Secularists call for renewal of liberal values at NSS conference

Educators, parliamentarians, and academics highlighted the need to challenge religious threats to universal freedoms at a National Secular Society conference in London on Saturday.

Shedding light on the complex issues affecting liberal societies, speakers from a wide range of backgrounds emphasised the importance of secularism to liberal values.

Liberal values and the secular state

Opening the first panel of the day, Professor Ronan McCrea of UCL said liberalism is the "idea that disagreement is permanent, and the search for truth ongoing".

Journalist Emma Park said the starting point for liberal society is that "civil liberties are precious and should be jealously guarded". She emphasised the importance of the twin values of free thought and free speech.

Liberal Democrat peer Paul Scriven, who introduced a bill last year to disestablish the Church of England, gave an inside perspective on how the Church has a "special hold on the levers of power". He said experiencing the influence of the 26 bishops given automatic seats in the House of Lords impressed upon him the need for disestablishment.

Anglican priest Robert Thompson also advocated for disestablishment and criticised the homophobia he has witnessed within the Church.

Religion in education

In the second session, former Chief Inspector of Ofsted Amanda Spielman highlighted how the role of faith in education has remained controversial since the 1870's.

When asked why she took on some the difficult and sometimes controversial issues stemming from religious influence in schools, she described her motivation as "the rights of children as British citizens." These issues include hijab in schools and unregistered schools.

Spielman said she was "not in the least surprised" at reports of religious imposition in state funded nonreligious schools given by the audience, describing how the secular status of schools offers little protection from those with regressive religious agendas.

She also said "strength" is required to combat threats from religious fundamentalists , and that there may be a place for an increased government role on contentious issues to prevent individual schools being isolated.

Threats to social cohesion and liberal democracy

Opening the next panel discussion, academic Rumy Hasan cautioned against the potential for some interpretations of multiculturalism to undermine liberal values by weakening their universal character.

Sukhwant Dhaliwal of Southall Black Sisters criticised the imposition of coercive control on women through religious 'courts', and the return to a "hands off" approach to women's rights and autonomy in minority communities.

Journalist James Bloodworth described the need to address the "cultural retreat from universalism", warning that a "retreat of the state" can create a void which is filled by religious groups.

Freethinker editor Daniel Sharp described the "de-fanging" of Christianity as perhaps the "great achievement of the West", arguing against the claims of so-called 'new theists' that Christianity is essential to our society.

Solidarity with secular movements worldwide

In the conference's keynote speech, writer and campaigner Maryam Namazie argued against the notion that 'East' and 'West' are fundamentally and irreconcilably different, by stressing the truly universal nature of liberal principles.

Focusing on the story of the secular 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement in Iran that followed the death of Mahsa Amini, Namazie urged secularists to act in solidarity "across borders and boundaries" in defence of liberal values.

The conference ended with a stirring performance of the daf (an Iranian drum) by Zanyar Hesami, who was forced to flee Iran for performing in support of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement.

NSS: Conference shows the vitality of secular movement

NSS engagement officer and conference organiser Fódhla Brady said: "In a climate of increasing threat to liberal societies and values, this conference provided an invaluable debate and conversation on the challenges faced by secularism worldwide.

"The excellent contributions from our speakers, broad in their perspective, all made clear that a renewed embracing of universal liberal principles will be essential in resisting religious imposition and privilege.

"We'd like to thank all of the speakers and attendees for making this such an enjoyable and stimulating event."