Our View of Society
Religion in Society
In January 2010 the EHF submitted a detailed memorandum to Religare, an EU-sponsored academic collaboration examininig the place of religion in society. The EHF memorandum has a general introduction which makes clear that religion can no longer unite and bind society together: instead, values such as human rights, democracy and peace provide that binding factor. The paper then covers in detail four particular topics on the agenda of Religare: public space, the workplace, the family, and state support for religion.
The paper seems to have irritated the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (previously known as the Observatory for Christianophobia) as they have sent Religare a supposed refutation of our paper. Their paper is abusive, ignores almost all our arguments and seriously misrepresents us. You can read it – with highlighting of the abuse and with our comments – here.
One aspect of the question of religion in society is the increasing and often strident assertion of an unqualified right to conscientious objection on religious grounds to many civic, occupational or other duties or legal restrictions. The EHF approach to this is outlined here.
A Secular Vision of Society – The Brussels Declaration
A more comprehensive statement in less detail was produced in 2006. In the autumn of that year, faced with a major campaign to get Christian values written into the proposed statement of European values to be issued to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, a small working party, initiated by Humanists but including people representing liberal Christian and Muslim views, produced the following ‘Brussels Declaration’ of fundamental social values. The text was subject to very wide consultation before reaching its final form.
They backed it up with a lengthier supporting statement ‘A Secular Vision for Europe’.
The EHF has endorsed these statements. Although they may not express in full the humanist or secularist standpoint, they demonstrate the breadth of agreement that is possible on practical matters despite underlying disagreement on fundamental questions.
The Declaration was launched at a meeting of the European Parliament All Party Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics on 27 February 2007.
The Declaration has attracted wide support from politicians, intellectuals and ordinary citizens throughout Europe – it remains open for signature at its own website where more detail can be found, including translations of the Declaration into many languages.
Europe
The EHF is highly critical of the EU’s close relations with churches and other religious bodies. These are based on Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as amended by the Lisbon Treaty. A detailed critique of Article 17 and the way it is being implemented was prepared by EHF president David Pollock for a conference in November 2010 at Aston University – “Article 17 – Reasons for Concern”. (See also “Opposing Special Rights for Churches in the EU“.)
To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome the EHF produced its own statement in a booklet, The European Dream, the full text of which is available here.
In November 2007, EHF General Secretary Georges Liénard spoke on “How to shape the road to European Citizenship” at a conference organised by our member organisation Dachverband Freier Weltanschauungsgemeinschafen (DFW) at Klingberg.
Rule of Law
In March 2009 the Board adopted a statement on the rule of law – a vital requirement in any society where human rights are respected. This is also available in French.
Peace
After the IHEU Congress in Oslo in August 2011 EHF Vice President Staffan Gunnarson wrote an article “Democratic Peace – a Blind Spot for International Humanism?” which was published in International Humanist News.
This content last updated 29 January 2012 @ 7:53 pm