.png)
Secular | Diversity | Inclusion
Edu. | Law. | Govt.
About.
Affinis [uh-fin-is] is Latin for Affinity: a natural attraction to a person, thing, or idea. Our mission is to alleviate religious discrimination for secular communities in education and business.
What is Religious Discrimination?
"Religious discrimination is treating individuals differently because of their religious beliefs, practices, and/or their request for accommodations of their religious beliefs and practices. It also includes treating individuals differently because of their lack of religious beliefs or practices."
— U.S. Office of Civil Rights.
Employees are protected against all forms of religious discrimination under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, including discrimination for beliefs such as atheism, agnosticism, secular humanism, or any belief based on lack of religion.
What is it to be Secular?
Secularism is the epitome of diversity and inclusion. It resists personal theologies as the hallmark for morals and ethics and encourages human agency as the standard to find solutions to human problems without supernatural epithets.
Secularism is the concept of conducting human affairs per secular, naturalistic principles—fostering the separation of religion from civic affairs and the state. Secularism provides freedom of expression without favoritism by state institutions. The First Amendment of the Constitution codifies the separation of church and state:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."
The freedom OF religion is the freedom FROM religion. The pendulum swings both ways.
How do our Belief Systems affect Race and Sexual Orientation?
As a pluralistic society where multiculturalism is the driving force behind diversity and inclusion, secular and humanistic frameworks are imperative to encourage mental health, cohesion, and performance in education and business.
A meta-analytic review of past research evaluated the link between religiosity and racism in the United States since the Civil Rights Act. Religious racism partly reflects intergroup dynamics. That is, a strong religious in-group identity was associated with derogation of racial out-groups.
Peer-reviewed research also shows a link between religious beliefs and homophobia. In general, more religious people tend to be anti-gay rights, anti-gay marriage, etc. Conversely, the more secular you are, the more likely you are to be open to and accepting of homosexuals.
Building a Diverse and Inclusive Culture in Education and Business
Having tough conversations can be difficult especially surrounding our personally held beliefs. And, our subconscious can mirror experiences that shaped our mindset during adolescence. These aspects too often affect how we engage with students and personnel. We must encourage cognition around diverse beliefs or lack thereof to produce an inclusive environment. The goal is not to agree but to understand one another.
Meet Robert
Robert Peoples
Founder | President
Robert Peoples is the Founder and President of Affinis Humanity. He provides DEI initiatives on how ideologies affect gender, sex, and race. He has designed and facilitated curriculum in education, business, and government.
Donate.
You can support Affinis Humanity by donating today to advance secular education, maintain religious diversity (and the lack thereof), and bring awareness to theocratic policies jeopardizing women's rights.