CANADIAN HUMANISTS

From Philosopedia

CANADIAN HUMANISTS

British Columbia in 1995 boasted the highest percentage of Canadians claiming no religion: 30% compared to the national average of 12%. In Greater Vancouver, 31% choose “none” when asked their religious affiliation. Mia Stainsby, writing in the Vancouver Sun, explained this as follows:

• “It’s a gorgeous province with more tempting things to do than go to church or a temple on Sunday. We’re said to be a more pleasure-loving province. The ‘nones’ group is top-heavy with young people, who also are attracted to B.C.”

J. M. E. McTaggart of Alberta has compared Canadian and Netherlands humanist movements. His thorough research concluded that the lack of success in Canada’s humanist movement is attributable to (a) the absence of strong secular or irreligious themes in the development of Canadian society; (b) a greater degree of formal separation between church and state—a “naturalistic,” rather than a “pluralistic” approach, which is characteristic of the Dutch model, and has ensured that humanists in the Netherlands have received state support for many of their projects; and (c) the abolitionist approach of the Canadian movement.

Svend Robinson, once a member of the Canadian Parliament, has gone public as being both gay and a non-theist.

(See entries for William Algie and Henry Morgentaler.)

(Also, see entries for Humanist Canada, CANADIAN FREETHINKERS, CANADIAN UNITARIANS, and Canadian Atheist.

{Freethought Today, November 1995}