Humanist Perspectives: issue 170, Autumn 2009
Issue 170, Autumn 2009
Editorial
- Introduction & Invitation
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In this, his first editorial, incoming editor Yves Saint-Pierre introduces
himself. He establishes his position as a humanist and sets some guidelines
regarding his own editorial commitments. He argues for the elimination
of religious dress and symbols for government personnel who deal directly
with the public and presents the case for an altogether more secular society.
Readers are invited to respond and contribute.
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features
- Conkers
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In this highly amusing piece, frequent contributor, John K. Nixon, makes a good
case for using the old British schoolboy game of Conkers to solve the Middle-East
crisis.
Download as PDF - Act of God
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This satirical piece takes the form of a letter sent to a Cardinal in Rome
by the Secretary of the Archdiocese of Toronto, in 2015. It deals with the
pettiness an foibles of officialdom and shows the absurdity of trying for a
legal affirmation of the existence of God.
Download as PDF - A Poet’s Voice
- Read the biographical note, author’s statement and wonderful poems
of this talented poet, whose most recent book, Hymn, from which these
poems were drawn, was published last Fall by Brick Books
Read poetry online | Download as PDF - Human Rights Commissions in Canada: A Case of Counter-Intuitive Controversies
- Human Rights Commissions and Tribunals have been under attack on several
fronts in the recent past. Dr. Lamarche, Gordon F. Henderson Human Rights
Chair at the University of Ottawa and Academic Director of the University
of Ottawa Human Rights Research and Education Centre, while recognizing the
problems with which they are beset, makes a strong case in defense of the
Tribunals.
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- A Major Setback for Secularism in Quebec Schools
- In this probing piece, Marie-Michelle Poisson, president of the Mouvement
laïque québécois, explores the controversy over the Ethics
and Religious Culture course imposed on Quebec schools by the MELS, Quebec’s
Ministry of Education, Sports and Leisure. She sees in it and in its administration
a continued domination of the majority Catholic position and argues convincingly
for a philosophically based ethics course, entirely free of religious content.
We also include documents prepared by and documenting the position of Loyola High School, a private Catholic High School in Montreal that, for its own reasons, challenged the course in the courts.
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- Dismantling the Temple
- This piece, which originally appeared in the Nation, presents the well-informed
view of frequent contributor to the Nation, William Greider, concerning a
real and fundamental reform of the Federal Reserve Bank. The business and
finance world of our neighbours to the South has a significant effect on us
all, and the issue of the Fed and its future is of vital importance to the
world. Greider’s understanding is sound and his recommendations enlightened.
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- On the International Scene.
- This section presents snippets of interesting news from the international
scene, most of it from the International Humanist and Ethical Union.
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- In addition, Humanist Perspectives, offers a lively "Letters-to-the-Editor" section as well as "Book Reviews", books available for review and snippets of international news of interest to humanists..