Takudzwa Mazwienduna is the informal leader of Zimbabwean Secular Alliance and a member of the Humanist Society of Zimbabwe. This educational series will explore secularism in Zimbabwe from an organizational perspective, and some more.
Here we talk about freethinkers coming out of their proverbial closet.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: You mentioned the need, now, to bring more of the freethinking Zimbabweans out into the public sphere for the Humanist Society of Zimbabwe. What are some planned campaigns to normalize humanism?
Takudzwa Mazwienduna: We have been doing a lot of writing addressing secular issues in national newspapers and social media. It doesn’t look like a lot of Zimbabweans read however, so are thinking about awareness campaigns, sensitization meetings with community leaders and being represented on national talk radio.
Jacobsen: What have been some feedback from members of the community on the use of public campaigns to further bring closeted humanists into the Humanist Society of Zimbabwe community?
Mazwienduna: Some closeted Humanists have come out as a result, although not in large numbers. We received much more backlash from religious establishments and some of them even went on to write about us in national newspapers portraying us as Satanists.
Jacobsen: For those who were closeted, have they said anything about what would and would not be effective in the development and implementation of awareness campaigns in solidarity with the closeted humanists?
Mazwienduna: We have heard general discussion about that, but I’m realizing this instant that the previously closeted Humanists would probably have more insight into that. I will pass the idea by the group.
Jacobsen: What demographics will more likely embrace humanism and the Humanist Society of Zimbabwe?
Mazwienduna: Segregated religious minorities are likely to support secularism because they stand to benefit from it. We have received moral support from leaders of the African Traditional Religion and Muslims. They are excited about the prospects of religious diversity. It is only the dominant Christian establishment that is mostly appalled by the idea.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Takudzwa.
Mazwienduna: It’s always a pleasure Scott.
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Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the Founder of In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal and In-Sight Publishing. He authored/co-authored some e-books, free or low-cost. If you want to contact Scott: Scott.D.Jacobsen@Gmail.com.
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Canadian Atheist Associates: Godless Mom, Nice Mangoes, Sandwalk, Brainstorm Podcast, Left at the Valley, Life, the Universe & Everything Else, The Reality Check, Bad Science Watch, British Columbia Humanist Association, Dying With Dignity Canada, Canadian Secular Alliance, Centre for Inquiry Canada, Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists Association.
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Other National/Local Resources: Association humaniste du Québec, Atheist Freethinkers, Central Ontario Humanist Association, Comox Valley Humanists, Grey Bruce Humanists, Halton-Peel Humanist Community, Hamilton Humanists, Humanist Association of London, Humanist Association of Ottawa, Humanist Association of Toronto, Humanists, Atheists and Agnostics of Manitoba, Ontario Humanist Society, Secular Connextions Seculaire, Secular Humanists in Calgary, Society of Free Thinkers (Kitchener-Waterloo/Cambridge/Guelph), Thunder Bay Humanists, Toronto Oasis, Victoria Secular Humanist Association.
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Other International/Outside Canada Resources: Allianz vun Humanisten, Atheisten an Agnostiker, American Atheists,American Humanist Association, Associação Brasileira de Ateus e AgnósticoséééBrazilian Association of Atheists and Agnostics, Atheist Alliance International, Atheist Alliance of America, Atheist Centre, Atheist Foundation of Australia, The Brights Movement, Center for Inquiry (including Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science), Atheist Ireland, Camp Quest, Inc., Council for Secular Humanism, De Vrije Gedachte, European Humanist Federation, Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, Foundation Beyond Belief, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Humanist Association of Ireland, Humanist International, Humanist Association of Germany, Humanist Association of Ireland, Humanist Society of Scotland, Humanists UK, Humanisterna/Humanists Sweden, Internet Infidels, International League of Non-Religious and Atheists, James Randi Educational Foundation, League of Militant Atheists, Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, National Secular Society, Rationalist International, Recovering From Religion, Religion News Service, Secular Coalition for America, Secular Student Alliance, The Clergy Project, The Rational Response Squad, The Satanic Temple, The Sunday Assembly, United Coalition of Reason, Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics.
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