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 Zimbabwean humanists and science, and vigilance.
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Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Zimbabwean humanists, as with other nations’ humanists, will remain a minority for the foreseeable future. Its emphasis on science may limit the degree to which individuals may adhere to the principles of humanism as a complete set. What will be some barriers involving scientific topics into the mainstream of the culture through the advancement of humanism with science component and chip of it?
Takudzwa Mazwienduna: Indeed, scientific literacy is a barrier since many Zimbabweans do not take the discipline as seriously as they do religion. Most of them understand science as a Western concept rather than the universal aspect it is.
Most people see it as a troublesome useless subject that should stay in the classroom and be done only by those crazy enough to be interested in it. Most Zimbabweans also probably can’t tell the difference between science and Scientology.
Implicating science in worldview matters won’t fly in most Zimbabwean circles. If anything, most will see it as Satanism as they do everything else that contradicts their Christian beliefs.
Jacobsen: What does this minority status within the larger religious demographics mean for the humanist community in Zimbabwe in political and social involvement (when that time comes as it must)?
Mazwienduna: It means the Humanist Society in Zimbabwe should remain vigilant and bold if they want to stay relevant in socio-political circles. We should stand up for secularism every time it is compromised and as long as the law is on our side, making sure it is enforced is the best we can do. All the weight we can give it.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Takudzwa.
Mazwienduna: Thank you, 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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Photo by Konstantin Hopp on Unsplash