Post 43—Religion, Secularism, Dialogue

A few years ago I published an 8-volume series on Christian-Muslim Relations as they play themselves out in Nigeria.  

It is obtainable free of charge as an ebook from <  www.lulu.com   >.  All you need to do is punch in my name  “Jan H. Boer” and they will surface. You have to “purchase” through the normal commercial channel, including opening an account with Lulu, but in the end you receive a bill for a grand total of $00.00.  It will soon also be available on my website  < www.SocialTheology.com> on the Boeriana page. (“Boeriana” simply means “things written by and about Boer,” just like “Canadiana” or “Americana” are things written about Canada or America.)

One of the issues in those Nigerian relationships is that both religions accuse each other of trying to destroy or marginalize each other. They both have enough stories to “prove” “it.” A parallel situation obtains in Canada between religious and secular folk, though here it is a matter of mutual marginalization rather than outright killing. Since I am more familiar with the Christian scene, I will discuss the religious side of this issue from that point of view.  

Father de Souza, a National Post columnist, university lecturer, and Editor-in-chief of Convivium, a Cardus publication, delivered a lecture to the Canadian Club of Hamilton ON entitled “Should there Be Room in Secular Canada for Religion?”  That was not a question that needed discussion in the past, but today, he explained, it is “not as obvious to others that the religious voice is needed.” (Christian Courier, Jan. 26, 2015, p. 16).  He then reviewed various key moments in Canadian history where religion played crucial roles. Even today, de Souza asserted, many of the major issues require moral and religious insights for their solutions, even though those insights tend to be resisted and ignored by many.

At the same time, de Souza acknowledged that at least part of the reason for the marginalization of religion among Canadians and in public discussions is the fact that Christians have often misbehaved or not lived up to their own standards. The author of this report on de Souza lecture, Sean Schat, a Ph. D. candidate at Brock University, explained that we “Christians have silenced our own voices….  Too often, our words and actions do not match our intentions.”  Sad but true. We have oppressed and marginalized those unlike us. We have often made it difficulty for others and pushed them from the centre.

The result of that disconnect between Christian teaching and behaviour is disrespect for us on the part of the non-religious, the secularists among us. They have developed negative attitudes towards faith in general, including Christianity. They have long been arguing that religion should be private and restricted to the personal, private and the church and be kept out of the marketplaces of the nation.  The result of that result is that Christians complain that they are being pushed out to the margins of society. That is a legitimate and true complaint that you have met already and will continue to meet frequently in the posts of this blog.  We have a right to air that complaint and to try to overcome that situation, but as we do so, we should remember that we have asked for it by that disconnect mentioned above.

However, many secularists also feel that that they are being marginalized in society. I was once a member of a small group comprised of  adherents of various religions as well as secularists. The group had been pioneered by atheists who complained that they are discriminated against in the public school system by religious folk, particularly Christians. That may well surprise Christians who feel that they are the ones discriminated against in these same schools. The atheists, active members of the BC Humanist Association, wanted to restore the teaching of religions in the schools, religions now referred to as “worldviews” that would then include Humanism.  I strongly supported this cause and, in the process, became close friends with these Humanists, without either side losing sight of our differences.  So, as in Nigeria, so here we have these two sides accusing each other of marginalizing the other.

Fortunately, in the context of the above worldview crusade, we had agreed to be open about our differences and be prepared to discuss them, but always in a friendly and respectful way. We stuck to that agenda and I, at least, had a wonderful time with my new friends. But it is not always that friendly an atmosphere in which these matters are discussed. You may be familiar with the vitriol in the popular books by leading atheists of our day. They can be vicious.

And as to being marginalized, Sue Hughson, President of the BC Humanist Association, complained that the secular community had been excluded from the recent Our Whole Society conference held in Vancouver that addressed these very issues. She wrote, “Despite claims of collaboration with secular organizations, none appear on the program…. The conversation about religion and secularism requires secular communities at the table” (Vancouver Sun, 25 March, 2015). I was surprised, for one of the organizers of the event was a secular think tank. But if her complaint is based on facts, then I would agree with her—on this point, at least.

So, there it is, both sides accusing each other of discriminating and marginalizing the other.  I am hoping to explore this topic further over the next few posts, provided some more urgent matters do not interfere or intervene, by examining first the secular solution and then the Christian.  Well, of course. As a Christian I would want the last word. However, if any secularists reading this post want to write the last post on this subject, I will welcome them. However, theirs will not really be the last word, for I will be writing about these issues off and on. They are among the major reasons I started this blog in the first place.