News Archive

100 Years of Constitutional Breach [2]

The criticism on the disregard of the requirement of ideological neutrality continues

2019/08/14

As of today it is official: The requirements of the Weimar Constitution for the equal treatment of all religions and worldviews as well as for the replacement of state payments to the churches have been ignored for 100 years, i.e. since their enactment on 14 August 1919. It is uncertain how long the Giordano Bruno Foundation's "Breach of the Constitution Ticker" will continue to operate until it can be shut down. It is certain, however, that the criticism of the disregard of the requirement of ideological neutrality of the state will not subside.

German Humanist Day 2019 [3]

Multi-day event from 5-8 September 2019 in the House of the Patriotic Society in Hamburg

2019/08/05

70 years ago, the German Basic Law was passed, which puts the freedom and equality of human beings in the foreground and establishes the framework of our democratic constitutional state. Especially today, when extremists and nationalists are regaining influence, it is important to defend these values. Under the motto "Humanists for Human Rights and Tolerance", the "German Humanist Day" calls for an enlightening and humanistic discourse. Mina Ahadi, Carsten Frerk, Hartmut Kreß, Ingrid Matthäus-Maier, Ralf Meister, Aydan Özoguz, Rainer Rosenzweig, Michael Schmidt-Salomon and Assunta Tammelleo are among the participants.

Increasing numbers of non-denominational people, decreasing numbers of Catholics and Protestants [4]

fowid publishes an overview on the distribution of "Religious affiliations 2018"

2019/07/25

Even though the total German population increased by 280,000 persons in 2018, the Catholic Church lost about 300,000 members compared to the previous year, the Protestant Church as many as 400,000. The group of nondenominational people grew by more than 800,000 persons, the group of denominational Muslims by about 100,000 persons. This is the conclusion of the overview "Religions affiliations 2018", which was recently published on the website of the Research Group on Worldviews in Germany (fowid).

The Belief in "Gentle Healing": How Rational Is the German Health Care System? [5]

Talk by Natalie Grams on July 28 at Haus Weitblick

2019/06/12

Each year, pharmaceutical manufacturers in Germany sell 670 million euros in homeopathic preparations, the effects of which (unless they are "complex remedies" with largely undiluted components) do not generally go beyond the placebo effect. Critics who refer to corresponding studies are personally attacked and put under legal pressure. Natalie Grams, physician and gbs advisory board member, is in particular subjected to hatred. She will discuss the differences between evidence-based medicine and pseudomedical belief systems at the foundation's headquarters in Oberwesel on 28 July.

The "Torch of Enlightenment" Must Be Carried On [6]

The gbs summer forum for young talents will take place from 7 to 9 August at "Haus Weitblick"

2019/06/11

In its 15 years of existence, the Giordano Bruno Stiftung, as a think tank for humanism and enlightenment, has been able to make an impressive difference. But who will carry on the "torch of enlightenment" when the current active members have to retire due to their age? With the summer forum from August 7 to 9 at the gbs headquarters in Oberwesel, the foundation specifically addresses young people who want to become involved in promoting the guiding principles of evolutionary humanism.

"We're Much Better off Today Than We Were 10 Years Ago" [7]

A conversation about the Secular Bus Campaign, old successes and new challenges

2019/06/03

The Secular Bus Campaign travelled through Germany for almost four weeks to promote the separation of state and church and the constitutional imperative of the worldview neutral state. The tour was accompanied by a considerable organizational and financial investment. Was the effort worth it? The Humanistic Press Service (hpd) spoke with Michael Schmidt-Salomon, who travelled the entire route with the Secular Bus Campaign

"Germany is a Democratic, Social and Worldview Neutral Federal State" [8]

Giordano Bruno Stiftung calls for extension of Article 20 of the German Basic Law

2019/05/21

The Federal Constitutional Court already pointed out in the 1960s that the state can only be a "home of all citizens" if it adheres to the principle of worldview neutrality. The Giordano Bruno Stiftung therefore calls for a corresponding clarification in Article 20 of the German Basic Law. In the future, the article must not only mention the principles of democracy, the welfare state, and federalism, but also the principle of the worldview neutrality of the state.

Farewell to the Church Republic [9]

The tour through Germany of the Secular Bus Campaign has begun

2019/05/04

The Giordano Bruno Stiftung presented its central campaign brochure "Abschied von der Kirchenrepublik: 100 Jahre Verfassungsbruch sind genug" ("Farewell to the Church Republic: 100 Years of Constitutional Breach are Enough") at the first press conference of the Secular Bus Campaign in Berlin today, Saturday. It features fundamental political demands that must be implemented in order to realize the constitutional imperative of the worlview neutral state.

Ceremony "70 Years Basic Law" in Karlsruhe [10]

ifw's celebration of the constitution on May 22 focuses on the bright and dark sides of the German legal system

2019/04/22

With the Basic Law, which came into force in 1949, essential elements of the UN Declaration of Human Rights adopted one year earlier were incorporated into the German constitution. 70 years of Basic Law are therefore a good reason to celebrate this milestone in German history. At the same time they provide an opportunity to reflect critically on the question of whether the constitutional text is a constitutional reality. For this reason, the ceremony of the Institut für Weltanschauungsrecht (ifw - Institute for Secular Law) on May 22 will not only focus on the bright sides of the German legal system, but also on its dark sides.

How Rational and Evidence-Based is German Politics? [11]

Discussion on the launch of the bus campaign and the "March for Science" on May 4 in Berlin

2019/04/19

Bus campaign meets March for Science: On May 4 the Secular Bus Campaign starts in Berlin, which protests against the failure to comply with the constitutional requirement of separation of church and state under the motto "Schlussmachen jetzt!". Since this 4th of May is also the day of the international "March for Science", which calls for a stronger consideration of scientific findings, a high-profile panel discussion in the Urania Berlin brings the concerns of both initiatives to a common ground.

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