Podcasts

Jamie Gillies & Liam Kerr pic

Ep 45: The Scottish Hate Crime Bill

Posted: Tue, 16th Mar 2021

This episode is about the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, which was finally passed by the Scottish Parliament on 11th March, after much controversy.

The NSS was heavily involved in lobbying the Scottish government during the drafting of the Bill, and in securing amendments during its passage through the Scottish Parliament, so as to ensure that it would provide sufficient safeguards for freedom of speech about religion. The Bill will abolish the common law offence of blasphemy, a step for which the NSS has long been campaigning. It will also, however, create a series of new offences of 'stirring up hatred' against groups defined by reference to protected characteristics, including religion. Campaigns by the NSS and others obtained an amendment that will give greater protection to 'expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule or insult' towards religion. However, the Bill is still likely to exert a chilling effect on free speech in Scotland.

In this episode, Emma Park speaks to Liam Kerr MSP, who was on the Justice Committee that scrutinised the Bill during its passage through Parliament. She then speaks to Jamie Gillies, the spokesman for Free to Disagree – a coalition of organisations that came together to oppose the Bill, including the National Secular Society, the Christian Institute, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, the Network of Sikh Organisations and the Index on Censorship.

Watch this episode on YouTube | Direct MP3 Link | Transcripts

Follow Emma on Twitter: @DrEmmaPark

Notes

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Linda Woodhead

Ep 44: Post-Christian Britain and religion in schools

Posted: Tue, 2nd Mar 2021

This episode is about the place of religion in Britain today, both in society in general and in schools in particular. Emma Park interviews Linda Woodhead, professor of religion at Lancaster University.

In May this year, Linda will be giving a lecture series at Birmingham University entitled 'Values are the New Religion: Britain's post-Christian Culture'. The first part of her interview deals with her research into the decline of Christianity in Britain over the last 100 years, the reasons why this has happened, and to what extent non-religious people look for analogous systems to give their lives meaning and structure. During the pandemic, the NHS may even have become a surrogate for organised religion.

If Britain is becoming less religious, this raises the question of what its place ought to be in our education system. The admissions procedures commonly used by faith schools can unfairly discriminate against non-religious children. There are also many problems with the way Religious Education is currently taught. The Welsh government is reforming its RE provision: there is a strong argument for doing the same in England, but successive administrations have dragged their feet.

Emma is then joined by Alastair Lichten, head of education at the NSS, to reflect on Linda's words and give the NSS's perspective.

Watch this episode on YouTube | Direct MP3 Link | Transcripts

Christian nationalism is a key part of Trump’s legacy – Opinion Out Loud Ep 04

Christian nationalism is a key part of Trump’s legacy – Opinion Out Loud Ep 04

Posted: Tue, 23rd Feb 2021

Alastair Lichten argues that understanding Christian nationalism is essential to understanding the presidency of Donald Trump and its consequences for the world.

Episode title with picture of Charles Bradlaugh

Ep 43: Charles Bradlaugh – Atheist and Republican

Posted: Tue, 9th Feb 2021

One hundred and thirty years after he died, Professor David Nash and Bob Forder speak to Emma Park about the life and significance of Charles Bradlaugh – the first openly atheist MP, and the founder of the NSS.

This episode, presented by Emma Park, examines Bradlaugh's life and significance, and his relevance to modern debates about free speech.

Emma's first guest is Professor David Nash, historian of blasphemy at Oxford Brookes University. They discuss Bradlaugh's background, intellectual context, and political views, as well as the pros and cons of his personality-driven style of leadership. They also consider why Bradlaugh became a target for scurrilous biographies, including one by his own brother.

Emma then speaks to Bob Forder, NSS historian, about contemporary accounts of Bradlaugh's personality and power as a speaker. They discuss the positive values inherent in Bradlaugh's atheism, in particular his association between religion and entrenched privilege on the one hand, and atheism and liberty for the working classes on the other. Finally, they consider Bradlaugh's far-sighted analysis of state communism.

Watch this episode on YouTube | Direct MP3 Link | Transcripts

Follow Emma on Twitter: @DrEmmaPark

Notes

Support the podcast, share with a friend, and leave a positive review everywhere you can.

Opinion Out Loud pink microphone graphic

Religious conversion isn’t a charitable endeavour – Opinion Out Loud Ep 03

Posted: Tue, 2nd Feb 2021

Some registered charities exist primarily to convert members of one religion to another. Megan Manson says such activity is harmful to community cohesion – and shouldn't be treated as a valid charitable purpose.

NSS podcast interview blue graphic with microphone

Ep 42: Transforming education in Northern Ireland

Posted: Tue, 26th Jan 2021

NSS head of education Alastair Lichten is joined by Sam Fitzsimmons and Matthew Milliken to discuss the range of challenges facing Northern Ireland's divided education system, and their hopes for its future.

Sam works for the Integrated Education Fund, a charity that supports inclusive, integrated education. You may remember our interview with Sam on episode 21 of the podcast.

Matthew is a researcher at the University of Ulster who has worked on Transforming Education, a major series of papers exploring the roots of religious control of schools and its current impact.

Northern Ireland has perhaps the most religiously segregated education system in the democratic world - and a particularly urgent need for change. With religious interests heavily entrenched, efforts to create a more inclusive alternative have been painfully slow. However, as part of the New Decade, New Approach which restored devolution last year, an independent review has been launched that could recommend significant changes.

Watch this episode on YouTube | Direct MP3 Link | Transcripts

Follow Emma on Twitter: @DrEmmaPark

Notes

Support the podcast, share with a friend, and leave a positive review everywhere you can.

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