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Secular and Religious Minority Association Respect for Religious Diversity Presentation DRAFT COPY for review and feedback. Contact: Tee Rogers Tee.Rogers@ucf.edu | 407.823.3094. Respect for Religious Diversity. Secular and Religious Minority Allies. Symbolopoly. 8. 3. 2. 1. 4. 5.
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Secular and Religious Minority Association Respect for Religious Diversity Presentation DRAFT COPY for review and feedback. Contact: Tee Rogers Tee.Rogers@ucf.edu | 407.823.3094
Respect for Religious Diversity Secular and Religious Minority Allies
Symbolopoly 8 3 2 1 4 5 6 7 9 A B C D E F
Discrimination Hurts Everyone • Discrimination harms our communities even if we are not a member of the group facing discrimination. • What is discrimination?
How do you identify someone who doesn’t share mainstream religious views?
Statistics and Terminology Facts and Figures
The world in a village of 100 Source: 100people.org
19.5% 17.4% 4.44% 58.66% World Population
The U.S. in a village of 100 Source: Pew Report
Secular Identification US Census Bureau Report: Self-Described Religious Identification, Adult Population
Trends in Religious Affiliation Pew Research: Religion & Public Life Project
Fastest growing demographic in America Pew Research: Religion & Public Life Project • 1/5 of the US public do not identify with a religion • 1/3 of adults under 30 are religiously unaffiliated • 5-year growth - just over 15% to just under 20% of all U.S. adults. • 13 million self-described atheists and agnostics (nearly 6% of the U.S. public) • 33 million people who say they have no particular religious affiliation (14%).
Fastest growing demographic in America Pew Research: Religion & Public Life Project “young adults today are much more likely to be unaffiliated than previous generations were at a similar stage in their lives.”
Terminology - Religions • Advent Christian • Amish • Anabaptism • Anglicanism • Apostolic • Assembly of God • Bábism • Bahá’í • Bhakti • Baptist • Bible Missionary • Brethren, Plymouth • Carmelite • Cavalry Bible • Chapel of Faith • Charismatic • Christ Adelphians • Christian Calvary • Christian Reform • Christian Science • Church of the Brethren • Church of the First Born • Church of the Nazarene • Church of Universal and Triumphant • Confucianism • Covenant • Disciples of God • Druze (Juhhāl and ‘Uqqāl) • Dīn-I Iláhī • Eastern Orthodox • Eckankar • Eden Evangelist • Evangelical / Born Again (Traditionalist, Centrist, and Modernist) • Federated Church • First Church • Gnosticism • Grace Reformed • Greek Orthodox • Hinduism (Shaivism, Shaktism, Smartism, Vaishnavism) • Holy Roller • House of Prayer • Indigenous Traditional Religions (African,American, Arctic, Asian, Eastern, European Ethnic) • Islam (Sunni, Shia, Sufism) • Jainism (Digambaraand Svetambara) • Jehovah's Witness • Judaism (Conservative, Humanistic, Haymanot, Karaite, Liberal, Orthodox, Progressive, Traditional, etc.) • Latter Day Saint Movement • Lutheranism • Mandaeans • Manichaeism • Mazdaism • Mennonite • Mithraism • Mission Covenant • Missionary • Mormonism • Muslim (Sunni, Shia, other) • Mysticism • Native American Religion (Longhouse, Waashat, Shaker, Drum, Earth Lodge, Peyote, Bole-Maru, Feather, Mexicayotl, etc.) • Nazarene • Neopaganism • New Age • New Testament Christian • Occult • Pentecostal (Apostolic, other) • Pilgrim Holiness • Polytheism • Pentecostalism / Full Gospel (Apostolic Church, Assemblies of God, Foursquare Gospel) • Quaker • Rastafarian • Reformed Church of Christ • Russian Orthodox • Salvation Army • Sanctified • Seventh Day Adventists • Shabakism • Shinto • Sikhism • Southern Baptist • Taoist • Therādava Buddhist • The Way Ministry • Tibetan Buddhism • Universalism • United Holiness • Unity Church • Wesleyan • Wiccan • Witness Holiness • Yazdânism • Zen Buddhist • Zoroastrianism (Parsi/ Irani)
Terminology - Secular • Agnostic • Antitheist • Apatheist • Atheist • Atheist+ • Bright • Critical Thinker • Deist • Disbeliever • Doubter • Esotericist • Evangelical Atheist • Freethinker • Gentile • Giaour • Heathen • Hedonist • Pearlist • Positivist • Pragmatist • Pyrrhonist • Rationalist • Satanist • Scientist • Secular • Secular Humanist • Secular Ministry • Secularist • Skeptic • Solipsist • Somatist • Spiritualist • Truth Seeker • Unbeliever • Unitarian Church (some) • Universist • Heretic • Humanist • Humanistic Judaism • Hylotheist • Ignostic • Igtheist • Inclusionist • Infidel • Latitudinarian • Materialist • Naturalist • Non-believer • Nones • Non-theist • Objectivist • Pagan • Pantheist • Pastafarian
How we make people feel. Perceptions and Realities
Most hated demographics in America University of Minnesota Research identified the non-religious as America’s most distrusted minority. This group does not at all agree with my vision of American society... • Atheist: 39.6% • Muslims: 26.3% • Homosexuals: 22.6% • Hispanics: 20% • Conservative Christians: 13.5% • Recent Immigrants: 12.5% • Jews: 7.6% I would disapprove if my child wanted to marry a member of this group.... • Atheist: 47.6% • Muslim: 33.5% • African-American 27.2% • Asian-Americans: 18.5% • Hispanics: 18.5% • Jews: 11.8% • Conservative Christians: 6.9% • Whites: 2.3%
Religious Advantage What are some of the advantages?
