Author: Stephen Evans

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 »

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 »

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. 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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

BBC

A state Church is no bulwark against extremism – but secularism is

With its commitment to the separation of religion and state and safeguarding the rights of all individuals, secularism... Read More »

Lord Austin, UK Parliament (CC BY 3.0)

We can’t allow extremists to make the truth taboo

If accusations of Islamophobia can be used to silence criticism of Hamas, the UK is in a very dangerous place, argues... Read More »

Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Ritual slaughter: is the government about to renege on its commitment to consult?

Stephen Evans criticises the government's U-turn on animal welfare and says food labelling policy should serve consumers... Read More »

The universality of human rights needs defending

The universality of human rights needs defending

Seventy-five years on from the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, its promise of freedom and equality... Read More »

Separate church and state

Time for Church and state to part ways

Separating church and state would signal a forward-looking Britain committed to equality, inclusivity and freedom... Read More »

Don't extend religious privilege in parliament - end it

Don't extend religious privilege in parliament - end it

If you're vexed by Anglican clerics sitting as of right in our legislature deciding on the laws that affect us all,... Read More »

Taxpayers shouldn't be burdened with propping up the Church

Taxpayers shouldn't be burdened with propping up the Church

Faced with dwindling congregations, the Church of England is looking for ways to fund the growing repair bill of its... Read More »

Faith schools foster unfairness and discrimination

Faith schools foster unfairness and discrimination

Fairness and freedom should be central to state education. Recommendations from the UN child rights committee lay... Read More »

House of Lords makes politicians out of prelates

House of Lords makes politicians out of prelates

Religious leaders should be free to speak out on matters that concern them, but they should do so on the basis of... Read More »

A coronation fit for a king, not a modern democracy

A coronation fit for a king, not a modern democracy

An exclusively Anglican religious ritual is no way to inaugurate a head of state in diverse Britain, argues Stephen... Read More »

Homophobic churches and liberal states make for unhappy bedfellows

Homophobic churches and liberal states make for unhappy bedfellows

Parliament should begin the process of disestablishment rather than try to fix the Church of England, argues Stephen... Read More »

We need to normalise blasphemy

We need to normalise blasphemy

Stephen Evans argues that the huge overreaction to a Quran being scuffed in Kettlethorpe is symptomatic of the adoption... Read More »

Why not judge politicians by their views?

Why not judge politicians by their views?

Kate Forbes' religious beliefs have come under scrutiny as she bids to succeed Nicola Sturgeon, prompting suggestions... Read More »

A homophobic church shouldn’t be an arm of the state

A homophobic church shouldn’t be an arm of the state

Anglican bishops' stance on same-sex marriage shows Church and state have drifted apart. Formal separation should... Read More »

Happy Christmas, secular Britain

Happy Christmas, secular Britain

2022 was the year which made the case for secularism stronger than ever – not only in the UK but across the... Read More »