Canadian Humanist Publications
Submitted by admin on 14 June, 2005 - 12:55.
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Simon ParcherPosition:
PresidentDetails:
Canadian Humanist Publications (CHP), Inc., publishes literature with a humanistic content reflecting the principle that human problems can best be solved by human beings relying on their intellectual, moral and social capabilities, disavowing notions of supernatural purpose or design, and affirming that human life has meaning in its own terms.
CHP was established in Ottawa in 1983 to carry on publication of Humanist in Canada quarterly magazine which had been produced in Victoria by Pacific Northwest Publications since its founding in 1967 by editor Lloyd Brereton.
CHP was established in Ottawa in 1983 to carry on publication of Humanist in Canada quarterly magazine which had been produced in Victoria by Pacific Northwest Publications since its founding in 1967 by editor Lloyd Brereton.
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Religion is pushed on American service personnel too
Despite claims of the right of atheists to be respected--as told to me in a letter by the chaplain of West Point--commanding officers, especially in the navy allow religious services on the deck of ships. All the ships company are 'strongly' urged to attend. This was told to me by several former sailors.
People who don't attend are subjected to something like a mild form of ridicule by their shipmates. And the Captain didn't do much to stop it. This is the reason that one of the sailors felt pressured to leave the service.
Military religion
After more than 40 years in the Canadian Forces Reserve, I still find myself in conflict with commanders at all levels who support, and actively use their authority to promote, specific religious beliefs. While paying lip service to Freedom of Conscience, they still inject religious messages into parades and ceremonies, which leave free thinkers no way to manifest their beliefs, and which in fact do nothing other than provide state-employed ministers with a captive congregation which is much larger and younger than any they would have in a civilian charge.
The Forces are the only government agency in Canada, with the possible addition of the RCMP, in which relatively junior supervisors (officers as low in rank as captain) can arbitrarily order their personnel to take part in religious ritual on the job.
In many cases, when I have raised this as a Charter issue, the response has been contempt, and scorn. My career has suffered as a result, and I have also suffered personal threats, intimidation and insult, coming close to physical assault in more than one case.
What is most interesting is that a member of a minority religion, such as a Jew or Muslim, will be instantly accommodated, while an non-beiever will be ridiculed and dismissed with contempt.
One of these days, perhaps soon, a soldier will walk off parade and straight into a law office. The recent decision in the Court Martial Appeal Court in the case of Navy Lieut. Scott, ruling that the order to remove headdress for prayer is an unlawful order, is a good first step. I'm sure more will follow. Hasten the day.