Secular Charter

The National Secular Society campaigns for the separation of religion and state and promotes secularism as the best means to create a society in which people of all religions or none can live together fairly and cohesively. The NSS sees secularism — the position that the state should be separate from religion — as an essential element in promoting equality between all citizens.

Our campaigning and policy objectives are guided by our Secular Charter.

The Secular Charter

The National Secular Society campaigns for a secular democracy, where:

There is no established state religion.

Everyone is equal before the law, regardless of religion, belief or non-belief.

The judicial process is not hindered or replaced by religious codes or processes.

Freedom of expression is not restricted by religious considerations.

Religion plays no role in state-funded education, whether through religious affiliation of schools, curriculum setting, organised worship, religious instruction, pupil selection or employment practices.

The state does not express religious beliefs or preferences and does not intervene in the setting of religious doctrine.

The state does not engage in, fund or promote religious activities or practices.

There is freedom of belief, non-belief and to renounce or change religion.

Public and publicly-funded service provision does not discriminate on grounds of religion, belief or non-belief.

Individuals and groups are neither accorded privilege nor disadvantaged because of their religion, belief or non-belief.

© National Secular Society


If you support these objectives, please join us. We receive no funding from government or outside bodies - our campaigning is wholly supported by our members, people like you who share our belief in the urgent need to separate religion from education, politics and public life in general.