NSS Opinion
Pakistan’s capitulation to extremists sets a dangerous precedent
Posted: Thu, 07 Dec 2017 by Basit Mahmood
Pakistan's government, military and opposition parties have given in to the demands of a fundamentalist mob. Basit Mahmood says this is a blow to those who wish to remain true to the secular vision of Pakistan's founder.
"You are free; you are free to go to... Read More »
Only secularism can defeat the emboldened Hindu right
Posted: Fri, 01 Dec 2017 by Chris Sloggett
Violent threats look set to censor a film which was due for UK release today. It's the latest sign of rising Hindu fundamentalism. In response, Chris Sloggett says, we must make sure no religion gets special treatment.
The makers of the Bollywood historical... Read More »
Home schooling debate must prompt wider discussion of children’s rights
Posted: Thu, 30 Nov 2017 by Alastair Lichten
As supporters of a new Bill aim to see home schooling in England registered for the first time, education and schools campaigner Alastair Lichten says children's independent rights must receive greater focus.
NSS honorary associate Lord Soley aims to register... Read More »
A lesson in silencing dissent: the controversy of hijab in schools
Posted: Tue, 28 Nov 2017 by Yasmin Rehman
Yasmin Rehman was among campaigners who recently met Ofsted's chief inspector to discuss veiling in schools. Now, she writes, some powerful Muslims are making sinister efforts to silence her and her fellow activists.
As I prepared to mark the International... Read More »
Big ideas for religious education?
Posted: Thu, 23 Nov 2017 by Alastair Lichten
The latest report into the problems with religious education reiterates the need to start with a fundamental examination of the subject's purpose. But, Alastair Lichten wonders, do the proposals go far enough?
The Commission on RE is currently consulting on... Read More »
Our business was harassed by Christian fundamentalists – now it’s the best known in Lewis
Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2017 by Martin Flett
The National Secular Society recently reported the case of Leona Rawlinson, the owner of TweedTastic in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Leona was being harassed by sabbatarians over her decision to open her shop on Sundays. The story was picked up by several... Read More »
State recognition of Islamic nikah marriages is no way to empower Muslim women
Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2017 by Sadikur Rahman
Most women in the UK who have Islamic weddings are missing out on their legal rights. The solution to this problem must not lie in the automatic registration of Islamic marriages, argues Sadikur Rahman.
Channel 4's documentary The Truth about Muslim Marriage... Read More »
Who controls religious education?
Posted: Thu, 16 Nov 2017 by Stephen Evans
Necessary reforms of religious education are being frustrated by religion's lingering influence. It's time to liberate RE from the vested interests, argues Stephen Evans.
Religious education in England faces "a perilous future" unless it is subject to "strategic,... Read More »
De facto blasphemy laws are alive and well
Posted: Thu, 16 Nov 2017 by Chris Sloggett
It is now 38 years since Monty Python's Life of Brian was released in November 1979, despite protests. But Chris Sloggett says we aren't truly free to engage in blasphemy today.
It is now 38 years since Monty Python's Life of Brian was released in November... Read More »
The folly of the civil service’s ‘faith and belief champion’
Posted: Wed, 15 Nov 2017 by Chris Sloggett
A new civil service appointment may be intended to promote 'inclusion'. But insistently bringing religion into the workplace will only serve to promote it and encourage an assertive form of selfishness at public expense, says Chris Sloggett.
If a decision is... Read More »
Interfaith must embrace secularism
Posted: Mon, 13 Nov 2017 by Megan Manson
Interfaith Week is underway. Megan Manson says interfaith dialogue must embrace secularist principles to remain relevant, effective and inclusive.
Interfaith, the constructive dialogue between people of different faiths in order to promote mutual understanding,... Read More »
The 'war on Christmas' is coming
Posted: Fri, 10 Nov 2017 by Alastair Lichten
The myth of a culture war on Christmas may be comical and its claims endlessly debunked, but its promotion is part of a campaign for Christian supremacy, argues Alastair Lichten.
It's coming… the 'WAR ON CHRISTMAS!!!' You've been warned: the seasonal... Read More »
Whence secularism in Africa?
Posted: Wed, 25 Oct 2017 by Leo Igwe
Secularism and controversies regarding the relationship between religion and state have deep roots in Africa's socio–political history, but are increasingly relevant to many pressing human rights issues, argues Leo Igwe.
