NSS Opinion
When is a community school not a community school?
Posted: Wed, 06 Jul 2016 by Alastair Lichten
Religious organisations are pushing for an increased role in non-religious community schools. This seriously risks blurring the line between faith and community schools, writes Alastair Lichten.
I've asked before "When is a faith school not a faith school?... Read More »
Church and State united in denying religious freedom to young people
Posted: Tue, 05 Jul 2016 by Keith Porteous Wood
NSS executive director Keith Porteous Wood writes on the union between church and state that is denying freedom of religion to young people – in defiance of the United Nations and human rights.
The UN recently recommended that the UK "repeal legal provisions... Read More »
Religious belief is no barrier to criminality
Posted: Thu, 09 Jun 2016 by Alistair McBay
A spate of media reports have suggested that criminals convicted of sex abuse feigned their religion. NSS Vice-President Alistair McBay argues that the media shouldn't seek to protect religion from criticism by misrepresenting these cases.
A disturbing new... Read More »
Faith in public services?
Posted: Thu, 02 Jun 2016 by Alastair Lichten
An increased role for religious organisations in the provision of public services would be disastrous for both the public and faith sectors, argues Alastair Lichten.
The Oasis Foundation recently launched a report arguing that the aspirations of the 'Big Society'... Read More »
In modern Britain, tradition is no excuse for retaining religious privilege
Posted: Fri, 27 May 2016 by Stephen Evans
News that those declaring themselves to have no religion have exceeded the number of Christians in England and Wales has again prompted questions about Christianity's privileged role in public life.
Despite the vast majority of Brits being secular in outlook... Read More »
Invisible power: how the Catholic Church influences Italian politics
Posted: Thu, 26 May 2016 by Stefano Bonino
Italy's bill on civil unions is an important landmark in the history of successful and unsuccessful attempts by the Vatican to influence Italian politics, writes Stefano Bonino.
The last country in the European Union to recognise civil unions for same sex-couples,... Read More »
62% say there is “no place in UK politics for religious influence of any kind”
Posted: Mon, 23 May 2016 by Benjamin Jones
The overwhelming majority of Britons believe religion should not "influence" politics in the UK, and majorities of all religious believers except Muslims agree.
A ComRes poll commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association has found broad support for... Read More »
Did Christian charities really need twenty five years to complete a form?
Posted: Thu, 19 May 2016 by Ed Moore
A little known piece of legislation allows Christian charities to avoid complying with charity law. Who benefits, asks Ed Moore.
Becoming an official charity provides a non-profit organisation with substantial benefits, especially freedom from many forms of... Read More »
The gay community should recognise and oppose its chief oppressor
Posted: Tue, 17 May 2016 by Terry Sanderson
While people of all faiths and none have campaigned for and against LGBTQ rights, the merger of religious and state power has always been the greatest threat to LGBTQ rights around the world and turns bigotry into discrimination, argues NSS president Terry... Read More »
Furore over Islamic bus adverts is nothing but disingenuous propaganda
Posted: Mon, 09 May 2016 by Stephen Evans
Christian groups are being disingenuous and divisive in claiming unfavourable treatment over the decision to allow Allah adverts on buses, argues Stephen Evans.
Christian groups have reacted with faux dismay to news that buses around England will soon be displaying... Read More »
Muddled-thinking on counter-extremism threatens free speech
Posted: Wed, 04 May 2016 by Benjamin Jones
Leaks ahead of the Government's latest counter-extremism drive show that they have failed to balance freedom of speech with the impossible objective set out to legally challenge Islamist ideas in the "pre-criminal space."
The latest offensive against 'extremism'... Read More »
Faith schools add to the angst of school offer day
Posted: Mon, 18 Apr 2016 by Stephen Evans
National Offer Day is when many parents fall victim to religious discrimination or discover they've been allocated a religious school against their wishes. Stephen Evans argues that a move towards a secular education system might make school offer day a little... Read More »
Muslim support for theocracy, not terrorism, is the real threat to confront
Posted: Thu, 14 Apr 2016 by Benjamin Jones
The ICM poll on 'What British Muslims Really Think' shows clearly that widespread support for Islamic theocracy, not terrorism, is the real, long-term threat to British society, argues Benjamin Jones.
