Many of you will recall that back in December we flew to Ottawa to argue before the Supreme Court of Canada on whether law societies should have to approve a law school from Trinity Western University while it maintains a discriminatory admissions policy.
We've been told that the Court will render its decision on Friday morning.
While there are realistically only two ways the court could go - siding with BC and Ontario's law societies or with TWU - it's the details that will matter.
Our submissions challenged TWU's claim that its religious rights were being infringed upon. We said organizations don't have religious rights under Canadian law and that if the court were to recognize such rights they should do so under a strict test.
I'll be sure to update you on Friday once we know the result and have had a chance to review it.
Nigerian Atheists Book Drive
Gail Miller, one of our members and President of Atheist Alliance International, shares this message:
We are organizing our first book drive to build a library of atheist and science books in Nigeria. Dominic Omenai is our contact in Nigeria. Dominic will curate the library and lend books to members of the Atheist Society of Nigeria and others. Dominic said, “Books on atheism and also science are not available in Nigeria; you can’t get them at the local bookstore. Buying the books from overseas presents a financial challenge as the books will be too costly in the Nigerian Naira when the costs are converted from dollars.”
The Atheist Society of Nigeria is an AAI affiliate that is growing rapidly in this deeply religious country of 180 million people.
Elisabeth is an AAI volunteer in Nelson, BC. In the first two weeks, she collected more than 20 books that are being shipped to Nigeria, and over 100 more are on their way to her. She’s also ordered used books from Amazon for the library. In addition, American Atheists, BC Humanists, and chapters from Atheist Alliance of America have all pledged to help out with this project.
But let’s not stop here. If we get more books than Dominic in Nigeria can manage, we will start a library in another country. There are lots of places in the world where there is no access to books on atheism and science.
As an individual, or as a member of a secular group, if you would like to help us with this project, please contact Gail Miller, the AAI President, at: [email protected]. If you can’t give hands-on help, please send us a list of atheist and science books you could donate, or make a donation to help towards shipping costs.
Gail will be accepting books in person at the Sunday, June 24 meeting in Vancouver.
New on our website
Blog
-
Roseanne's implosion: When art, free speech and social media collide from The Conversation
Upcoming events
Monday, June 11, 2018 at 07:00 PM
- Skeptics in the Pub at Social 242 Lounge, Kelowna
Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 09:15 AM
- Critical Thinking Parents' Discussion Group at Capital News Centre, Kelowna
Sunday, June 17, 2018 at 10:00 AM
- Vancouver Sunday Meeting: Bernie Garrett - Alternative Medicine: Is the regulation of alternative practitioners in BC effective? at Oakridge Seniors Centre, Vancouver
Sunday, June 17, 2018 at 05:30 PM
- KASHA's first Pizza and Learning about Solstice Party at Kelowna Unitarian Fellowship, Kelowna
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 08:30 AM
- Secular Humanist Thinkers Cafe at Urban Fare Cafe Mission Park, Kelowna