Recently, the relationship between... Read More »
Abuse Inquiry to investigate Benedictine institutions
Posted: Tue, 24 Oct 2017 by Richard Scorer
An upcoming hearing of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse will be an opportunity to examine the reality behind the Catholic Church's claims that it has transformed its approach to child protection, says Richard Scorer.
At the end of November, the... Read More »
Protecting freedom of belief for the many and the few
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2017 by Megan Manson
Ahead of International Freedom of Religion or Belief Day, Megan Manson looks at democratic secularism's changing role in an age of the non-religious minority and rising diversity.
In the past, those who have given their greatest support for secularism have... Read More »
To spank or not to spank – a biblical right?
Posted: Sat, 21 Oct 2017 by Alistair McBay
With Christian groups leading the opposition to Scotland's new smacking ban, Alistair McBay explores the many instances of Christian schools and campaigners demanding the ability to spank children as a religious or even biblical right.
This week the Scottish... Read More »
Book review: ‘The rage: the vicious circle of Islamist and far-right extremism’
Posted: Tue, 17 Oct 2017 by Dale Claridge
Julia Ebner's new book explores the symbiotic relationship between Islamist and (other) far right extremism, how Islamist and anti-Muslim narratives feed each other, and how we can challenge both.
While its roots predate 2001, Islamist terrorism has plagued... Read More »
Al-Hijrah School ruling: The fight to end segregation has only just begun
Posted: Sat, 14 Oct 2017 by Megan Manson
The ruling that an Islamic faith school's policy of gender segregation is unlawful should force us to have have a broader conversation about the religious segregation and inequality our children face in UK schools, argues Megan Manson
Make no mistake: the ruling... Read More »
Religious Right supports state backed prayers, until they’re Islamic
Posted: Thu, 12 Oct 2017 by Paul Lusk
Claims of ecumenicalism and pluralism are often used to smuggle exclusively Christian privilege into public institutions. Christian secularist Paul Lusk asks what we should do about that.
Christian Concern has criticised Oldham council for holding Islamic prayers... Read More »
UNESCO: Putting religious privilege above gender equality
Posted: Wed, 11 Oct 2017 by Megan Manson
UNESCO says gender equality is one of its top priorities. But Megan Manson says it is protecting misogynistic attitudes by awarding World Heritage Status to religious sites that practise sexual discrimination.
As the UK's United Nations Universal Periodic Review... Read More »
Book review: ‘The Jesus Candidate: Political religion in a secular age’
Posted: Fri, 06 Oct 2017 by Megan Manson
Megan Manson and Alastair Lichten consider the importance of the Christian secularist view in James Paul Lusk's book. Lusk argues that attempts to re-establish Christian religious privilege and roll back equalities, undermine true religious freedom.
Thoughts... Read More »
Secularism and National Libraries Week #LibraryLetters
Posted: Thu, 05 Oct 2017 by Alastair Lichten
Ahead of Libraries Week 2017 Alastair Lichten argues that libraries' values of free expression and pluralism illustrate how a vibrant secular democracy should work.
Our public services – the majority of which are thankfully free from religious discrimination... Read More »
'British values': a source of unity in polarised times
Posted: Thu, 05 Oct 2017 by Lottie Moore
Efforts to promote 'British values' in schools are being criticised, mainly on account of their name, but these four clear values already underpin our education, and are something to which we should aspire, argues Lottie Moore.
In 2014 the government made it... Read More »
The legacy of decades of abuse in a Catholic children's home
Posted: Thu, 21 Sep 2017 by Mark Boules
Hundreds of children died at Smyllum Park, a home in Lanarkshire run by the Catholic Church between 1864 and 1981. As an order of nuns considers selling the land, calls for a memorial are mounting. Mark Boules reflects on what is left after decades of abuse... Read More »
Lessons from the frontline of Islamic fundamentalism
Posted: Thu, 21 Sep 2017 by Megan Manson
Megan Manson explores autobiographies by two Muslim secularists whose lives have been directly intertwined with Islamist extremism, and asks if the secular pluralism extremists most fear could be our best hope.
"Extremists have shown what frightens them the... Read More »
