This thesis compares organized humanist organizations in Canada
and the Netherlands. Using a grounded theoretical approach, three
fundamental research questions are addressed: (1) Why has organized
humanism been much more successful in the Netherlands than in Canada?; (2)
Why is Dutch humanism informed by an inclusive ideological orientation, while
Canadian humanism is militantly anti-religious?; and (3) Is there a relationship
between success and ideological orientation? Using a number of socio-historical
and internal-organizational factors, the study suggests that the
success of the Dutch movement is, in part, indebted to the long humanist
tradition in the Netherlands stretching back to the sixteenth century. Secondly,
the pillarization of Dutch society along ideological lines during the late
nineteenth century influenced the development of a distinct humanist pillar
following the end of the Second World War. Along with the confessional pillars,
humanists in the Netherlands were able to secure financial assistance from the
state, encouraging an inclusive, non-confrontational ideological foundation for
Dutch humanism. In comparison, Canada lacks a strong irreligious tradition
and maintains a fair degree of neutrality between church and state. As a result,
Canadian humanists have not received any form of subsidization from the state.
Organized humanism in Canada was heavily influenced by the militantly anticlerical British rationalist movement and developed largely around Dr. Henry
Morgentaler's controversial fight for abortion rights during the late 1960s. As a
consequence, Canadian humanism is anti-religious in its orientation. By
developing humanism into a practical alternative to the church, Dutch humanists
have enjoyed greater success than their Canadian counterparts. However,
given the tremendous decrease in religious affiliation in both Canada and the
Netherlands during recent decades, the comparatively small numbers joining
the ranks of organized humanist movements suggests that this non-theistic
worldview does not serve as an attractive alternative to traditional religious
expressions. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/15762 |
| Date | 09 1900 |
| Creators | McTaggart, John Mitchell |
| Contributors | Homosty, Roy W., Sociology |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
Page generated in 0.0019 seconds