News Archive

92 Percent of Germans Abstain from Church Services [2]

fowid publishes statistics on religious beliefs 2019

2020/08/12

At the end of last year, the proportion of non-denominational people in the population had risen to 38.8 percent, while the proportion of Catholics and Protestants had fallen to 27.1 and 24.9 percent respectively. This is the result of the statistics "Religious affiliations 2019" published today by the "Forschungsgruppe Weltanschauungen in Deutschland" (fowid - Research Group on Worldviews in Germany). For the first time, the data sheet also includes an analysis of "lived religion", which shows that only 7.9 percent of people living in Germany can be considered "practicing believers".

Assisted Suicide: No Undermining of the Karlsruhe Judgement! [3]

Giordano Bruno Foundation and Hans Albert Institute submit statement on new regulations on suicide assistance

2020/06/10

In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, Health Minister Jens Spahn has asked a group of experts for proposals on new regulations for suicide assistance, which consists mainly of those who previously supported the unconstitutional § 217 of the German Criminal Code. In their statement published today, the Giordano Bruno Foundation (gbs) and the Hans Albert Institute (HAI), which only learned of the letter a few days ago, explain what an alternative regulation that complies with the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court could look like.

"A Criticism That Strengthens Our Case" [4]

A reflection of the creationist attacks on the Evokids project

2020/05/27

The Evokids teaching materials, which vividly convey the theory of evolution to school children in grades 3-6, are being used more and more frequently in Germany and are even being distributed throughout Europe via the EU Commission's "Scientix" programme. It comes as no surprise, then, that evolution is a thorn in the side of biblical Christians.

The Failure of the German Ethics Council [5]

gbs criticizes over-representation of church interests

2020/05/18

"The German Ethics Council should argue on a rational, evidence-based and ideologically neutral basis, but all too often this is prevented by the over-representation of church lobbyists," criticizes Michael Schmidt-Salomon, philosopher and spokesman of the Giordano Bruno Foundation. The new appointment of the committee on April 30th did by no means solve this problem, but rather exacerbated it.

Patient Autonomy in Crisis [6]

Official statement by the Hans Albert Institute on the medico-ethical consequences of the corona pandemic

2020/05/07

"Not the unconditional saving or prolongation of life should be the primary goal of medical action. Rather, the aim should be to provide medical care that corresponds to the will of the patients and contributes to their well-being." This is stated in a recommendation published today by the Hans Albert Institute (HAI), which deals with the medico-ethical consequences of the corona pandemic.

Dead Without God [7]

Online lecture by philosopher Franz Josef Wetz on May 5th

2020/04/29

The topic of the lecture by gbs advisory board and HAI board member Franz Josef Wetz in the "Humanistic Salon" of the Duesseldorfer Aufklärungsdienst was chosen long before "Corona" became the predominant topic in the media. The images of the pandemic's consequences, however, prompted many people to take a closer look at their own finiteness. Wetz' lecture on a "new farewell culture" will be streamed live on May 5th on the gbs YouTube channel, viewers can join the discussion.

Enlightenment in Times of Corona [8]

How the Giordano Bruno Foundation responds to the pandemic

2020/04/24

Assessments of how dangerous the new corona virus is vary widely within the Giordano Bruno Foundation (gbs). It is certain, however, that the gbs – like the vast majority of non-profit organisations – must break new ground in the wake of the corona pandemic. The prerequisites for this were set by a meeting of the Board of Trustees and the Directorate, which took place last Sunday via video conference.

On the Corona Pandemic [9]

Why the Giordano Bruno Foundation refrains from making statements on COVID-19

2020/03/23

The Giordano Bruno Foundation had already cancelled all events until May 2020 two weeks ago, i.e. before the corresponding administrative instructions had been given. While the foundation is working intensively on the pandemic internally, it is refraining from making any further statements due to the currently still very unclear data availability. "What is needed now is serious transdisciplinary research of the virus, its spread and its consequences," says gbs board spokesman Michael Schmidt-Salomon, "no further fueling of the rumour mill".

"Ensure transparency and justice at last!" [10]

Criminologist Pfeiffer demands the retrieval of the abuse files from the Vatican and comprehensive compensation

2020/03/13

Criminologist Professor Christian Pfeiffer has demanded that the federal government retrieve the abuse files from the Vatican, that the Bishops' Conference pay compensation also for life-long loss of earnings of abuse victims, and that independent research involving 5,000 active priests be permitted. Pfeiffer said this on March 8, 2020, at an event on the topic of "Religion and Violence" organized by the Institut für Weltanschauungsrecht (ifw - Institute for Secular Law) and the Giordano Bruno Foundation (gbs) in Haus Weitblick in Oberwesel.

Catholic Church Gives In [11]

Non-religious Frenchman does not have to pay church tax in Germany

2020/03/02

Following the two groundbreaking rulings of the Federal Constitutional Court last week on self-determination at the end of life and on strengthening ideological neutrality in the courtroom ("headscarf ban for legal trainees"), the Institut für Weltanschauungsrecht (ifw - Institute for Secular Law) founded by the gbs can report a third success within a few days: In the ifw case of the Frenchman Thomas Bores, the Archdiocese of Berlin revoked the church tax assessment at the end of February 2020 after five years of legal wrangling and several waves of negative media coverage. A commentary by ifw director Jacqueline Neumann.

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