus

by continuing to keep prayers on their agenda."

Christian Concern's website currently states: "[W]e want to work

to infuse a biblical worldview into every aspect of society."

Like egocentric infants who've grabbed all the toys

then throw a tantrum when some are taken away to be distributed fairly

if their religion isn't given prominence or even dominance, regardless of setting.

While secularists seek to establish fairness and equality for all groups

these people seek to establish religious privilege for their own group.

Earlier this year, David Cameron pledged to legalize same-sex marriage.

Keith O'Brien, head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland

condemned this as 'grotesque' and shameful.

Many would say that about O'Brien's views.

More people in the UK and US now express support for same-sex marriage

than opposition to it, and it's legal in more and more European countries.