Secular Aims
- To bring about a true separation of Church and State in Australia
- To promote secularism world wide
- To stand for human rights and social justice, affirming the dignity of each human being
- To support the maximisation of individual liberty and opportunity consistent with social and environmental responsibility
- To defend freedom of expression everywhere
- To espouse policies which support a rational approach to human problems
- To promote the fullest use of science for human welfare
- To gain and maintain for non-religious people the same rights that are enjoyed by members of religious bodies
- To promote the election to Parliament of Secular Party endorsed candidates
We stand for:
- Constitutional separation of Church and State
- A secular Republic, free of hereditary privilege
- Pro-choice regarding abortion
- Same-sex de facto marriage recognition
- Recognition of gay families
- Contraception and sex education
- Anti-homophobia education
- No anti-discrimination exemptions for religious schools and businesses
- Right to die
- Voluntary euthanasia
- Embryonic stem cell research
- Lesbian IVF availability
- Scientific research not to be limited by unfounded religious objections
We stand against:
- Censorship
- Unwarranted impositions of religious dogma
- Government support for religious schools
- Religious attire at schools
- Religious indoctrination of children
- All forms of religious coercion and theocracy
A truly secular country is one in which society is fully organised on the basis of reason. This requires that beliefs based on merely on tradition, superstition, and notions of the supernatural should not be endorsed by the State. While all people should be free to hold any form of religious belief, however implausible, these should be held privately and should not receive government endorsement or support.
The Secular Party recognises and asserts that religious beliefs have no basis in reason or in factual evidence. Given the numerous contradictions within and between religions, in spite of popular sentiment, we conclude that it cannot reasonably be accepted that any religion is true. The failure of society and of government to assert this obvious conclusion is causing increasing dysfunction, the consequences of which, in Australia and the world, are becoming increasingly dire.
The Secular Party holds that religious beliefs impose and give rise to an increasing intrusion on civil liberties and provide an unwelcome source of social disharmony. We seek to rigorously uphold the internationally recognised Rights of the Child. These imply that children should be free to develop to their full potential their capacity for freedom of thought. This necessitates protecting children from religious indoctrination. This involves instructing them with moral values based on universal principles, free from the corrupting influence of religious dogma.
A man's ethical behaviour should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death. Albert Einstein
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Authorised by John Goldbaum, Secular Party of Australia,
7 Rockwall Crescent, Potts Point NSW 2011
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