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From CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/04/22/pol-rad-can-christian-college-infrastructure-funding.html?cmp=rss
The Harper government has awarded over $20 million of its infrastructure funding to Christian colleges and universities since the launch of the Knowledge Infrastructure Program in 2009.
Some of the schools receiving federal infrastructure funds prohibit things like homosexual relationships, based on the educational institution’s moral code or religious teachings.
A new [...]
Humanists welcome new life stance equality for Iceland | International Humanist and Ethical Union.
The Icelandic Parliament (Althing) passed a new law yesterday (30 January, 2013) which for first time in Icelandic history recognizes and guarantees equality between secular and religious life stances. The new law gives secular life stance organizations the right to apply [...]
From Terri in Owen Sound: Recently our MP Larry Miller wrote a letter to the editor talking about how and why prayer has a place at meetings of government (Christianity is OUR tradition), and how those who oppose it are the ‘whining minority’. This is the letter I wrote in response. I’ve had great feedback [...]
Going Godless: Does Secularism Make People More Ethical? – SPIEGEL ONLINE.
(note, the conclusions mostly related to Germany) Non-believers are often more educated, more tolerant and know more about God than the pious. A new wave of research is trying to figure out what goes on in the minds of an ever-growing group of people [...]
Biggest Threat to Religion? Clergy People Coming Out as Atheists | Belief | AlterNet. (from a member – some clergy project members are Canadian Humanists, as well!)
A burst of media attention has been focused on atheists of an unexpected stripe — clergy members. Could non-believing clergy change how we see religion?June 10, [...]
For Humanists, the Secular Movement is Only Half the Battle (Editorial from Psychology Today by David Niose, Pres. of AHA)
“As last weekend’s Reason Rally on the National Mall showed, the secular movement in America is reaching a critical mass. When 20,000 enthusiasts show up on a rainy day to celebrate secularity, joining together to [...]
PLEASE NOTE ROOM CHANGE! Losing Faith in Faith: An Intimate Conversation with Dan Barker. University of Toronto, University College, 15 Kings College Circle, Toronto Room 240 (previously Room 179) Friday March 2, 4:00pm until 6:00pm The University of Toronto Secular Alliance presents a conversation with Dan Barker.
Dan Barker is the Co-President of the Freedom [...]
Doug Saunders – The Globe and Mail.
A view of the recent ruling in Britain against prayers in council …..you may wish to write to the Globe if you feel inclined…
We always knew it could happen: A devout Muslim heads a conservative political party that takes office in a multicultural Western country, then leads [...]
Will it ever be Ireland without a prayer?
It was the front page headline of The Times — “Christianity on the rack as judge bans public prayer” — that captured the mood of conservative Britain this week. ‘We’re doing 10 times more humanist wedding ceremonies than we were doing as recently as five years ago. [...]
Is religion really under threat? . Another article on the banning of prayers in council in Great Britain.
People with faith say secularism has become an aggressive and intolerant force in Britain. What has gone wrong? It should bring society together.. A spectre is haunting Europe – the spectre of secularism. All the powers of [...]
Secularism has reached a tipping point – On Faith – The Washington Post. (interesting piece in the right-wing WashPost by Greg Epstein, Humanist Chaplain at Harvard, who recently spoke at the IHEU Congress in Oslo. Greg is also supporting students studying to apply as Humanist Chaplains in the US Armed Forces. Should be interesting…Mary)
In [...]
(IHEU) United Nations Affirms the Human Right to Blaspheme by Austin Dacey
Late last month, the UN issued a new statement on the extent of freedom of speech under international law. It says that laws restricting blasphemy as such are incompatible with universal human rights standards.
The statement came from the Human Rights Committee, the [...]
It’s Muslim kids, not parents, who are embracing a politicized Islam – The Globe and Mail. ( good article)
….And herein lies a common misconception amongst “mainstream” Canadians: They’re convinced that, in the average Muslim household, it’s the parent who represents conservatism and tradition, and the Canadian-born children who are modern and fighting against this [...]
Humanist Toronto: Conference: One School System Network | End public funding of religious schools in Ontario.
An important conference will take place at the end of May. This conference is of prime interest to the public, teachers, teacher’s unions, school boards and all those involved with education in Ontario.
TEAR DOWN THE WALL – ONE [...]
(Owen Sound) City council will no longer begin its meeting by reciting the Lord’s Prayer.
SunTimes: During the holiest week on the Christian calendar, council voted 5-4 to replace the Lord’s Prayer with a moment of silent reflection.
Coun. Colleen Purdon, the mover of the motion to change council’s practice, said each council meeting should [...]
To the Editor, Those who support an opening Christian prayer at municipal council meetings are missing an important point.
Simply put, religious prayers are out of place in a non-religious setting. This may have been acceptable 100 years ago, but is not so today, as our society becomes more and more diverse.
To suggest that [...]
LTE: The following is a letter sent to Councillor Arlene Wright, and to the Sun Times, on the subject of the Lord’s Prayer, from OHS member Terri Hope in Owen Sound.
Re: ‘ Warden sees no reason to stop saying Lord’s Prayer’ I am writing in response to your comments in the Sun Times of [...]
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