Humanist Association of Toronto

A Whitby, Ontario psychiatrist and writer has been recognized by the Humanist Association of Toronto for his contributions to humanism.

Dr. Khalid Sohail, author of From Islam to Secular Humanism, has been awarded the Toronto Humanist of the Year award for 2006. Dr. Sohail runs the Creative Psychotherapy Clinic in Whitby, and has published essays, poetry, travelogues, and stories in English, Urdu and Punjabi. His writings convey his professional understanding of how to live a happy life, as well as expounding humanist philosophy.

The Toronto Humanist of the Year award is given every year to a resident of the Greater Toronto area who, by actions and creative endeavours, exemplifies the principles of Humanism: a commitment to reason, compassion, ethics and human dignity. Previous winners have been writer Pierre Berton, community activist June Callwood, and Sharia law opponent Homa Arjomand.

Dr. Sohail expressed his pride in receiving the honour. "In the 21st century, humanity is at a crossroads and all of us have choices. We can choose the path of self-destruction and commit collective suicide or choose the road of peace with ourselves and harmony with other human beings as well as Mother Nature. I hope we choose the path of peace and harmony based on secular humanistic principles so that we can grow to the next step of evolution by becoming fully human individually and collectively. I hope our tomorrows are better than our yesterdays."

 Click here to see a video of the presentation and Dr. Sohail's response.

In my books From Islam to Secular Humanism and Freedom of Religion…Freedom from Religion I have shared my philosophical journey and my dreams of a secular humanistic world.

I dream of a world in which children will experience nurturing, affection and love in their families rather than poverty, neglect and abuse.

I dream of a world in which teenagers will be taught science, psychology and philosophy in schools and encouraged to develop rational and creative thinking rather than have blind faith in holy scriptures.

I dream of a world in which young adults will associate sex with caring and love rather than sin and stoning to death.

I dream of a world where women and men will have equal rights and privileges.

I dream of a world where men and women will enjoy not only freedom of religion but also freedom from religion.

I dream of a world where free thinkers will be cherished rather than persecuted under the blasphemy law.

I dream of a world where writers will have the right to write rather than living in fear of fatwas if they share their truth publicly.

I dream of a world where church and state, mosque and law, synagogue and politics and temple and parliament will be kept separate.

I dream of a world where human conscience will be more sacred than God. I dream of a world where people with physical disabilities and mental illnesses will be treated with care and compassion rather than neglect and prejudice.

I dream of a world where people from different races, religions, languages and nationalities will feel part of the same family, the human family. I dream of a world where there will be no killing in the name of God, religion or nationalism.

I am well aware that these are my personal and global dreams but I believe that we are the product of our dreams as they inspire us to create a better world. When our dreams are shattered, we start to disintegrate individually and collectively.

In the 21st century, humanity is at a crossroads and all of us have choices. We can choose the path of self-destruction and commit collective suicide or choose the road of peace with ourselves, and harmony with other human beings as well as Mother Nature. I hope we choose the path of peace and harmony based on secular humanistic principles so that we can grow to the next step of evolution by becoming fully human individually and collectively. I hope our tomorrows are better than our yesterdays.

Dr. Khalid Sohail
Psychiatrist
Creative Psychotherapy Clinic
Whitby Ontario Canada
www.drsohail.com