Opinion

Loredana Sangiuliano, Shutterstock

Laws shouldn't be used to shield religious sensitivities

Stephen Evans warns that the conviction of a man for burning a Quran brings us perilously close to reinstating blasphemy... Read More »

Why was a struck off doctor able to keep circumcising boys?

Why was a struck off doctor able to keep circumcising boys?

The appalling harm wrought by an ex-doctor highlights the urgent need for boys to be protected from circumcision,... Read More »

The 'peace wall' along Cupar Way in Belfast. Sonse, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Northern Ireland’s parties are putting their interests before integration

DUP and Sinn Féin's resistance to integrated schools betrays their fear of meaningful unity between Catholics... Read More »

Guy Corbishley/Alamy Live News

Charlie Hebdo’s principled defiance is an example to us all

Ten years on from the Charlie Hebdo massacre, Stephen Evans says the legacy of those who lost their lives should be... Read More »

U.S. Department of State from United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Time for the morally deficient Church of England to be stripped of its privileges

Stephen Evans argues that the Church of England abuse scandal means it's time to abolish the bishops' bench. This... Read More »

TimothyBarkerJr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

Time for the state to resign from the Church

The most recent abuse scandal and Welby's subsequent resignation should be the final straw for establishment, says... Read More »

Book review: ‘Rethinking Law and Religion’ by Russell Sandberg

Book review: ‘Rethinking Law and Religion’ by Russell Sandberg

This new book highlights why it's vital for secularists to follow the future of the field of law and religion, says... Read More »

Guy Corbishley/Alamy Live News

Blasphemy is a catalyst for progress. Let’s celebrate it.

Blasphemy has been a powerful driver of individual rights and freedoms, argues Stephen Evans.

Ifrah Akhter, Unsplash

British ex-Muslims, already unfree, face perils of worsening censorship

To mark International Apostasy Day on 22 August, Dr Ben Jones reflects on his recent research into the experiences... Read More »

Simon Dack News / Alamy Stock Photo

Defining ‘Islamophobia’ is not the answer to combatting anti-Muslim hate

The recent upsurge in anti-Muslim bigotry should be universally condemned. But supporting affected communities doesn't... Read More »

Book review: ‘The Divine Economy’, by Paul Seabright

Book review: ‘The Divine Economy’, by Paul Seabright

Paul Seabright's economic perspective on religion provides useful insights into the power of religious institutions... Read More »

Johnny Silvercloud, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Secularism and the safeguarding of liberal values

Stephen Evans highlights the myriad threats to secular liberalism and sets out what's needed to preserve it ahead... Read More »

Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street, Wiki Commons

Starmer must bring our diverse but divided people together

Megan Manson says the election revealed the threats faith-based politics poses to community cohesion, and calls for... Read More »

jorono, Pixabay

Bishops shouldn’t have a role in the Isle of Man’s parliament

Muriel Garland explains why she supports removing bishop's vote in Tynwald's upper chamber.

Image credits from top left: The White House, David Woolfall, Northern Ireland Assembly, Ariesoceantea, Scottish Government, Katie Chan, Welsh Parliament (All via Wiki Commons)

What do parties in NI, Scotland & Wales have to offer secularists?

Megan Manson examines what Alliance, DUP, Sinn Féin, SDLP, ALBA, SNP and Plaid Cymru think about secularist... Read More »

Pixabay

What secularists want from the next UK Government

Stephen Evans says the next Government should support inclusive education, uphold free expression and make progress... Read More »

Photo credits from top left: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street; Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0; Richard Townshend, CC BY 3.0; Bristol Green Party, CC0; Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0; UK Parliament, CC BY 3.0

How will secularism fare after the election?

Megan Manson summarises the policies of the main nationwide players in the General Election 2024 and where they stand... Read More »

Anemone123 from Pixabay

The next government must legislate to protect children from abuse in religious settings

Abuse law expert Richard Scorer explains why the government's proposed 'mandatory reporting' law was anything but... Read More »

Angela Hampton Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo

Mandatory Christian worship has no place in modern education

Most senior school leaders don't support the law which requires daily acts of collective worship in school. The next... Read More »

Hu Chen via Unsplash https://unsplash.com/photos/sleeping-baby-on-white-textile-6yi0oPZSNy4

Ritual circumcision cannot be reconciled with child rights

Following the Worldwide Day of Genital Autonomy earlier this month, Dr Alejandro Sanchez notes that while child rights... Read More »

Ben Molyneux, Shutterstock

Scrapping admissions cap signals alarming lurch towards religious privilege

The decision to scrap the 50% cap on faith-based admissions at free schools is a symptom of growing deference to religious... Read More »

Emma Swann / Alamy Stock Photo

We must stop ignoring the elephant in the (religious) court room

As the issue of religious 'courts' is debated in UK media, Helen Nicholls says we must not be afraid to point out... Read More »

Jonathan A Jones, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

We must empower secular schools to assert their ethos

When Islamists tried to bully Michaela Community School, the school refused to back down. Other schools have not been... Read More »

patat, Shutterstock

Allowing more religious selection in schools would be a big mistake

Abandoning the 50% admission cap would exacerbate the discrimination, disadvantage and division inherent with faith... Read More »

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