A secular state!

[rgutsell]

I have been uploading thoughts and ideas for a secular philosophy onto the EDF and Facebook.

No responses on facebook. Quite few, critical and creative, on EDF. There are sharks swimming in the murky waters of the EDF!

Here is my next contribution; I have been thinking about how a state would look if it positively embraced Secular thinking.

1. Disassociate the monarchy from the C of E and leave monarchs to choose their beliefs.

2. Review all of the decision making bodies of the State, and ensure that they are made up of a majority of secular thinkers, with no religious affinities or connections. (Including House of Lords and Parliament).

3. Remove the notion that everyone is by default C of E, from all administrative procedures. People should be able to opt in, and not be included by default.

4. In all Equal Opps procedures and law, recognise that members of the public can choose "no faith" and "Secular" in addition to the usual terms.

5. Ensure that all schools funded by the State, directly or indirectly, are secular, and not faith schools.

6. Establish a group to review decisions made by public authorities (Education, health etc) to ensure that they are secular in origin, outlook, intent and outcomes. (For example, it can be argued that the legislation encouraging faith schools is not!)

7. Establish a group to review the work of major players in the public domain (newspapers, charities, media, etc) and ensure that any faith based associations are made clear and evident. (Many charities and news organisations around the world do not declare their sources of funding, which are often faith driven. Many of the charities touting for your money on the street do not declare their faith background. Many "research" bodies are faith based, especialy in the political body).

8. Bring "Secular studies" onto the school curriculum, as a philosophy.

9. Make it an article of our constitution, that secularity is a fundamental part of it, and that the state can legitimately act to defend its "secularity". (To prevent "faith" based beliefs creeping into the state system, as they did during the development of our Empire, and of the USA; "Manifest Destiny" was used to present a faith based reason for the subjugation of many tribes, other peoples etc.)

10. I can't think of a 10th...yet!!

There you go. Responses welcome, but not too "sharkish" please!

R Gutsell

[????]

And tell me what and where is our Constitution?

[uncleglen]

If only......

[StraferJack]

If I was a vegan, I would feel like this about that vegan posters campaigns... " not really helping mate"

[HonaloochieB]

rgutsell Wrote:

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> 10. I can't think of a 10th...yet!!

>

>

> R Gutsell

How about a Notional Anthem?

One that's instantly recognisable and could have the lyrics reworked.

I'm throwing 'Secular Healing' by Marvin, gay, out there.