tt.humanist :: forum :: commentary :: secularism

Secularism is a sociopolitical system not a 'religion'.

06 June 2006 • 355 words

The editor:

In a letter to the Sunday Express (11.06.06), Darryl Naranjit addresses several questions to the T&T Humanist Association, in response to our statement supporting the re-naming of the Trinity Cross.

Mr Naranjit asks, “Is the ethical rational?” Ethics are rational in that an action is judged to be good by two criteria: (1) that the action adheres to the Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”; and (2) that the action does not harm other persons. On these bases (which, like all axioms, cannot be proven), a person can show that murder and rape are morally wrong, but not homosexuality or racial segregation.

Mr Naranjit also asks “Can one be rational and not ethical?” The answer is Yes, depending on the individual’s premises – e.g. Islamic terrorists, by their logical interpretation of certain Qur'anic texts, assume that any social and political disadvantage they have in the world justifies killing other human beings. But such attitudes also demonstrate that moral laws followed without question lead to immoral behaviour.

Finally, Mr Naranjit asserts that our statement, that persons who oppose secular values are partisan and self-interested, reflects the attitude of an “atheistic church”. This only demonstrates his ignorance of secularism, which is a sociopolitical system that treats believers of different creeds, as well as non-believers, equitably.

T&T Humanist Association

See T&T Humanist Association statement on Benny Hinn visit

See Should a leader impose belief over reason?

See Humanism, secularism and public policy