Canadian University Faith Centre Recongizes Atheists, Promotes Doubt

June 6, 2010

For example, the cover of the pamphlet declares:

"The University of Toronto welcomes and includes students from a diverse range of communities and backgrounds.  The University recognizes that many of its students, staff, and faculty are engaged in a broad spectrum of spiritual traditions including atheists to Zoroastrians."

Yes, I realize atheism is not exactly a spirituality but I think they genuinely meant well in including us here.  Furthermore, inside the pamphlet it reads: 

"The Centre works in partnership with many University departments as well as faith based student clubs, individuals who would describe themselves as spiritual, but not religious, or people of no faith" 

and

"Before considering your own tradition, you have the option to look for groups that..."invite open and thoughtful investigation of beliefs"

And the back cover includes an entire section on "Aggressive religious recruiting", stating

"The following questions may be helpful in determining whether a group is right for you"
"Is it unacceptable to have doubts about what the group teaches or does?  Is doubt seen as a sign of weakness?"
"Does the group encourage you to put their meetings before all other commitments, including studying?"
"Is it proper to deceive people for the sake of the group?"

And finally, note that the U of T campus chaplaincy, which is associated with the Multifaith Centre, recently adopted a secular humanist councillor among their ranks, thanks to our three-year campaign. A great series of precedents for use in working to ameliorate the structure of other campus faith centres and policies with respect to faith groups at universities!

Comments:

Justin B. Trottier

Toronto

I'm the Executive Director of the Centre for Inquiry Canada and co-host the student oriented Course of Reason podcast. As an outspoken advocate of freedom of expression and inquiry, science education, church-state separation, and equality rights for non-believers, I have the pleasure of representing freethinkers regularly on the Michael Coren Show on CTS TV as well as in the National Post's Holy Post. I also contribute to Free Inquiry and Skeptical Inquirer magazines.