News & Views
Keep Religion Out of School Campaign
This year our Keep Religion out of School Campaign kicked off with a meeting held at Rationalist House inviting parents from the Keep Religion out of Schools facebook group that was established last year. This drew us to the attention of the media who quoted spokesperson Peter Harrison saying "[Kids] feel ostracised when they're removed from class and as though they're excluded from fun with all the other kids." The North Shore Times ran a front page story reporting the issue.
Newspaper coverage generated a boost of interest on the facebook pages and a storm of letters to the editor of the North Shore Times, both supporting and opposing religion in schools. Meanwhile the NZARH has begun research into the scale and policies of religious indoctrination in New Zealand public schools.
The NZARH continues to support freedom of religion, and thus oppose special treatment of one religion over another. The special treatment of Bible Class in New Zealand schools is discriminatory in favour of Christianity. The practises common in New Zealand schools often fail to obtain informed consent of parents to conduct indoctrination.
Wanganui District Council Drops Prayer
The New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists (NZARH) welcomes todays decision by the Wanganui District Council to remove prayer from the formal proceedings of all Council meetings. We believe that this is a victory for all the residents of Wanganui and for the wider New Zealand community representing, as it does, the first step towards a true separation between church and state. The signal that this sends to the entire community of Wanganui is that the Council is not prepared to tolerate discrimination on the grounds of their religious beliefs or lack thereof.
Following the decision Peter Harrison, spokesperson for the NZARH said "We are very pleased to hear that the Wanganui District Council has decided to conduct prayer outside official Council business. This approach is in accordance with the Bill of Rights, and recognises the importance of a tolerant multicultural society."
Annette Main, Major of Wanganui commented on the decision, saying "I believe that the decisions we have made today are pragmatic and provide a reasonable compromise. It will allow those who wish to participate in a prayer or reflection to do so immediately before our Council meetings start. Those with an alternative view will also be provided for by removing the prayer from the meeting agenda."
The NZARH recognises the instrumental work of Clive Solomon in standing up for religious equality in the face of sometimes emotional resistance. We also applaud the Councilors of Wanganui for coming to a resolution that is a credit to their city.
The NZARH sincerely hopes that the divisions caused by this issue will be quickly healed so that the Wanguanui District Council can continue it's good work.
Hitchens Falls to Cancer
Christopher Hitchens has fallen to his illness, passing away with friends and family around him. In 2007 Hitchens became a notable atheist after publishing "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything".
God Is Not Great became a bestseller and propelled Hitchens into the limelight as an outspoken anti-theist. He made many appearances on TV shows and debates with theists. He was critical of the role of the Catholic Church in protecting child rapists, and condemned genital mutilation of children. He supported homosexual rights.
Not all positions Hitchens took were popular, with many liberals condemning his support of the Iraq war. He also expressed a moderate position on abortion. However, these differences did not materially diminish his popularity in the secular and atheistic community.
Hitchens was an unapologetic smoker and drinker. Having given up smoking in 2007 he began again when writing "Hitch-22: A Memoir", which was released in 2010. It was during the book tour to promote Hitch-22 that he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. His last public appearance was in October at the Texas Freethought Convention in Houston where he received the Freethinker of the Year Award. During his illness he maintained or even increased his already prolific writing.
Christopher was a man of great courage, integrity and reason. When many other atheists beg to be considered morally equal to the religious Hitchens exposed the hipocracy and evil of religion. He will be greatly missed.
Response to Labour's Interfaith Portfolio
The New Zealand Interfaith Group exists to promote the interests of organised religion in this country. It is therefore disappointing to read that the Labour Party has established the portfolio of Interfaith Dialogue to pander to these vested interests.
Of particular concern is the statement : Labour recognises the importance of preserving the heritage of Christianity in New Zealand and acknowledges this as an important part of New Zealand's cultural identity.
For the best part of two thousand years the Christian Church has been part of the Establishment in the Western World. Labour movements in many countries have been born of the struggle to represent the working class in their struggle against the oppression of the Establishment. The party of organised labour and the representatives of organised religion make strange bedfellows.
The heritage of Christianity that this policy seeks to preserve reveals a shocking record of extreme conservatism and opposition to social progress and human rights. Happy to anoint kings and queens, organised religion has worked against the rights of women to contraception and abortion and against homosexual law reform. Even today exceptions must be made in law to allow churches to discriminate against women and homosexuals. For the most part churches remain undemocratic and patriarchal in their organisational structures.
