Colloquium ALIPHID–IAFT
At the end of the discussions, the following conclusions were adopted by the all participants::
During the colloquium “Religion, Secularism and the Rule of Law” in Beirut, Lebanon, the 13th and 14th of April 2012, organized by the Lebanese Association of Philosophy of Law (Association Libanaise de Philosophie du Droit, ALIPHID) and by the International Association of Free Thought (IAFT), were discussed questions about: secularism and the state, secularisation of institutions and the construction of separation between state and religion, the achievement of complete freedom of conscience, equal rights and democracy.
A large number of participants (about a hundred persons) and a wide diversity of speakers discussed relations between secularism, religions and atheism. Many participants were concerned about the necessity of going beyond religious communities in order to build a civil state.
The presence of numerous Lebanese youth and their enthusiasm for secularism was, in this respect, very positive.
Many aspire to see the end of confessionalism which isolates individuals in their respective communities. There is a strong yearning for equal rights.
A secular state, a civil state, are certainly the way to preserve and to promote the unity of the Lebanese nation.
In the presence of different community members in Lebanon, religious persons, secularists, free thinkers, representatives of legislators, a courteous but intense debate of these questions took place.
In general the participants considered that this colloquium is a first positive step towards the secularisation of society and its institutions, towards the establishment of a civil state, prelude to a secularist state.
They decided to pursue together the necessary debate with all components of the Lebanese nation, in light of the international contributions mentioned in this colloquium.
Participants hope that ALIPHID will be the pivot of this permanent debate. The publication of the proceedings of this colloquium in French and Arabic will be an essential step to continue this debate and this meeting. The wide distribution of the proceedings, in Lebanon and beyond, will promote collaborative discussions and the search for necessary solutions.