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14 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday March 22, 2006 Compassion and responsibility, not religion, core of humanism * Religion is not necessary to lead moral and meaningful lives say members of Oakville s new Humanist group. What is necessary is accepting personal responsi bility, using critical thinking, acting in a manner that -is fair, honest and cooperative and being respectful to oth ers. It may be a surprise to learn that about 16 per cent of Canadians, according to Statistics Canada (2001), are not religious. Edgar Coxeter, one of the founders of the Oakville Humanist Community (OHC) says the time has come for the non-religious to make their voices heard. "A Humanist group is needed in Oakville to provide intellectual and emotional support for people as they explore what they believe and how to articulate it clearly," he said. `We have no deity," added founding member Elka Ruth Enola, a well-known Oakville poet - she writes poems of conscience and published a book titled Womenfolk - and activist who helped lead the opposition to Sharia being used in Ontario' s family law arbitration. "We look at the world with compassion and empa thy, but without dogma," she said, "Humanism is a philoso phy of life," said Coxeter. "We believe in honesty, rationali ty, cooperation, fairness and respect for each other." "A Humanist accepts responsibility," continued Enola, a Humanist since the late 1950s. "People with reli gion pass it off to God. As Humanists we accept person al responsibility collectively and-individually." Enola explained she opposed Sharia on the basis that religion should not influence law. "Church and state must be kept separate. "I'm not against personal religious beliefs, but please don't impose it on others,or use it as an excuse for vio lence." Although the roots of Humanism can be traced to the philosophers of ancient Greece, the modern Humanist movement evolved in Western Europe with the first Canadian group founded in Montreal in 1954. The International Humanist and Ethical Union has grown December. "Edgar called me last fall and we tossed around the idea of starting a group in Oakville," said Enola, who moved to Oakville six years ago from Toronto. There are more than 30 people on the group' s mailing list. Coxeter, a newcomer to Oakville from New Jersey, has been a humanist for 30-40 years and is also an officiant at . weddings and funerals, dedications, naming, cere monies and what he describes as "life events." He visits hospitals and hospices to talk to people "who don't accept a deity and afterlife and give support to those who are at the end of their lives*" < ( We very specifically used the term `community' in our name instead of `organiza tion' or `association' because we want the emphasis to be on people and our inter-rela tionships and not on the for mal structure of an organiza tion/' said Enola. Each meet ing will be part business and part social, with an opportu nity to discuss current issues such as stem cell research and dying with dignity. Although the group is new, members have already discussed forming a letterwriting group,volunteering with a secular community agency, creating programs and events for children that will emphasize critical think ing and sponsoring guest speakers. Dr. Robert Buckham, President Emeritus of the Humanist Association of Canada (HAC), who is an acclaimed public speaker and host of a number of awardwinning television science programs, has agreed to be the OHC's guest speaker for its first public meeting on May 25 at the Oakville Central Library. He will speak about Belief, Behaviour and Biology. The meeting will begin with an informal gathering at 6:30 p.m., followed by introduc tions at 7 p.m. Dr. Buckham, an oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital, will speak at 7:30 p.m. For more information about th OHC, contact Enola at 905-257-7075 or email her at ere@sympatico.ca or call Edgar Coxeter at 905-3386339 or email him at ecoxeter@cogeco.ca. OHC is part of HAC, see www.hac.humanists.net. LI ESA KORTMANN I OAKVILLE BEAVER Elka Ruth Enola and Edgar Coxeter are cofouncTers of the Oakville Humanist Community. HUMANISTS: into a worldwide organization with more than a mil lion members in 30 countries and consultative status at the United Nations. Prominent Canadian Humanists include Margaret Atwood, June Callwood, Sarah McLachlan, Dr. Henry Morgentaler, and Farley Mowat. There are a number of core principles Humanists adhere to such as the need to use democratic principles, logic and scientific inquiry to find realistic solutions to problems. They are also dedi cated to upholding the sepa ration of church and state in all levels of government to ensure equality and fairness for all. The OHC was formed in Metroland D The 1 lo t y o u r hom e ^ ° o k In s id e 1 . 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