Hubris and other hun THE media are missing the point in the Svend Robinson affair. Svend, as vou recall, will- ingly cook up the gaundet for members of the humanist asso- ciation in their attempt to remove the reference to God from the preamble to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The “non -theist™ human: ists wanted to replace: “Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law,” with: “Whereas Canada is founded upon prin- ciples thar recognize the supremacy of intellectual free- dom and the rule of law.” The tide is turning for the beleaguered MP whose Holy Trinity bas always been Me, Myself and I. And the media are now scrambling to dignity Svend’s efforts and to portray him as a visionary. The preamble is, as many have pointed out, an hisrorical fact: Canada was founded on a belief in God. But this founda- tion has long been eroded. In the post-modern Canada, freedom of worship legally means freedom from any exposure to worship. Hence, in all seriousness the reference to God cannot be construed as anything but symbolic, and certainly a far cry from “discriminatory ... and offensive to millions of Canadians who are non- Christian and non-religious,” as the humanists claimed. Humanists define them- selves as holders of “a non-reli- gious ethical philosophy of life based on the principle that human beings are responsible for giving meaning and pur- pose to their lives relying upon their human capabilities of rea- son and responsibilities.” It’s not necessary to mine the humanist manifesto for slights; they jump out at you. mailbox fair comment Ar once, humanists purport to strive for moral excellence, bur fail to specify what such excel- lence consists of, or how it ought to be achieved. Their constitution, if any- thing, isa tecly-touchy affair, lacking the intellectual rigour of many a religious tract. For a movement professing to favour reason, moreover, its manifesto shows a paltry grasp of the complexity of some highly charged issues. For instance, humanists are careful to point out they sup- port the right to reproductive freedom. This unequivocal right is seemingly part of the quest for the fulfilment of adult aspira- tions. But the debate about various reproductive technolo- gies. or late-term abortion, for instance, is fraught with ethical dilemmas. Echicist Dr. Margaret Somerville has acknowledged the complexity of the repro- ductive debate. With reference to late-term genetic abortions, she reckons, “We've gor two really sit down and think what does it mean if we say “We don’t think this particular life is worth living.’”” This is just the kind of reasoned position absent from humanist repertoire, leading one to suspect the humanist position of hedo- nism rather than clarity of thought. Ethics, according to the humanist constitution, are “discovered together.” I don’t know what that means. NV City tax money wasted Dear Editor: 1am i: .. trated at how city hall is spending our tax money. I really do not under- stand why. Is our moncy unimportant? I was walking to the library one day and like always I pass by a wishing fountain. That day there was construction going on. Now there is anoth- er fountain in the process of being built. I became curious as to how the finished product would look. I was annoyed when J saw the drafted draw- ing. Ic looked exactly the same as the fountain before. J had to stop and think for a second, Is it me or does it scem absurd? Every day you spend about $6 on taxes; that is about $30 a week, and _ * where does this money go? On rebuilding the same foun- tain? Apparently so. This is like repairing your car wind- shield even though it has no cracks or dents. Call or drop 1600 Mackay Rd., North Van if we do not take a stand, city hall might spend our tax money on whatever comes knocking on their door. They should spend our taxes on educational purposes, for example, more encyclopedias, or school sports equipment. We a3 civilized human beings have the right to object and stop this nonsense. Alexander Iaiamov North Vancouver dh de, epakr AAG Your Store of Friendty Ideas Sart Peduo. Imports 4381 Gallant Ave. Deep Cove * 924-2016 Maybe the reterense is to an ad hae learn-as-vou-go experiential morality. Yet another humanist plum has it that “moral principles are tested by their consequenves.” Can a distillation of this result in the exoneration trom attempted murder of a sniper who fails to hit his target? Humanists’ stock-in-trade argunicnt against God has it that because so many evils have been perpetrated in the name of God, the God con- cept is the cause of those evils. Why we should blame God for the misdeeds of man is not clear. Throughout history man has appropriated ideology, not necessarily religious ideology, to do evil. Look no further than the godless communist ideology. If anything, man’s penchant for misusing ideology is proof that regardless of the futile debate as to whether a deity exists or not, a self-referential morality —- one which uses man as the ultimate arbiter — is danger- ous. Over the past few decades we have fulfilled this promise as a culture. We have managed to replace the nihilism-curbing authority of God with the see- ular language of therapy and pop-p-ychology. The reign of therapeutic morality has reinforced a self- referential code of condu code that begins with the per- son and never transcends him: a code of morality that relics on how things feel not on what is right or wrong, What have the effects ofa secular morality been? We gor .¢ glimpse of thar in the aftermath of the spate of schooivard shootings. With chilling unanimity kids trom Colorado to Alberta seemed incapable of teasing apart issues of culpabilicy and punishment, preferring the notion that no one was liable for the murders. After all the killers were said to be victims themselves. On the other hand, kids knew plenty about “working through their issues,” and “achieving closure.” The reality was that the narrative of good and bad was lost. The shootings were visceral happenings with tots of tragedy and grief value, but with very few moral lessons. So much for the pedagogic value of a secular man- ordained morality. Humanist ethics are indeed fraught with logical gashes. Mostly, humanists commit the sin of hubris. If nothing else the concept of a deity reminds us of the need for humilicv. As does the presence of God in the Constitution remind us that our moral capabilities fall short of our intellectual capa- bilities. Alberr Einstein, whose remarkable brain is verv fiter- ally causing a renewed stir among researchers, believed in "Peace of mind under our sign.” > ee ~~ ws & ADDISON INSURANCE cama © WOME 4 AOatS + BUSINEES © THEvELpIN iC. Located on Lonsdale at Queens next to Queensdale Market and Drvcleaners. 3010 Lonsdale North Vancourer (60:1) 983-3323 Congratulations Barbara Sandor the lucky winner of the Fathers Day Gift Box courtesy of DIAMOND GOLDMAN JEWELLERS Friday, June 25, 1999 - North Shore News - 7 a deity. Kinstein’s reasoning, capa- bilities, the kind humanists think God curtails, were off the charts, Tt may have been this abili- tv to reason thar enabled Einstein to view a belief in God as complementary rather than contradictory. Yer another great physicist, Stephen Hawkins, who also probes the secrets of the uni- < ex vd ansenices Oil, Lube & Filter lanist hogwash verse through mathematical Abstractions, makes repeated reference to God in conversa- tions. To paraphrase a witty broadcaster: considering Svend’s intellectual capacities he would be far safer sticking with God. Myself, Pb take my cues from Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawkins. —aqnome@nttcanada.net fay area” 21 pt. Safety check, 15 minutes - FAST! Includes up to 5 lites of 1Ow30 Quakerstate 1362 Marine Drive 980-9115 ! pverset B:00amn-6:00prn, Sun. 9:00em-5:00prmn Expires July 799 Do you have a Chronic Skin Condition? (Rosacea, Pimples, Acne, Dry Skin...) Our Personalized Skin Care Programs have helped many people. We Can Help You! 100% Guaranteed. Our testimoniais speak for themselves. Nature’s Creations Aromatherapy 109 E. 2nd St., North van, closed Sunday & Monday. 990-0833 REASON They understand the paperwork and the evidence to be collected They have the knowledge and experience to assess the value of the claim They have the ability to collect a fair settlement THERE IS ONEY ONE REASON TO SEE A LAWYER...YOU NEED ONE ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER 986-4366 AFTER