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BBC: Humanism

I am delighted that my noble friend Lord Harrison has given us an opportunity to debate this very important topic and I look forward to the contributions from all sides—by which I mean faith sides. I shall be speaking up for respect for diversity. I declare an interest as a happy humanist and should say how impressed I am by the British Humanist Association’s spirited stance in support of those who profess no religion but who certainly have moral codes. I wish that the BBC would recognise the strength of the arguments and the need to recognise the varying forms of individual and collective morality. Humanism is growing in strength. It has growing public recognition in non-religious ceremonies such as marriages, funerals and baptisms. This has made significant contributions to public policy. The moral values held by humanists are weighed and considered. Humanism is a philosophy in its own right and is not a negative response to religion. The BBC needs in its programmes to give a perspective from the non-religious viewpoint. It needs to embrace debate on morality and ethics as expressed by humanists as well as by religious faiths, otherwise it is being unequal and one-sided. I think that the last programmes on humanism on broadcast media were in 1965, yet the Human Rights Act 1998 and European equality and anti-discrimination law give religious and non-religious beliefs such as humanism equivalent status in law. The BBC is ignoring the fact that the British Social Attitudes Survey has found that over two-thirds of people—69 per cent—either did not claim membership of a religious organisation or said that they had never attended a religious service. Many only attend religious ceremonies such as weddings, funerals and baptisms. Some 70 per cent of people believe that the Church and the state should be kept separate in modern Europe. More dramatically, 44 per cent say that faith is one of the world’s greatest evils, comparable to the smallpox virus but more difficult to eradicate. Even I would not go as far as that. Why is the BBC ignoring this diversity of expression and feeling? Is it trying to convert people to religion or to reflect specific moral viewpoints? If so, it should include humanism. The BBC has an important role to play in this. The British Humanist Association evidence to the House of Lords Communications Committee on the duty of public service broadcasting stated that, ""members of society should be able to learn about each other and negotiate the terms on which they share their community"." Clearly, "Thought for the Day" is an ideal place to allow members of society to experience different moral and ethical standpoints. Humanists, after all, have thoughts. The BBC is being too defensive, is ignoring evidence of society’s diversity and is denying access to a wider range of debate.