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Rude Conversation

CD Looks at Politics and Religion

Culture

Contemplating the return of the religious Right to worldwide prominence or even - God forbid! - dominance, Dimension is pleased to inaugurate this “rude conversation” about the secular state and the place of religion in politics.

Secularism’s moment has come again, says Rick Salutin, who observes that moral certainty preceeds the withering of any movement, Left or Right. Saeed Rahnema questions the politically correct, politically convenient wisdom of applying Shari’a law to Canada’s Muslim “community.” David F. Noble tells us the story of a Canadian university that failed to uphold its own, secularist governing principles and ended up adopting a religion by default.

A promising start. But these three articles only scratch the surface of the secularism debate - and in certain cases even raise further questions. Questions like these:

  • Canada has gradually been moving toward self-administrating justice models for Aboriginal communities - sometimes involving traditional and spiritual components. If this model works for Aboriginal peoples, why shouldn’t it work - as Saeed Rahnema claims - for Canadian Muslims?
  • A recent final decision of the International Court of Human Rights permits Turkey to ban Muslim headscarves from university campuses. But can the consequent exclusion of pious Muslim women from post-secondary education be called a victory for secularism?
  • Religions operate places of worship, schools, colleges, seniors’ homes and child-and-family-service organizations with significant government support, from tax exemptions to direct funding. How much such support is the right amount? Is any?

We invite you to reflect upon these questions and submit your contribution to this important forum!

This article appeared in the January/February 2006 issue of Canadian Dimension (Politics and Religion).

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