Opinion

Children in class

Will the government protect the ethos of secular schools?

The Department for Education's protections for the secular community ethos of non-faith academies are inadequate.... Read More »

Woman in niqab Afghanistan

Defending Muslim women’s rights requires a willingness to criticise Islam

Islamic scripture is being used to justify attacks on women's rights in many countries. Secular law is a crucial defence... Read More »

Holding hands over Bible

Helping the public shouldn’t mean pushing religion on people

A parliamentary group has removed provisions in its 'faith covenant' that prevent faith groups from proselytising... Read More »

Naz Shah MP

Naz Shah’s argument on blasphemy should be rejected

The Labour MP has effectively called for a blasphemy law as she highlighted the "emotional harm" caused by depictions... Read More »

Children in class

Schools must be supported against religious bullies

Comments from Ofsted's chief inspector highlight the need to help schools resist efforts to shut down teaching which... Read More »

FE college

The Church of England’s offensive in FE colleges must be resisted

This piece was originally published in FE Week and is republished here with kind permission.

C of E proposals to increase... Read More »

Welcome to Batley

The ugly Batley and Spen campaign showed the risks of indulging religious identity politics

Voters and politicians who value social cohesion and basic democratic principles should reject the trend of pandering... Read More »

Toddler feet

All children should have the right to refuse circumcision

A judge has ruled that a boy who was taken into care shouldn't be subjected to non-consensual, non-therapeutic genital... Read More »

Daughter comforts ill mother

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 »

St Mary's University Twickenham

The expansion of Catholic influence at St Mary’s University threatens academic freedom

A pro-vice chancellor's remarks suggest the governance of St Mary's University, Twickenham is heading in an inappropriate... Read More »

Woman wearing trousers

Charity law shouldn’t enable misogyny

A Christian organisation which pushes misogynistic messages, including by blaming women for rape, has registered as... Read More »

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds

The PM's Catholic wedding shows the need for a church-state divorce

In light of his Catholic wedding, Boris Johnson has handed over the duty of advising on the appointment of bishops.... Read More »

Teenager in class

Requires improvement: Ofsted review shows need for a major rethink on RE

A review has highlighted significant problems with the way RE is taught. Alastair Lichten argues that it shows the... Read More »

Children in class

Is the C of E ashamed of discrimination in school admissions?

Research suggests the Church of England downplays the extent of religious discrimination in admissions to the schools... Read More »

Batley Grammar School

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 »

Upset teenage girl

Parents’ religious wishes must not trump children’s safety and education

Every child has been withdrawn from sex education classes at an independent faith school. Megan Manson says the parental... Read More »

United Nations flags

The religious threat to global human rights must be taken seriously

UN efforts to challenge violations of human rights should consider both oppressive laws which theocrats uphold in... Read More »

Child praying worship school

Mandated worship can never be inclusive

Church of England guidance which aims to promote an 'inclusive' form of collective worship in schools misses the point... Read More »

Grotesque at Chester Cathedral

Faith universities are an anachronism

Churches continue to manage and govern several universities in the UK, enabling discrimination and creating tension... Read More »

Newspapers

The drive for ‘religious literacy’ in the media would undermine press freedom

A parliamentary report has called for measures to promote 'religious literacy' in the media - including tighter regulation.... Read More »

Batley Grammar School protesters

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 »

© LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com

Progress towards inclusive integrated education in NI is still too slow

The last few months have seen mixed successes in efforts, supported by the No More Faith Schools campaign, to move... Read More »

Religiosity inspections National Secular Society report

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 »

Catholic priest

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 »

Women Leaving Islam

Women Leaving Islam: the rights of those who leave religion must be protected

The film Women Leaving Islam shows the risks facing those who stand up for the fundamental right to leave religion... Read More »

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