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Secularism is the new default position – almost everywhere
We live in an increasingly “secular” global society. Or so we like to say. But the word secular is fast becoming inadequate. In North America and around the planet, profound cultural shifts are...
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The University of Secularism
Universities have often been accused of being fortresses of atheism and anti-religious sentiment. But here’s one college that’s going a step further: Offering a new bachelors degree program in...
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Secularization is best thing that ever happened to religion
Secularization is the best thing that’s ever happened to religion. That might seem like a shocking statement for both religious and secular people. But its implications become clear when we unpack new...
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North Americans link atheists with rapists. But atheists may run better...
A new University of B.C. psychology study has shocked many by showing that North Americans distrust atheists as much as they do rapists. They place much more trust in Christians, and even Muslims....
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French expert on ‘secularism’ debate speaks in multifaith B.C.
A leading French specialist on the separation of religion and state will be speaking at UBC on March 6th and the University of Victoria on March 8th. His work is relevant to Canada’s experiment in...
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Higher education has given up on meaning of life
One of many new books determined to restore the relevance of higher education focuses on one specific but symbolic shortcoming. It’s Helen Sword’s Stylish Academic Writing (Harvard University Press)....
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Are universities finally discovering spirituality?
Columbia University has become the first Ivy League school in this modern era to venture into psychology and spirituality. It’s clinical psychology program is experimenting with integrating...
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Punjabi atheists, agnostics unite in B.C.
Conventional wisdom tends to tag Punjabi Indians as highly religious — mostly as practising Sikhs — the kind of fellows who wear turbans and ceremonial swords and women who wear bright saris while...
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Rex Murphy in Vancouver to take on secularists
The ferocious Canadian commentator Rex Murphy will take on the environmental movement, the politically correct and secularists in his three-part lecture series this week for Regent College, the...
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South Asian secularists counter religious power
All may not be what it appears when more than 150,000 people with South Asian roots flood the streets of Metro Vancouver for springtime’s annual Vaisakhi parade – creating a sea of mobile altars, women...
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‘Bridging the Secular Divide:’ Pivotal conference begins May 27th
A host of Canadians from a variety of religions and worldviews have put together an historic conference for May 27th and 28th in Montreal, titled Bridging the Secular Divide: Religion and Canadian...
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We’re all ‘Doubting Thomases’ now
A prominent New York Times columnist has recently written about The Secular Age, the opus by Canada’s greatest living philosopher, Charles Taylor. David Brooks offers an excellent summary of the book...
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Religion declines in well-run, trusting societies
Imagine there’s no countries It isn’t hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too. Imagine all the people Living life in peace. – John Lennon John Lennon was...
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A teacher from an extremely non-religious nation
Tomáš Halík — winner of the $1.8 million US Templeton Prize in 2014 – is a public intellectual and Roman Catholic priest from one of the most non-religious nations on Earth. He may offer insights on...
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Think religion is in decline? Look at who is ‘going forth and multiplying’
Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and other well-known atheists consider the decline of religion inevitable as the global population becomes more secular, more educated and more urban. Last month, a Pew...
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Secular society: Defending the right to offend
As a journalist who covers religion and ethnic diversity, I strive to respect spiritual people and everyone else. Like others, I have been offended by things people say about religious figures, as well...
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Canada’s “Ambassador of Religious Freedom” in Vancouver March 23
The head of Canada’s Office of Religious Freedom, Andrew Bennett, will speak in Vancouver during a major conference on religion, spirituality and secularism from March 22 to 24. The event at Robson...
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