Worse still a number of Christian churches and their leaders have in recent years been exposed as hypocrites for the practice and cover up of the "sins" they so noisily condemn in others. The news media are full of stories of sexual abuse of children and fraud committed by priests and pastors.
Religion is also at the heart of conflicts around the world. The Labour policy statement acknowledges this as one of the problems it seeks to address.
Why then would the Labour Party wish to promote religion? It cannot be because religion is disadvantaged in New Zealand. A portfolio for women or children or Maori can be justified because these groups are clearly disadvantaged in our society. But organised religion is highly privileged in its tax-free status, state-funded schools, etc., even though these are inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act (BORA) which outlaws discrimination on the basis of religion or ethical belief. The state must not show favour to any particular religion or religion in general. The BORA provides freedom from religion as much as it protects freedom of religion. Put simply, the state must neither confirm nor deny the existence of gods. If this portfolio is to serve any purpose, then a future Labour government can be expected to enact legislation to promote the interests of religion.
Does the party have plans to amend the BORA to allow the government to discriminate in favour of religion and against the non-religious? Does the Labour Party see this as a vote-catching policy? If so, the timing is rather odd. Census figures show a steady decline in the number of Kiwis who profess a religion and a corresponding increase in the number of people who tick the "no religion" box. The non-religious already outnumber the Anglicans and Catholics combined. Christians make up barely make up 50% of the population and the census planned for 2013 will probably be the first census in which they are outnumbered by the non-religious. What’s more the non-religious are finding a voice as can be seen in the "atheist bus" campaign and the popularity of Richard Dawkins and the so-called New Atheists.
If the Labour Party cannot stay out of this area, it should at least have the sense to pick the winning side. A policy that looks on the face of it to be aimed at attracting votes could well end up costing them a lot more.
- John Murphy, President, NZARH
Wisdom of Solomon
Clive Solomon, Councilor or the Wanganui District Council, has been under relentless attack since standing up for a constituent who called for separation of church and state. Mr Solomon, a Surgeon who has served on the Whanganui District Health Board for three terms and ensured continuity of maternity and paediatric services in Wanganui has resorted to filing a complaint with the Human Rights Commission. His complaint is over his treatment after supporting local resident Lesley Rudhall in objecting to the Christian religious ritual conducted at the commencement of business at Wanganui District Council meetings.
In January Lesley Rudhall sent an email to Annette Main, Major of Wanganui protesting that the prayer said at the start of Council meetings was contrary to the separation of church and state, saying "a public body should not sponsor or favour any religion. There are very good reasons to maintain this wall of separation between religion and government; it is fundamental to a true free, egalitarian and democratic society." She raised the question of whether the practice was discriminatory against those that are not Christian.
In late May Mr Solomon filed a complaint to the Human Rights Commission, stating that "New Zealand is a secular country with clear separation of religious and democratic structures - including a prayer or an item requiring prayer in a Council document appears to be in direct breach of that principle." Solomon cites the The Bill of Rights Act 1990 section 19 which clearly upholds the right of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including a lack of a belief. He concludes that the inclusion of a prayer as official Council business is a breach of the rights of those that do not believe in the Christian God.
The NZARH has undertaken to support Mr Solomon through a educational campaign promoting separation of church and state. By joining the NZARH you will keep informed of the latest developments, join a community of people who value separation of church and state, and help us with our activities in support of people like Clive Solomon.
EXHIBITION on 'BLASPHEMY'
Rationalist House will be holding its first ever art exhibition! Opening night will be Friday 10th June 5.30-7.30pm, drinks & nibbles provided, all are welcome. The artist Nichola Romney had front page exposure last year for creating a different identity and persona, to prevent "repercussions" from her religious husband & his fundamentalist family & church. Nichola (Nikki) is passionately non-religious. One painting was refused from the "Nelson Art Awards" for being offensive to community audience, Hamish Keith and Warren Feeney - art critics, wrote about it, saying the Nelson Arts Council would be better suited to running a "cup cake" Award. "The Adam Painting" - portrayed a naked Adam looking upon the "corruption" of man in using religion for his own gains. The painting sold for an exceptional price after it appeared in the newspaper nationally, purchased by an art collector.... who wished his name and sale price to remain anonymous.
Where: Rationalist House, 64 Symonds Street, Auckland Central.
When: Opening Night: Friday 10th June, 2011. (5.30 to 7.30 pm)
Saturday 11th June to Sunday 19th June. (10 am to 4 pm)
Tick 'No religion' this census
The Census has been postponed from 2011 to 2013. We were asking people to consider ticking 'No Religion' in the New Zealand census.