Much of the discussion about the "What British Muslims Really... Read More »
Church of England bishops are more elitist than David Cameron’s cabinet
Posted: Tue, 05 Apr 2016 by Ed Moore
A small, almost entirely Oxbridge-educated elite are given automatic seats in Parliament. How do we allow this to continue, asks Ed Moore.
In 2015 a widely debated report from the Sutton Trust pointed out just how many of David Cameron's new Conservative cabinet... Read More »
Scotland is a mosaic of religions and beliefs – but the research shows people turning away from politicised faith
Posted: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 by Alistair McBay
Scotland is a mosaic of beliefs and non-beliefs where individuals are free to hold a belief, change it or not have one at all. But it's not hard to see why people are rejecting the organised and politicised aspects of religion, writes Alistair McBay.
Much is... Read More »
Christian country? Politicians should be careful what they wish for
Posted: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 by Benjamin Jones
The demise of Anglican Christianity won't herald a uniformly secularised society, but a fractured country where the vast, non-religious majority contend with vocal religious minorities. Secularism must mediate this, argues Benjamin Jones.
A steady stream of... Read More »
Gender segregation: breaking the law to appease Islamism
Posted: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 by Chris Moos
The LSE and their Students' Union need to stop breaking equality legislation that is designed to protect students, and start listening to the Muslim women challenging gender segregation, argues Chris Moos.
Students and staff at the London School of Economics... Read More »
Religious worship shouldn’t be a requirement of public office
Posted: Fri, 18 Mar 2016 by Stephen Evans
With an atheist mayor facing criticism for opting not to attend church services, Stephen Evans argues that elected officials shouldn't have to worship or feign religiosity in order to represent the citizens they serve.
The newly elected Mayor of Totnes has... Read More »
Do we need ‘religious approaches’ to Human Rights?
Posted: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 by Keith Porteous Wood
Keith Porteous Wood offers a critical review of a new book that claims Human Rights owe their existence to religion – when the greatest modern threat to Human Rights comes from organised religion.
A book on 'Religious approaches to Human Rights' has just... Read More »
The surprising origin of Collective Worship in schools
Posted: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 by Ed Moore
Collective worship has its history in a murky compromise between politicians and the church dating back to the Second World War – and it is long since time the arcane requirement was removed, writes Ed Moore.
There is a growing consensus among educators,... Read More »
Britain’s first women’s mosque: rise of girl power or a Muslim women’s ghetto?
Posted: Tue, 08 Mar 2016 by Aisha Nabi
Muslim women are no different to their Western sisters who fought their battle for equality decades ago, writes Aisha Nabi. Muslim women are fighting the same evil as Western sisters are today – sexism, but what is the best way of achieving gender equality?... Read More »
For richer or poorer – where is the Church of England?
Posted: Tue, 23 Feb 2016 by Ed Moore
Is the Church really as poor as it claims? Ed Moore, treasurer of the National Secular Society, considers the extent of the Church of England's considerable wealth.
A recent news item on the BBC web site entitled 'Cash concerns for England's Anglican cathedrals'... Read More »
Classrooms should be free from an overbearing religious ethos
Posted: Mon, 15 Feb 2016 by Stephen Evans
With the Church seeking to extend its influence over the management of schools, Stephen Evans argues that religious groups' demands shouldn't outweigh parental rights and children's independent interests.
In 2013 the former chair of the Church of England's... Read More »
Dan Walker’s creationism may be an affront to science – but he’s entitled to his beliefs
Posted: Thu, 11 Feb 2016 by Benjamin Jones
The appointment of "young Earth" creationist Dan Walker to front BBC Breakfast has caused a considerable backlash, but unless and until his views interfere with his ability to present the news in a balanced and neutral way, he's entitled to his beliefs, argues... Read More »
The niqab in schools: An argument for prohibition
Posted: Thu, 04 Feb 2016 by Sadikur Rahman
Sadikur Rahman argues that the case for banning full face veils in schools extends far beyond whether or not they present a barrier to learning.
The niqab, or full-face veil, is once again in the news after the chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw,... Read More »
