Podcasts

A ruling which effectively outlawed abortion in Poland has again highlighted the government's damagingly close relationship with the Catholic Church. But many Poles are now questioning the church's power, says Aleksandra Myslek.

Stephen Evans says the disestablishment of the Church of England is right in principle and could benefit church and state alike.

Opinion Out Loud is a new series from the National Secular Society podcast for weeks were we don't have a full new episode. Each Opinion Out Loud will bring you a member of the team reading one of our best recent opinion pieces. We'd love to hear your feedback. Details at the end.

Read this original opinion piece: Church and state should be separate

In the final episode of 2020, Emma Park is joined by members of the NSS team to look back at an unusual year of campaigning and activities.

The team discuss some of the year's key developments and what 2020 has revealed about the state of secularism in the UK and abroad. They also consider the impact of Covid on the NSS's work and plans for next year.

Alastair Lichten (head of education) discussed the NSS's education work, from the No More Faith Schools campaign to curriculum reform in Wales.

Chris Sloggett (head of communications) reflected on one of the year's most shocking news stories – the atrocious killing of teacher Samuel Paty – and the media's subsequent coverage.

Emma shared her favourite memories from the podcast, including Ep 35: Dignity in Dying, and plans for the future.

Megan Manson (head of policy & research) reviewed some of the policy areas where the NSS's practical secularist position is gaining ground, including proposals for marriage law reform.

Stephen Evans (CEO) looked back on the bill to end bishops' automatic seats in parliament, and what the reaction tells us about the establishment's deference to the Church of England and opposition to reform.

You can find out more about our work this year in our 2020 annual report.

Watch this episode on YouTube | Direct MP3 Link | Transcripts

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Follow Emma on Twitter: @DrEmmaPark

Emma Park speaks to Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, to discuss the state of US secularism in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

They discuss the meaning of 'religious right', the legacy of the Trump administration's embrace of Christian nationalism and what to expect from a Biden presidency.

Rachel and Emma then examine the influence of the American Christian right on similar movements around the world, particularly in Britain and elsewhere in Europe. They consider how far the American religious groups have been responsible for promoting restrictive policies abroad in areas such as women's rights and LGBT rights, and how far they have merely been supporting indigenous movements.

Finally, Rachel shares her experiences of building an inclusive secularist movement, and what other groups can learn from the challenges that Americans United will face in the next four years.

This episode follows on from episode 37, which saw Alastair Lichten speaking to Andrew Seidel of the Freedom From Religion Foundation shortly before the election.

Watch this episode on YouTube | Direct MP3 Link | Transcripts

Follow Emma on Twitter: @DrEmmaPark

Notes

• Ep 37: Christian nationalism and the US election
• Ep 02: Rachel Laser | Exploring religious freedom
• Revealed: $280m 'dark money' spent by US Christian right ...
• Interactive: Explore US Christian right 'dark money' spending ...
• US groups linked to COVID conspiracies pour millions of 'dark ...

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What is the real meaning of Christmas in modern Britain, secular and multicultural as it is? Does the Christian tradition have a prerogative on its meaning, and if not, why not? And does anyone really get offended at the phrase 'Merry Christmas'?

These questions have acquired particular significance in recent years, with the emergence of allegations by some Christians of a 'war on Christmas' in the UK. Proponents of this 'war', it is claimed, seek to undermine the true Christian meaning of the festival and to 'take Christ out of Christmas'.

In this episode, Emma Park speaks to the NSS's Alastair Lichten about the so-called 'war on Christmas', its origins in the US, its manifestations in the UK, and why it is more fabricated than real. They also discuss the reasons why allegations of a 'war on Christmas' seem to have subsided in Britain in the last couple of years, and why, at the same time, the Royal Mail has broken with tradition to issue Christian (rather than secular) Christmas stamps two years in a row.

Watch this episode on YouTube | Direct MP3 Link | Transcripts

Follow Emma on Twitter: @DrEmmaPark

Notes

• The 'war on Christmas' is coming
• Christmas cheer at Lady Lumley's School after ban lifted – BBC
• 'There Is No War On Christmas' – David Kyle Johnson
• Defiant Sainsbury's defends Christmas ad after racists threaten boycott over black family
• War on Christmas, Rational Wiki

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