Many people in New Zealand tick Christian, even though they do not ascribe to the belief system, do not go to church, and do not live their lives accoring to the laws laid down in the Bible. Many New Zealanders consider themselves 'cultural Christians' but this does not mean that the religious apologists should have an apparent majority in New Zealand.
The NZARH would like to see the trend from the last two decades continue, and for the no-religion vote to increase - perhaps to as much as 50 percent of respondents this year. In 2006, just under 35 percent of people indicated no religion.
Whatever the religion of your parents, whatever the choices made for you when you were a child, please consider what you personally believe and what you personally live, and tick 'No religion' this census.
You can lend your support to this cause on Facebook. Join us at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105952646099719.
NZARH submission on HRC Freedom of Opinion and Expression draft
The Human Rights Commission has asked for feedback on the draft section on the right to freedom of opinion and expression for its status report Human Rights in New Zealand Today.
The NZARH has made the following submission. Overall the chapter looks to be very good. However we are concerned that a position taken by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), of which the NZARH are Associate Members, has been misrepresented. We also think that a discussion of the crime of blasphemous libel is missing from the chapter.
Raymond Bradley / Matthew Flannagan Debate
Former NZARH president Bill Cooke has written this article on the recent Raymond Bradley / Matthew Flannagan debate on the question "is God the source of morality?"
Review of Immigration Policies for Religious Workers
The NZARH has made this submission to the Department of Labour on the immigration policies for religious workers.
The NZARH would like to see one policy that can be applied to all organisations regardless of whether they are founded upon religious, ethical, political, sporting or other principles. This could be accomplished by adding a new Talent category for benevolent work.
Atheist Billboards Go Up
The NZ Atheist Bus Campaign has unveiled billboards in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
For further information visit the website of the NZ Atheist Bus Campaign.
Auckland
- Parnell Rise
"In the Beginning Man Created God." - Newton Road
"Good without God? Over One Million Kiwis Are." - South Eastern Highway
"We Are All Atheists About Most Gods. Some of Us Just Go One God Further."
- Whiteleigh Avenue
"We Are All Atheists About Most Gods. Some of Us Just Go One God Further." - Lincoln Rd
"In the Beginning Man Created God."
- Boulcott Street
"In the Beginning Man Created God." - Willis Street
"We Are All Atheists About Most Gods. Some of Us Just Go One God Further." - Waterloo Quay
"Good without God? Over One Million Kiwis Are."
The Atheist Bus Campaign
Due to NZ Bus refusing to run the New Zealand Atheist Bus Campaign ads, approximately half the donated money is to be spent on a billboard campaign to get the message out there.
While retaining the original "There is Probably No God" slogan as a logo, the billboards will feature new messages. The public are currently being invited to come up with slogans.
For further information visit the website of the NZ Atheist Bus Campaign.
2010 NZARH Scholarship Winner
The NZARH is pleased to award it's 2010 scholarship to Velimir Gayevskiy. Velimir is researching the Biogeography of Wine Yeasts in New Zealand for his Masters of Science degree in Biological Sciences.
NZARH unhappy with HRC Freedom of Religion and Belief draft
The Human Rights Commission will host three lunch meetings to get more feedback on the final draft section on the right to freedom of religion and belief in its status report Human Rights in New Zealand Today. For dates and more information visit the HRC Religious Diversity Website.
The NZARH has made the following submission. We are unhappy that some parts of the draft HRC document discriminate against the non-religious and that the document contains some information that we think is misleading.
Submissions sought for Natural Health Products Bill
The Ministry of Health has released a consultation paper and is seeking submissions for a natural health products scheme that would regulate products on the New Zealand market. For more information visit the Ministry of Health website.
The NZARH has made the following submission.
The Atheist Bus Campaign
NZ Bus has changed its mind and is now refusing to run the New Zealand Atheist Bus Campaign ads. Following the success of the original UK campaign and other campaigns around the world, the NZ Atheist Bus Campaign was planning to put ads carrying atheist and humanist messages on buses in major NZ cities, encouraging Kiwis to think critically about their beliefs.
The NZ Atheist Bus Campaign raised over $20000 after NZ Bus had given the green light for the same "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." slogan as was used in the UK campaign.
For further information visit the website of the NZ Atheist Bus Campaign.
Guidelines on Religion in the Workplace
NZARH President Andrew Geard has accepted an invitation from the Human Rights Commission to be part of the Reference Group for the development of guidelines on religion in the workplace. A draft document should be ready for public consultation in July or August with the final release planned for late 2010 or early 2011.
For more information visit the HRC Religious Diversity Website.