Sir, - I agree with the closing remarks of the Rev Colin Garvey (December 17th) to the effect that religious people and humanists should respect each other, even while disagreeing about their basic beliefs. It was for this reason that I replied to Father Faul's unjustified attack on secular humanism (Opinion, December 1st). To equate humanism with greed and immorality, as he did, is certainly not showing respect, and to demonise non-denominational education as a thing which undermines the social fabric and contributes to moral degeneracy is an insult to all those dedicated people, both religious and humanist, who work tirelessly for a better society in Ireland, north and south.
Most concerned people, whatever their convictions, have long ago reached the conclusion that a lasting peace in Northern Ireland, for example, can best be accomplished if it is built on the foundation of an integrated education system. No one claims that such a proposition represents an immediate solution to conflict, but the fact that the new generations will have an opportunity to get to know each other through this medium constitutes a major step forward. As another contributor, Padraig McGinn, pointed out (December 18th), "Catholic education simply has not worked." Not only has it failed to produce a more humane, caring society in the South, but it has contributed greatly to sectarian division in the North.
Father Garvey declares himself "amazed" at the list of humanists named in my letter of December 5th, which includes both ancient and modern philosophers, but of course I did not claim these men were humanists. What I wrote was that "humanist values have evolved over many centuries" and that these were developed by the great thinkers from Socrates to modern times. Erasmus, the Christian humanist, played a role in this, along with those who had more secular ideas, because humanism, like every other human idea or philosophy, including religion, has passed through a process of evolution, just as the species itself has evolved into what we recognise today as humanity.
To the best of my knowledge, there are only one or two societies in the world in which humanists have had any substantial political input. One of these is Holland, where relatively one society has evolved over the past three centuries, promoting tolerance and outlawing sectarianism, which bedevilled its development, until it was eliminated by a system of pluralism. The last sectarian riots took place there in 1912, and since then the Dutch ideal has been one of peace governed by reason, which was interrupted only by fascist invasion in 1940.
Humanists, therefore, are the opponents of the totalitarian regimes listed by Fr Garvey, just as they oppose war, want, and other evils that are all too common because of the ambitious power-lust of a minority dedicated to control, censorship, and closed, conforming societies. If humanity is ever to shake off the shackles of this slavery, exposed by Diderot and denounced by Rousseau, it must be guided by reason instead of by the emotions that stimulate prejudice and hatred. And reason tells us that we can only improve society in Ireland by co-operating with one another, whatever views we hold of the world.
Lastly, I should point out that humanists do not spend their lives attempting to "get rid of religion." On the contrary, we spend much of our time making the case for the right to practice religion, but in such a way that it does not infringe on the liberty of others. I have tried to show here how religion in education inhibits the development of an integrated society, and this is true in every scientific and social activity. Astronomy, medicine and literature immediately spring to mind, as areas in which learned men with rational views were restricted, tortured, and even put to death as a result of religious prejudice.
Many talented people leave Ireland for fear of sectarian opposition to their work. Teachers, writers and artists worry about the influence of the clergy who have dominated education and politics since Catholic Emancipation in 1829. Others who have remained fear to speak their minds in the knowledge that social ostracism is no idle threat. These are the things that humanism tries to combat in our society - not the right of people to practice religion and live by the precepts of their religion. If we behaved otherwise, we would surely forfeit the right to the title of "free thinkers." - Yours, etc.,
Sean Kearney,
Editor,
The Ulster Humanist,
Glantane Drive,
Belfast 15.