Transcript of Thought For the World's thought for the day

Hanne Stinson

27th February 2008

Humanists, like most people, want to live in a society where, within certain constraints to protect others, we all have the freedom to live our lives as we choose. That's a society based on human rights, equality, mutual support, and respect for the rights of others. It's a society where everyone has the right to participate in our democracy.

Meanwhile, our government, which generally ignores the rapidly growing number of people in the U.K. who have nonreligious beliefs and, as part of it's commitment to multiculturalism, seems to view the whole of society as made up of a number of separate-faithed communities. That is neither accurate nor helpful. There does now seem to be a growing awareness that this approach increases segregation and can actually disadvantage minorities.

I think it's more useful to see society as made up of individuals rather than groups, individuals who have multiple identities and relate to a number of different groups, in different contexts. One individual may be a Muslim, a mother, a single parent, a lawyer, a Londoner, and a home owner. If that woman wants her voice to be heard, her best chance at the moment is via her faith leader, despite the fact that her faith leader's views may be very different than her own.

That woman needs a voice in her own right, not just through her faith leader. Muslim women need to have a voice as women, not just as Muslims. Sikh young people need to have a voice as young people, not just as Sikhs.

The current emphasis on faith communities tends to reinforce cohesion within each faith community, which can, of course, be very positive. It also reinforces the power of the faith community and of faith leaders over the individual. It can result in oppression of women and children and to anyone living within a faith community who does not wish to live his or her life according to the norms of the community.

The government's approach also reinforces differences between communities, creating divisions between communities and restricting the opportunities for individuals to mix and to understand each other.

A cohesive society requires an open and honest debate about beliefs and values, a debate in which everyone can participate. It requires a commitment by each individual to our shared values and to share an understanding of the boundaries and what is acceptable within our society as a whole.

This isn't about assimilation, since all groups in the U.K. would be able to participate in the debate. It isn't about Britishness either. It's actually about equality, individual human rights, and mutual respect, including respect for difference.

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