NSS Opinion
Living better together: What role do Muslims have in building a secular UK?
Posted: Tue, 09 Aug 2016 by Tehmina Kazi
When people learn I run a secularist charity, many are confused about what secularism means and its consequences for non-Christians in the UK, writes Tehmina Kazi of British Muslims for Secular Democracy.
For the last seven years, I have been the director of... Read More »
What do pupils need to know about religion?
Posted: Tue, 02 Aug 2016 by Stephen Evans
In recent years faith communities have amplified their demands for a better understanding of religion in the private and public sector. But what do pupils need to know about religion by the time they leave school?
In recent years faith communities have amplified... Read More »
Living better together: secularism and cohesion
Posted: Fri, 29 Jul 2016 by Stephen Evans
Later this year the NSS will mark its 150th anniversary with a special conference around the theme of 'living better together'. Campaigns director Stephen Evans explains why the time has come for people of all faiths to stand together in supporting secularist... Read More »
Living better together: Muslims and active integration
Posted: Mon, 25 Jul 2016 by Maajid Nawaz
On the theme of living better together, Maajid Nawaz argues that identity policing has further marginalised Muslims and that Britain was wrong to not expect minorities to embrace liberal values.
For years in Britain there has been a pernicious trend to shy... Read More »
Press regulator rules ‘honour’ killings are not Islamic
Posted: Thu, 21 Jul 2016 by Benjamin Jones
The press regulator has issued a troubling ruling that the Mail Online must state that Islam "does not support" 'honour killings'. Why is IPSO giving religious rulings to protect the reputation of Islam?
What business is it of the press regulator what interpretation... Read More »
Book review: 'Christian Nation' by Frederic C. Rich
Posted: Thu, 21 Jul 2016 by Alastair Lichten
Alastair Lichten explores the themes of identity, resilience and redemption in Frederic C. Rich's counterfactual dystopian novel and its defence of secular democracy.
Rich's debut novel depicts America's evolution into a theocratic state following the political... Read More »
Church documents expose an even bigger cover-up than suspected in the Peter Ball case
Posted: Tue, 19 Jul 2016 by Richard Scorer
The recent release of more internal Church of England documents relating to the Peter Ball case exposes an even bigger cover-up than previously suspected, writes specialist abuse lawyer Richard Scorer.
To recap: Peter Ball was a prominent Church of England... Read More »
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 »
