On the 18th February 2009 the Central London Humanist Group and 21st Century Network, kindly hosted by EnlightenNext, held a joint event entitled Humanising Beliefs.

Beliefs can be often intolerant and can lead to conflict that is often violent. History is full of both religious and secular extremism – religious war as well as secular terror such as in the French Revolution.

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Today we see a growing trend towards fragmented intolerant beliefs ranging from religious fundamentalism to sometimes-intolerant humanism. When our planet faces so many crucial challenges for survival these beliefs threaten us all.
So this meeting was based on the theme – “How Can We Humanise Beliefs”

• In what we can we hold belief systems that influence our life and give us the framework to understand the world without using those beliefs to destroy that world?
• How can belief systems exist in peaceful co-existence rather than act as ideological fuels to mobilise masses towards hatred?
• And how can we make beliefs personal rather than as a challenge to convert at all costs? 

The Speakers

There were three speakers who addressed these issues from their own religious standpoint and were,

Revd Fergus Capie is Director of the London Inter Faith Centre. The centre aims to provide a space where inter faith meetings, study and dialogue can take place amongst different world religions. The centre is funded and run by a single faith (Christian) but with many faith involvements. The Centre began its work in the late 90`s with a focus on the interface between action and reflection, to be found in daily lived local church life in active interaction with others of different faiths or of no religious faith.

Humera Khan is one of the most important Muslim voices speaking and writing in Britain today. Founder of the pioneering An-Nisa Society in Wembley, she has been an activist and educator for over 20 years, working in race relations, the voluntary sector and social services for people of all backgrounds and faiths. Humera is also a commentator, contributing regularly to mainstream and independent media, as well an author of a groundbreaking series on Islam and sexual health. She remains a powerful, critical and independent advocate for positive social change and an inclusive, just Britain.

Robert Samuels has been General Director of SGI-UK since 2002 and is a vice-Chairman of Soka Gakkai International Europe. He has been very active in the development of the lay Buddhist society Soka Gakkai International - UK, and since 1994 has worked at their centre in Taplow, (near Maidenhead). Soka Gakkai is a dynamic philosophy grounded in the realities of daily life. This Buddhist practice leads to empowerment and inner transformation or "human revolution" which enables individuals to take responsibility for their lives and contribute to building a world where people of diverse cultures and faiths can live in peace.

This was followed by a response from:

Chris Parish directs the London Centre of EnlightenNext, the organization dedicated to supporting the development of Andrew Cohen's teaching work. EnlightenNext is an what some would describe as a “new age” religion or spiritual experience where spiritual enlightenment is not a personal matter, but an evolutionary potential that really does have the power to change our world from the inside out and create a new foundation for our collective culture. It stands in contrast to the traditional religions and emphasises “state of consciousness” rather than dogma or belief.

Josh Kutchinsky is a Trustee of the British Humanist Association, and a member of the National Secular Society, an organiser of the Central London Humanist meetup Group and treasurer of the Hampstead Humanist Society. He has commented – “I don't accept "intolerant" applied to humanism". Its an oxymoron. A person calling themselves a humanist can of course be intolerant. Humanism, as a belief system, has built into it a respect for the rights of the individual. Having said that, how to humanise beliefs is an important challenge.” He is also quoted as saying, “I am not trying to persuade anyone to become a humanist.” Josh is also a valued member of Brent SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) and was recently elected again to be its chair, a post he held previously for two years.
The discussion will then be open to all those there for comment and questions.