Author: Stephen Evans
An inclusive Britain starts with inclusive schools
Keeping religion and state education separate is the best way of ensuring schools promote free inquiry, equality and... Read More »
Religious education isn’t the right vehicle for civics
The government thinks religious education is important for developing children's critical thinking, values, and understanding... Read More »
Appointments of future archbishops shouldn’t be the state’s business
Church of England plans to give Anglican church leaders from around the world greater power in choosing future archbishops... Read More »
A message from the chief executive
It's that time of year again, when we look forward to a break and reflect on the year that's been.
For all of us campaigning... Read More »
Christian lobby groups’ doublespeak is a distortion of human rights
Evangelical activists' insistence that equality amounts to discrimination is a narcissistic approach to human rights,... Read More »
Islamist extremism won’t be addressed by ignoring it
The national conversation following the brutal killing of David Amess suggests an unwillingness to tackle the Islamic... Read More »
Religion shouldn’t frustrate assisted dying reform
Ahead of parliament's first consideration of assisted dying for six years, Stephen Evans calls on secularists to help... Read More »
Schools should be liberated from the compulsion of worship
As a bill to reform collective worship progresses in parliament, Stephen Evans argues that the time has come for lawmakers... Read More »
The Taliban takeover is part of a wider threat to secular liberal democracy
Stephen Evans argues that secular liberal democracy is the antidote to the totalitarian Islamism offered up by the... Read More »
Schools aren’t there to save the church
The Church of England's new evangelical missional strategy should lead us to question its entitlement to proselytise... Read More »
Evidence and compassion should trump dogma in assisted dying debate
As politicians again grapple with assisted dying, we should beware attempts to impose a religious worldview on those... Read More »
The outcome of the Batley investigation is a surrender of liberal principles
As an investigation into the Batley Grammar affair concludes, Stephen Evans says we should recognise the censorious... Read More »
The DfE must show leadership when religious hardliners turn on schools
The start of an investigation into the Batley Grammar affair raises questions over the government's willingness to... Read More »
Faith groups have no business inspecting schools
Publicly funded school inspections which enable clerics to exert undue influence should have no place in a modern... Read More »
Regressive religious demands shouldn't hold sway over political decisions
Much of a pre-election letter from Scotland's Catholic bishops highlights the risks of allowing religious dogma to... Read More »
A lesson in blasphemy
After a teacher was suspended for showing cartoons of Muhammad in class, Stephen Evans says we shouldn't accept a... Read More »
Women in NI should have the same abortion rights as other UK citizens
Other people's religious beliefs shouldn't be allowed to continue to thwart women's access to safe and accessible... Read More »
The lockdown exemption for communal worship represents a dangerous double standard
With the country again plunged into a strict lockdown, Stephen Evans questions the rationale behind and wisdom of... Read More »
All I want for Christmas is freedom of and from religion
Opponents often erect a straw man of secularism to justify demands for religious privilege. But freedom of religion... Read More »
Religion is not a justification for discrimination
A shadow minister was wrong to say religious registrars should be able to opt out of providing same-sex marriages.... Read More »
Church and state should be separate
Ahead of the NSS's 2020 Bradlaugh Lecture on the subject, Stephen Evans says the disestablishment of the Church of... Read More »
Those providing public services – including religious groups – should respect reasonable boundaries
Following a call for a greater role for religion in public services, Stephen Evans argues that any expansion of faith-based... Read More »
The Scottish hate crime bill is a threat to free and open debate
As ministers reportedly consider changing Scotland's hate crime bill to address free expression concerns, Stephen... Read More »
Why make a spectacle out of religion in the courtroom?
Stephen Evans argues that the current system of religious oaths and affirmations should be replaced by a universal... Read More »
We must protect pupils’ educational rights where schools consistently fail
Religious schools that censor textbooks, teach creationism and limit pupils' chances aren't respecting the right to... Read More »