Religious Advantages • Public offices, groups, events often shun non-religious • Public offices, groups, events, agencies often require religious affiliation • Public Services/Charities • Official Documents • Lucky Holidays! • Freedom of Speech • Benefit of the doubt / trust based on your stated religious affiliation
Why people speak up for themselves and others Courageous Voices
Speaking Up-Breaking the Silence- • Reasons individuals come out as not sharing the mainstream religion • Honesty • Self-Identity • Genuine connections • Integrity • Promoting inclusiveness • Normalizing
Speaking Up - Challenges Labeling oneself takes time, thought, and courage.
Speaking Up-Breaking the Silence- We can help reduce discrimination and support others feel included by…
Finding support, assistance, activities, and friendships Resources
Secular and Religious Resources - UCF • Ombuds Office • UCF Office of Diversity Initiatives • UCF Counseling Center • UCF Campus Faith and Ministries Office • Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action • Employee Relations • UCF Secular SafeZone Representatives
Secular Student Alliance at UCF • One of the largest, most active collegiate SSA groups in the nation • Established in 2008 (CFA established 2005) • 200 active members • Average weekly meeting attendance: 30-50 • Conferences, volunteering, social events, educational events, hosting national speakers at UCF
Secular & Religious MinorityAssociation at UCF • Faculty and staff organization at UCF • Established 2014 • Conferences, volunteering, social events, educational events, hosting national speakers at UCF, sponsoring scholarships for students to attend conferences
Resources - UCFFaculty and Staff Associations UCF Women’s Club http://womensclub.cos.ucf.edu/ Black Faculty and Staff Association http://www.bfsa-ucf.org/ PRIDE Faculty and Staff Association http://www.ucfpride.org/
Resources for the SecularCommunity - Local • Orlando Coalition of Reason • Atheists and Humanists of Florida – Orlando • BE. Orlando (volunteering and social group) • Black Nonbelievers of Metro Orlando (BNMO) • Central Florida Freethought Community (CFFC) • Central Florida Mothers Beyond Belief • FACTS (FL Atheists, Critical Thinkers, and Skeptics) • First Unitarian Church of Orlando (all faith and non-faiths) • Freethought Film Festival • Group-of-Drunks (Secular Addiction Recovery)
ResourcesCommunity - Local • Hispanic American Freethinkers – Orlando • Humanist of Florida Association • Orlando Atheists Buy/Sell/Trade/Free Page • Orlando Freethinkers and Humanists • Orlando Skeptics Discussion Group • Recovering from Religion (hosted at UCF by the SSA) • Science League for Kids • Secular Coalition for Florida • Skeptical Parenting Community of Central Florida • SMART Recovery (Addiction Recovery) • Unitarian Universalist Society of Orlando
Resources for the SecularCommunity – National • American Atheists • Americans United for Separation of Church and State • Atheist Alliance of America • Atheist Nexus • American Humanist Association • Black Nonbelievers • The Brights • Camp Quest • Camp Inquiry • Center For Inquiry • Secular Party of America • Committee for Skeptical Inquiry • Secular Woman • Counsel for Secular Humanism • Secular Homeschool Community • Humanist Grief (resources and celebrants for secular mourners) • Skepchick • Secular Web • LGBT Humanists (GaLHA) • Filipino Freethinkers • Foundation Beyond Belief • Freedom From Religion Foundation • Freethought Society • Hispanic American Freethinkers • Secular Celebrant Program (CFI) • Institute for Humanist Studies • International Humanist and Ethical Union • James Randi Educational Foundation • Latino Atheists • Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers • Atheists for Humanity • Military Religious Freedom Foundation • Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) • Interfaith Youth Core • James Randi Educational Foundation • Secular Buddhist Association • Project Reason • Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers • American Ethical Union • Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (separation of Church and State) • Project Reason • Recovering From Religion • Rational Response Squad • The Humanist Institute • The Richard Dawkins Foundation • Secular Coalition for American • Secular Party of America • Secular Student Alliance • Secular Therapist Project • The Skeptics Society • SkeptiCamp • Society for Humanistic Judaism • Stiefel Freethought Foundation • Sunday Assembly • Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding • Unitarian Universalist Association • United Coalition of Reason
National SafeZone Initiative Secular Allies
Questioning Faith • Not all individuals who approach you are going to be certain about their worldview. • We are here to: • Be role models • Be neutral (our faith/non-faith is not relevant) • Assist them in asking questions and getting access to the proper resources to answer those questions. • Teach HOW to think, not WHAT to think BECAUSE…
Who can be an Ally? • Faculty, Staff, and Administrators • Student Leaders • Community Leaders • Scout Leaders • Business Professionals • Religious Leaders • Everyone!
What to Expect • Standing up for others is a source of pride • Be an active member of a network of individuals who are working to create ripples of positive inclusion. • Create hope, togetherness, inclusiveness, acceptance, cooperative action
Responsibilities of an Ally • Display your poster prominently (office, website graphic, etc.) and register in the national site so that you can be easily located. • You have completed the training • Follow all laws and institutional policies • Never “out” anyone. • Provide and open listening environment • Report all incidents of bullying/harassment • Meet with students only in your professional space or public meeting areas • If you have questions, contact your university Safe Zone Coordinator or the Secular Student Alliance
Very Important Last Words NEVER. OUT. ANYONE.