Strategies for individuals: how to ensure secularism in Sg

I was at a recent discussion , on ways that we as individuals in our personal life & job capacities, can ensure that public policies and spaces remained secular. Kinda like how religious groups strategize outreach activities, but just the opposite.

At the beginning of the discussion, a significant number of people took the view that this was a futile effort. What could small fries do up against huge organisational machinery? However, after a few individuals who were idealistic or brave enough to defy common wisdom & suggest ideas, the group norm started to shift. At the end of the discussion, almost everyone (there will always been a couple of exceptions) was contributing ideas. And these ideas are so fantastic I thought I should share here:

Influencing friends/people we come into contact with/students

-          Encourage them to think

-          Making your stand known

-          Teaching children secular values

-          Spreading articles/views via Facebook

.

Spreading the word

-          Sending letters & questioning through the media

-          Writing blogs/on blogs/online forums

-          Write books, contribute to magazine articles, newsletters

-          Engaging schools by offering to speak in schools, eg. assembly talks, trainers/speakers for CCAs, supporting science/humanist CCAs/activities in schools

.

Influencing your workplace

-          ensure your work place/organizations have secular policies

-          speak up for secular values within work place practices

-          ensure procurement rules/criteria for public agencies & large organizations are secular

.

Finding Champions for Humanism/Secularism

-          Finding influential champions eg, politicians, wealthy/successful individuals or businessmen, entertainment industry personalities

-          Working towards being an influential person or key decision-maker

-          Educating influential people eg. influencing NIE course contents, influencing programme designers

-          Finding out who decision-makers in various organizations are and engage them

-          Engaging the international community & media

.

Speaking out on issues

-          Engaging your MP

-          Signing petitions

-          Writing letters

-          Organise lobby groups for specific issues

.

Providing Alternatives

-          Start alternative schools, classes, organizations, societies built on Humanist/Secular values eg. providing out-of-school independent Comprehensive Sexuality Education workshop for families who want children to receive this sort of education

-          Start ground-up changing-making organizations

-          Starting formal Humanist student clubs in tertiary edu. institutes

.

Strategic angles to take

-          Treating ‘religion vs non-religion’ & ‘protecting secularism’ as 2 separate issues

-          Getting Humanism to be included in schools’ ethics/civics/moral edu/religion classes. Getting the concept of Secularism to be taught in these classes

-          Changing mindsets of the majority

.

.

.

If anyone wants to engage in further conversation on Humanism & Secularism, a few of us are celebrating World Humanism Day this coming Monday, 21st June, 6 30- 9 30pm over dinner(order & pay yourself) at

http://www.kichn.com/

Small café, below $10 prices, owner-run

30pax total capacity (We’re already expecting 20 people to turn up, so come early to have a seat….. or else standing around is fine too)

Their tagline is sweet —– Embrace your right to choose

Food Review here : http://calvintimo.tumblr.com/post/666680893/kichn-albert-court

Advertisement