Axial Tilt is the Reason for the Season.
December is a month dominated by religious traditions. Some humanists are able to overlook religious traditions and focus on generosity, celebrating with friends and family. It provides a break in the long dark days that surround the Winter Solstice. Other non-religious folks struggle with the constant rhetoric about the benefits of religion. Whichever camp applies to you, please consider making a donation to CFIC as we fight for secular values in Canada.
There is a strong positive correlation between secularism and desirable social outcomes such as reduced poverty, rates of incarceration, teenage pregnancies, and addictions; and increased literacy, life expectancy, employment and wealth. Yet in spite of this the Canadian government continues to endorse and subsidize religious perspectives and practices over secular values and institutions.
Perhaps the most egregious evidence of this is that the government provides charitable status for organizations whose goal is “the advancement of religion.” This single issue costs Canadians more than $5.5 billion each and every year!
However, it does not stop there. Many provinces have faith-based hospitals. While these hospitals are open to the public treatment is often determined by religious principles at odds with the best interests of the patient – regardless of whether the patient is a member of that faith or not. As a result, people are denied access to medical assistance in dying, birth control and abortion.
Even the census fails to be impartial in the matter of religion. The census asks: “What is this person’s religion? Indicate a specific denomination or religion even if this person is not currently a practising member of that group.” (emphasis added) This wording leads to higher reported rates for all religions at the expense of accuracy.
As 2023 draws to a close, give the gift of secularism. Please consider donating to CFIC so that we can do more to promote secularism for all.
For more information see:
The Cost of Religion in Canada 2022
When Religious Leaders Become Atheists
Sudbury Inmates’ Reading limited to Christian Bibles
Religion: Freedom “Of” or Freedom “From”
What It Means to be Moral with Phil Zuckerman
Seth Andrews, host of The Thinking Atheist, on the un-Christian behaviour of many Christians