News Archive

The Blind Spot of the German Legal System

Essay published on disregard of worldview neutrality

2018/08/14

In an essay on legal philosophy, philosopher and spokesman of the Giordano Bruno Stiftung Michael Schmidt-Salomon criticizes the disregard for the state's ideological neutrality and explains how the ensuing "illegitimate restriction of civil liberties" could be overcome. One issue he addresses is the responsibility of parliamentarians, who are by no means allowed to refer to their "religious conscience" in legislative procedures. Rather, they are obliged by the "conscience formula" of the constitution to follow the commandment of ideological neutrality.

"Happy Birthday, Constitutional Breach!"

gbs and ifw publish "constitutional breach ticker" to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Weimar Constitution

2018/08/14

99 years ago today, on 14 August 1919, the Weimar Constitution was enacted. On the 99th birthday of the democratic constitutional state also begins the "100th year of the constitutional breach", because to this day the demands of the Weimar Constitution, i.e. equal treatment of all religions and worldviews as well as the redemption of state payments to the churches, have not been implemented.

10 Years of Resistance against Political Islam

Giordano Bruno Stiftung publishes English version of the film "10 Years of Ex-Muslims".

2018/07/19

The film documentary "10 Years of Ex-Muslims - The Story of an International Human Rights Movement" was premiered on 17 November 2017 at the "International Ceremony for the 10th Anniversary of the Central Council of Ex-Muslims" and shows why the ex-Muslim movement is "one of the most important political resistance movements in the world". The film is now also available in English.

Bioethics in Evolutionary Humanism

Federal Agency for Civic Education publishes gbs statement

2018/07/09

"The individual's dignity is determined by the fact that the individual determines their dignity." The Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb) recently published an essay by Michael Schmidt-Salomon on the topic of "Bioethics in Evolutionary Humanism" on its website. The essay outlines the basics of evolutionary humanism in compact form and presents the gbs positions in the field of "bioethics". Other bpb articles in the category "Religion, Philosophy and Bioethics" deal with the topics "Bioethics in Islam", "Bioethics and Judaism", or "Bioethics and the Protestant Church".

A Vibrant Network

gbs regional groups gathered at the foundation's headquarters

2018/07/05

Last weekend the annual regional group meeting took place at the headquarters of the Giordano Bruno Stiftung (gbs) in Oberwesel. 70 participants from 31 regional and university groups as well as foundation staff came together to exchange ideas, report on their activities and plan new projects.

An Incorrigible Free Spirit

Eulogy to Franz M. Wuketits

2018/06/07

The Viennese zoologist, evolutionary biologist and science theorist Franz M. Wuketits is dead. He died on Wednesday after a long illness at the age of 63. A eulogy by Michael Schmidt-Salomon.

Worldwide Day of Genital Autonomy

Demonstration for genital self-determination i.a. with Necla Kelek, Kamran Ganai and Victor Schiering on May 7 in Cologne

2018/04/29

This day marks the sixth anniversary of the judgement by the Cologne Regional Court, which considered the medically not indicated removal of the foreskin (circumcision) from boys to be a bodily injury and thus a punishable offence. On the occasion of this anniversary, a broad alliance of organizations (including MOGIS, intaktiv, IBKA, pro familia NRW, Atheist Refugee Relief, Terre des Femmes, Zentralrat der Ex-Muslime, and gbs) is once again calling for a rally at the Cologne Regional Court (starting at 10:30 a.m.) to demand the right of all children worldwide to genital self-determination regardless of gender, origin or religion.

"A First Step in the Right Direction"

Campaign "Against religious discrimination in the workplace" welcomes ECJ verdict on church labour law

2018/04/17

Launched in 2012, the campaign "Gegen religiöse Diskriminierung am Arbeitsplatz" (GerDiA) fights against church labour law, which violates fundamental rights, including the right to freedom of religion and belief, sexual self-determination, and the right to strike. The campaign's spokeswoman, Ingrid Matthäus-Maier, therefore welcomed the ruling on church labour law in Germany today by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

March for Science 2018

On April 14, the "March for Science" will take place in 15 German cities

2018/03/28

The "March for Science" last year brought more than one million people to the streets worldwide. In Germany alone over 37,000 people in 22 locations demonstrated for the freedom of science and research. This year on April 14 demonstrations and events will take place in at least 15 German cities. As in the previous year the Giordano Bruno Stiftung will support the "March for Science 2018" not only idealistically but also financially.

Majority Against Religious Symbols in Schools

Results of a representative study on the Berlin Neutrality Act

2018/03/21

49 percent of Germans support a law prohibiting teachers from visibly wearing religious symbols or clothing in public schools, 43 percent are against such a law, 7 percent are undecided. This is the result of an EMNID survey commissioned by the Giordano Bruno Stiftung and the Forschungsgruppe Weltanschauung in Deutschland (fowid) following the debate on the "Berlin Neutrality Act".

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