Ladislav Hubenak

Secular Humanism in Slovakia

Ladislav Hubenek describes the many difficulties that have faced humanists in Slovakia in the last five years. The Prometheus Society, despite the many problems, aims to put its secular ideas in effect in the future.

THE events of November 1989 in Czechoslovakia opened the way to revolutionary changes in political, economic, social, cultural and constitutional areas. At that time demands for democratisation in social life were proclaimed, based on implementing a pluralist, democratic political system. In the euphoria after 1989 the rightist forces have taken a vigorous course of destroying the socialist regime and of returning to capitalism with all the ensuing consequences.

Within this process of change the Prometheus Society was established as an association of people professing no religious cried and no adherence to church. Gradually from January 1990 a group was formed with the intention of founding an organisation of freethinking citizens. In March 1990 a Central Council was formed as a governing body with several committees. The temporary bylaw was approved by the interior ministry and shortly following the first clubs in Bratislava and elsewhere wen established.

In June 1995 the General Assembly of the Society reviewed the past five years of activities, evaluating the positive and negative results. It must be admitted that our organisation met many obstacles as compared with other civil organisations. The overall atmosphere was influenced by negative proclamations such as that atheism leads to moral disintegration and all evil. Our approaches to Slovak television and to Slovak broadcasting failed as did other approaches to the mass media. Lack of funds, equipment, etc., led to failure to expand a network of membership organisations at the grass roots.

Two reasons for this failure may be given. First, we failed to attract progressive individuals, prominent scientists, artists, journalists, etc. Second, the social, economic and political situation has been unfavourable. We have seen economic recession, increased unemployment, heavy taxes, decline in standard of living, inflation. Nearly half the households live on the margin of poverty. A predicted expansion of production has not occurred. The burden of transforming the economy into a market economy has been placed upon the citizens. Then has also been an unprecedented increase in crime, prostitution, drug abuse, fraud and tax evasion. Then have developed Mafia groups, kidnapping and terrorism, racism and nationalism - all despite the proclaimed tolerance and Christian morality.

Some representatives of youth have written to the head of the Republic as follows: 'Our society is demoralised and systematically made immoral by lies and by loot. Truth has no meaning, everything conforms to the interest of the ruling parties, which behave as though the entire state was their possession. The younger generation is becoming ever mom apathetic.'

This information allows us to put in context the situation in which secular humanists work. We consider it the con reason for our failure to spread the movement among young and old people. People fear to be attacked as 'militant atheists'.

The Society has attempted cultural and educational programmes and approached administrative and governmental bodies indicating its stance to life. Among those we must mention were a 300th anniversary of Voltaire's birth, a national seminar on 'The Healthy and Happy Modern Family' related to the International Year of the Family. The Society was awarded a Diploma for its successful programme for the Year of the Family. Then wen many discussions and lectures relating to the status of women in society, and the right to plan a family.

Initially approaches were made towards the state authorities, the President of the Republic, Parliament and Government, but with no favourable effect. The Culture Minister was approached concerning public education and civil ceremonies, and the Defence Minister was given proposals relevant to pastoral service in the army. Propositions have been put before Parliament and the Cabinet relating to teaching ethics in schools, participation in committees relating to the mass media, the rights of non-believers, protection of human life, and implementing freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

An important area for the Society has been developing friendly working relations on an international level. In July 1991 at the meeting in Prague it was decided to accept the Prometheus Society as an associated member of IHEU. We also cooperated with the World Union of Freethinkers and fraternal organisations in several countries in Europe. Thanks to the support of these organisations our delegation could participate in Congresses in Amsterdam (1992) and Berlin [1993). In April 1994 we took part, at our own expense, in the Vienna Congress of Freethinkers. We have successful contacts with Belgian young humanists.

As humanists we an much concerned with State and Church relations. After 1989 then was substantial reactivation of the churches, especially the Roman Catholic Church, which attempts by all means to reach decisive positions of influence and to gain vast properties in restitution. Then has been much activity by the varied sects and cults, which gain substantial assistance from the Western countries. Churches receive many millions from the State for their activities as well as from local authorities for charitable purposes. During the second government led by Mr Meciar, the restitution of properties to the churches was the most generous of all post-communist countries. Our humanist organisations did not get a single dime from the State.

In January 1995, Parliament considered the issue of separation of Church and State. Those who had demanded such separation before 1989, wen subsequently against it. A proposition to prepare a draft Bill on separation of Church and State was refused and Mr Meciar said: 'This Government will never agree with separation of Church and State and vice versa.' This was allegedly because the property returned to the churches would not be sufficient for their autonomous existence. Religious classes have been introduced into schools and religious pastoral services in the army and the units of the interior ministry have been instituted. The Prime Minister has offend to establish a Catholic University in Trnava. The Bishops have not accepted it yet, since they do not have the finances and personnel to run it.

The struggle over the churches' support took place in public. Politicians have been vying in courting clerical circles. The Pope's visit was used for political purposes by one political party. The Pope's visit was enormously expensive at a time when the health service, education and culture are on the edge of collapse for lack of funds. It was not by chance that the Pope devoted four days to Slovakia. Having lost support in Western countries, the Pope is intent on establishing a firm base in the post-communist states of Europe, from where it can fight back against the liberalism of Western Europe. According to Meciar, the Pope said: 'A new model can be instituted in Slovakia with establishment of a society respectful of Christian values. This model could considerably influence the future of the world.' So we now see, religious ideology dominant in schools, the mass media and in the future in the army. Citizens professing no religion do not enjoy the same privileges as citizens and groups of citizens claiming religion. The former are discriminated against in several respects.

The Prometheus Society rejects the views which put the secular humanists into a position of second class citizens, and supports voices demanding acceptance of a law on separation of Church and State. We adopt the aim of participating in all spheres of social activities in Slovakia from our stance of secular humanism and we strive to build an open pluralist civil society in which freedom, pluralism and democracy are not only declared but really instituted. We are convinced that the way towards a democratic Europe implies creating a civil society, observing all basic human and civil rights and liberties.

The Prometheus Society in the future wants to put into practice its intentions in two directions: developing cultural and educational activities within its organisation and towards the outside community, as well as establishing humanitarian, charitable and social activities.