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France may bar Islam's scarf
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John Perkins
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Dec 12, 2003 18:08 PST
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Here is something that I think humanists should endorse - the banning of
all religious symbols in schools and public buildings.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/12/1071125659640.html
This has been the policy in Turkey for decades and may now be adopted by
France.
How can it be defended against claims of civil rights infringement? By
asserting that is simply a defence of the civil rights of all people not to
be involuntarily confronted with expressions of belief that offensively
conflict with their own, and to preserve community cohesion for the benefit
of society.
Why is it offensive? Because the wearing of religious symbols is an
implicit assertion of the superiority of one religion over others. This is
an assertion that is not only without any epistemological foundation, but
is one that is inherrently divisive and provocative.
In future this will become more of an issue as the intensity of religioious
conflict increases, and will be the oly way to deal with it. It should be
extended to all schools that receive any public funding, not just
government schools.
John
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