Tags: Religious Freedom
The Taliban takeover is part of a wider threat to secular liberal democracy
Posted: Thu, 19 Aug 2021 by Stephen Evans
Stephen Evans argues that secular liberal democracy is the antidote to the totalitarian Islamism offered up by the Taliban – so we need to do a better job of defending it. Read More »
All I want for Christmas is freedom of and from religion
Posted: Fri, 18 Dec 2020 by Stephen Evans
Opponents often erect a straw man of secularism to justify demands for religious privilege. But freedom of religion must come with freedom from religion, says Stephen Evans. Read More »
Secular attitudes and laws are assets against coronavirus
Posted: Fri, 03 Apr 2020 by Chris Sloggett
Religious fanaticism is hindering the fight against coronavirus across much of the world. But in Britain, claims to religious exceptionalism are thankfully relatively isolated, says Chris Sloggett. Read More »
Election 2019: Where do the major parties stand on secularist issues?
Posted: Thu, 28 Nov 2019 by Megan Manson
Megan Manson studies the main UK-wide parties' election manifestos – and says religion will continue to be a dividing force in UK politics during the next parliament. Read More »
Britain needs to stand up for everyone’s religious freedom
Posted: Tue, 23 Apr 2019 by Stephen Evans
The appalling attacks in Sri Lanka again highlight the growing global persecution of Christians. But there should be no hierarchy of importance when it comes to protecting people from persecution, argues Stephen Evans. Read More »
Review: The Children Act
Posted: Thu, 08 Nov 2018 by Emma Park
Emma Park says Ian McEwan's book and the film it has inspired prompt the questions of what the state should do when a young person's religion conflicts with their welfare, and how this affects religious freedom.
This review contains spoilers.
Does the state... Read More »
China's religious persecution is a secularist issue
Posted: Fri, 21 Sep 2018 by Stephen Evans
China may be the most godless country in the world, but it is far from being a secular one. Stephen Evans says the intensifying religious persecution in the repressive state must be condemned.
China is by far the most godless country in the world. According... Read More »
Why we must reclaim religious freedom
Posted: Wed, 12 Sep 2018 by National Secular Society
There is an urgent case for resisting those who claim the mantle of 'religious freedom' without regard for others' rights and freedoms. Here's why our Secularism 2019 conference will be held under the tagline 'reclaiming religious freedom'.
"Everyone has the... Read More »
Pakistan’s elections will mean little for minorities and secularists
Posted: Wed, 25 Jul 2018 by Basit Mahmood
Religious hardliners have pushed both frontrunners in Pakistan's elections to the right – and neither is prepared to stand up to them, says Basit Mahmood.
Change is in the air according to those campaigning in Pakistan's elections, as Imran Khan campaigns... Read More »
Male circumcision is an issue of religious freedom - and should be prohibited as such
Posted: Tue, 06 Mar 2018 by Dr Marika McAdam
Proponents of ritual genital cutting often claim a 'right' to religious freedom justifies their position. But individuals have rights, says Dr Marika McAdam – and for boys, they include the right to autonomy over their own foreskins.
In amending laws... 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 »
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 »
Je suis Michael Overd: this obnoxious street preacher is a canary in the coal mine for free speech
Posted: Fri, 20 Mar 2015 by Benjamin Jones
An offensive street preacher has been charged for giving a "religiously aggravated" sermon, and was told by a police officer that he is not allowed to offend anyone. Benjamin Jones warns of the danger posed to our civil liberties if the state continues to... Read More »
Eric Pickles' 'evangelical charter' on its way to becoming law
Posted: Thu, 12 Mar 2015 by Stephen Evans
A small group of Christians in parliament are changing the law to give local authorities the power to summon councillors to prayers. Stephen Evans argues that the right to freedom of religion should always be balanced by the right to be free from religion.... Read More »
If we exempt ritual slaughter from animal welfare laws we open the door to far worse crimes
Posted: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 by Matthew Syed
Jewish and Muslim sensibilities about ritual slaughter are given protected status, despite these practices being inhumane. Matthew Syed argues that religious exemptions in this area are a slippery slope into far worse crimes.
I'll be honest: I love meat. I... Read More »
Free Church of Scotland attacks secularism and “sexual equality”; calls for Biblical principles in Scottish Government
Posted: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 by Benjamin Jones
The Free Church of Scotland has labelled secularism "harmful to society" and called for the new Scottish constitutional settlement to reflect Biblical principles. Benjamin Jones argues that secularism is in fact entirely impartial, and defends the rights of... Read More »
The world must respond to the cry of Iraq’s Christians
Posted: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 by Lord Alton
Religious cleansing in Iraq is making a "hateful mockery" of international law which should protect people and uphold their freedom to follow our own beliefs, argues Lord Alton
The last Christian has now been expelled from Mosul. The light of religious freedom,... Read More »
Why the time has come to end compulsory worship in schools
Posted: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 by Stephen Evans
With the launch of a new petition calling on political parties to make the removal of the collective worship requirement part of their education policy, NSS campaigns manager Stephen Evans explains why the time has come to relieve schools of the obligation... Read More »
