Don’t fund faith, Devon Humanists tell county council

By PRSD, on Sunday, July 5, 2009

Devon Humanists say Devon County Council should reconsider public funding for ‘faith’ consultation.

Around £8,000 went to interfaith work and faith consultation in Devon last year, some of it coming from Devon County Council.

Devon Humansists have questioned the value of this expenditure when they say most people no longer care much about religion. And they argue that if money is to be spent then, all local people should be consulted , rather than a minority.

Spokesman for the Devon Humanists, Keith Denby, said: “Three quarters of British people are not members of a religious group or faith, but the Local Authority appears to be directing its efforts and Council Tax payers’ money into consulting the religious minority, so ignoring the views of most people. Everyone in Devon can make their views known to the council, and so it is hard to justify spending public money to give a privileged position to one interest group.”

”Devon people urgently deserve real opportunities to influence council policies and to prepare to meet the practical, ethical and moral challenges of the future. Devon Humanists, therefore, call on the Local Authority to develop better ways of consulting us all, and to end funding for self-selecting minorities.”

posted by Cptn

Should Devon County Council turn it’s back on faith? Comment below

Come and enjoy Devon – book a hotel and get away!

Simon

The elephant in the room remains education. The same council openly and actively support job adverts that say "Christians preferred", for jobs that are funded with tax payer money, creating an education culture in which non-Christians are treated as second class. Did we learn nothing in the 20th century?

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Hazel

I think DAVID has misunderstood the way KEVIN is referring to minorities. He wants all faith and belief groups to be consulted and not just one particular faith group which he sees as representing a minority of the population.

Yes, Humanists as an organised group are in a minority but they represent many more people who have no religious belief but would hesitate to give themselves a label.

David

Wow! Some (not all) of the £8,000 came from Devon County Council’s £1 billion budget.

So Devon Humanists are saying DCC shouldn’t consult minorities, I guess 99% of the population aren’t members of the Humanists or other organised atheist groups, so DCC should ignore their concerns because they are a minority.

Christians Together, underwrite the Rent Deposit Guarantee scheme in Teignbridge helping the council get homeless people somewhere to live. Christians and other faith give more than 8k in helping the community

punkscience

I'm definitely with the Humanists here. Keep the god-botherers out of politics and put democracy into the hands of all of the electorate.

Colin Shaddick

Please forgive the spelling in the above note. I was in a bit of a hurry.

I agree with the Devon Humanists on this point of religeous expenditure. I would like to be consulted befor my Council Tax money is spent on a particular faith group. I would like the opportunity to opt out.