Public facilities should be neutral, that already stands for itself by using and showing oneself as such an institution. Public stands for “all peoples”, otherwise it would be a club, company or organization for members or employees only. Yet in many countries that is still not the case. Schools, hospitals and public buildings offering services to the peoples, often owned by the state or a religious organization, are not presenting themselves neutral.
In my point of view, the state shouldn't be attached to one or the other belief based system, as the state is formed, not only by followers of a certain religion, but by all, with or without a belief. Placing religious symbols into a public building might be appealing for the followers of such, but all the others will feel forced to it; forced to view and see what maybe discomforts him or her. The aim of a hospital is to heal and treat sick peoples, and not to transport the message of a religion to the sick. If I am in need of that, I can just go to a church or mosque or temple or synagog, to participate my hobby and interest.
Now one can say, that the hospital was founded by a religious organization. But still I can state, that patients, when not paying in cash, use their insurance card to have their bill paid. So the hospital stays alive through money from other neutral sources. A patient being admitted by a hospital, should feel comfortable when treated and taken care of.
The same applies to schools. Many schools have been established by religious organizations, of course with the intention to teach children, but in addition, and a school is a perfect installment for that purpose, to have control over children for many years. These years can be used to constantly push their religious message into the brains of the children, preferably from grade one until the last year of high school, followed even into collage. The constant conveying of for example prayers, bible classes and lessons about Christianity, forms a neutral born child into a person, who thinks that this “opinion” or “belief” is a part of the reality, our universal life.
In The Philippines and in West-Africa I have observed, that religion classes are mandatory, so not even allowing a voluntary decision to reject. Not visiting the religious subjects, not wanting to endure the daily prayer rites and exercises, leads to the situation, of not being allowed to graduate. The intelligence is no longer regarded, but the participation in a religion. And to top this injustice, these schools collect tuition fees and money for all that the student needs. So I can clearly conclude that the student is paying for the service to be taught his subjects of choice, aiming to graduate as a master or bachelor, but although he of she is in the right to request for the service he or she chose for, the school puts itself on a higher level, by making irrelevant or non-wanting subjects mandatory, acting as the demander, whilst it should just be the servant of the student and its sponsors.
For a student considering him or herself as non religious, or belonging to another religion, this way of treating students, makes him or her stand aside, even if they just pretend or force themselves to take part, for the sake of their graduation.
Now with saying this, some peoples may reply, that parents can send their children to secular or neutral schools. Sadly that is not possible, in many parts of the world. In all these countries, religion has found a very smart marketing method to stay strong or even grow, and it too often meets the less fortunate or less developed countries.
There is a need to follow this statement by replies given further in discussions. Many Theists say, that Atheism or Secularism is just another religion, or Secular schools force their “beliefs” onto the pupils. I have to lever out this statement. Atheism is not another religion, as it opposes religion, and it is not based on beliefs, but built on proven facts. Facts are up-to-date conclusions and findings from Science and universal agreements, based on an obvious to all knowledge. Atheism does not claim or insist on a view for ever. If proven better tomorrow, Atheism goes with it. It's a constant process and progress. Religion is in opposition stagnant and sticks to it's claims, not wanting to accept, that something could, or in fact even is different to what the religion tells.
Secular schools do not push Atheism onto their students. Secular or neutral state schools, teach about the entire pallet of religions, to give the pupil an incite about what belief based groups are existing in the world, and in addition they impart the non-confessional humane way of life, secularism and evolution as we know it. During the entire schooling period, the student is not manipulated, in a subtle and constantly reminding way, be it verbal or non-verbal, like religions practice it, into Atheism, as a child is born without religious confession anyway. Children are labeled by religion, because they were told to follow it by their family, followed by their schools and their fellow human beings. A child of a Secular school, has always the choice to remain an Atheist or become religious. It will not be rejected to graduate or visit the school because of its choice.
Secular schools, mostly also don't follow certain dress codes in clothing, thus uniforming, and haircuts and make-up. (Some countries yet do have school uniforms, even if Secular) Secular schools are non discriminating towards LGBT's, which is important for an equal treatment in the school, reflecting the society they will want to live in and form after education.
Only secular and neutral public facilities can guarantee the equal treatment and approach towards all humans in society. Religion should always be a subject of choice, offering the buildings to go to when wanted, and the literature and religious articles to buy and bring home. All humans want to be respected, but how can we feel respected, when we just hold our fellow human beings hand who wears the same label as I? We can disregard an institution, a regime or a system, but in the end, we are all a part of this planet, so in public sharing basic universal needs and resources, independent from what we were stamped as.
By Thomas Fleckner
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