Humanism, atheism and other freedoms

We all know how commercial Xmas has become, and how we have lost sight of its true meaning. Yet, over the past few years, I have rediscovered my enjoyment of this festival. And that’s partly to do with living in the countryside.

What does Xmas mean to you? Rampant spending on pointless and short-lived consumer products? Overindulgence in food? Wasting the planet’s resources through the vulgar adornment of your living room or house with electric illuminations?

Not pretty, is it?

For me, this time of year has become all about getting back to the true and original meaning of Xmas – that is, the pagan celebration of the winter solstice.

I’m not talking about covering myself in wode and hopping naked around a bonfire adorned with holly and uttering strange incantations. I don’t have any time for ancient superstitions, other than from a perspective of academic interest.

No, I’m talking about celebrating the fact that the days will start getting longer again and that we can look forward to spring.

Living in the depths of the countryside, we have become acutely aware of nature’s moods and seasons. And we enjoy witnessing how nature responds to the cycle of the year. Science, of course, has given us greater understanding of what is happening and why, and deepens the awe and wonder of the spectacle.

And so the winter solstice is not as mysterious to us as it was to those pagans who developed rituals around it. But we are every bit as grateful as them for the knowledge that the days will now become longer – that winter’s apparent decline is temporary.

When you understand that this is what the festivities are about, you can shrug off all that nonsense that has been artificially piled on top of this natural waypoint in the year – silly stuff like plastic holly, flashing lights and Christianity.

Sophie in 't Veld MEP

The European Parliament has created a new body that will promote a secular approach to human rights. The European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Europe (which, for some reason, likes to abbreviate itself as EPPSP) plans “to give a voice to secularism in Europe”.

It’s led by Dutch social-liberal MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld (right).

Before religious zealots start getting knots in their skimpies, let’s point out that this new body isn’t promoting atheism. Here’s what the EPPSP says:

The Platform defends and promotes Fundamental Rights, with special focus on freedom of religion, freedom of conscience and freedom of speech. Freedom of religion is an individual fundamental right, and the Platform will stand up against attempts to use it as a pretext to restrict other fundamental rights.

See that? Freedom of religion is part of the deal. What the EPPSP won’t tolerate, it seems, is religion being privileged in such a way that it impinges on other freedoms. Quite right too.

The body’s home page also states:

The EU institutions must remain secular, so as to ensure that all religions and life stances are treated equally and have equal possibilities to influence EU policy making.

It’s not often you hear such excellent sense coming out of Europe. This deserves support.

The good news is that the inestimable British Humanist Association (BHA) is already doing just that. It’s head of public affairs, Naomi Phillips, attends EPPSP meetings. She commented: “Despite the fact that the European Union is mandated to respect and treat equally both religious and philosophical, non-religious organisations, the churches and other organised religions have wide and privileged access to, and influence over, the institutions of the EU. The BHA works through the EPPSP and through the European Humanist Federation in order to make our contribution to promoting a separation of religion and politics across Europe.”