We aim for all new audio-visual content to be accompanied by a transcript and are working through our archive. Where a human checked transcript is not yet available, we may use automated subtitles. Best efforts are made to ensure transcripts are accurate.
1. Introduction: The origins of secularism & the National Secular Society
Wed, 22 Apr 2020
NSS council member and historian Bob Forder has produced a series of lectures to support, educate and entertain all those interested in secularism and the history of the NSS. By telling the stories of Thomas Paine, Annie Besant, Charles Bradlaugh and the other important figures who contributed to the development of secular thought in the UK, Bob gives a fascinating and personal view of the origins of secularism and the National Secular Society.
Ep 23: The NSS at the UN - interview with Josephine Macintosh
Thu, 16 Apr 2020
In this week's episode, Emma Park speaks to Josephine Macintosh, a solicitor and vice president of the National Secular Society, about her work representing the NSS at the United Nations.
The 1944 Education Act and its legacy - Keith Sharpe, Secular Education Forum
Wed, 19 Feb 2020
Three quarters of a century on the seminal 1944 Education Act continues to influence the structure of education in England and Wales. On 10 February 2020 the NSS Secular Education Forum chair Keith Sharpe gave a talk on the history of the Act, its impact and its legacy for the role of religion in state schools today.
Ep 22: Bishops in the Lords - Dick Taverne interview
Mon, 27 Jan 2020
Emma Park travels to Westminster to interview Dick about why it's time to abolish the bishops' bench and reform the House of Lords, why constitutional reforms can take such a long time, and why the UK is still not a secular country.
Ep 21: Integrated Education Fund
Sun, 12 Jan 2020
In this episode, Emma Park speaks with Maddy Bridgman and Sam Fitzsimmons, two representatives of the Integrated Education Fund. This is a charity that supports inclusive, integrated education (not segregated into de facto Protestant and Catholic schools) in Northern Ireland.
Ep 20: Lee and Lizanne Harris – compulsory worship
Mon, 16 Dec 2019
In this episode, Emma Park speaks with Lee and Lizanne Harris about their experience of the collective worship requirement in schools.
Ep 19: General election special
Mon, 25 Nov 2019
This week, Emma Park is joined by Stephen Evans and Chris Sloggett for a general election special. During the campaign the NSS is calling on parties to adopt 11 secularist pledges on subjects such as education and free speech. But which of these are on the parties' agendas? Will any of them make it onto the statute book any time soon? And is religion stifling political debate? Join Stephen, Chris and Emma for comment and analysis.
Ep 18: Remembrance Day | Clerical Abuse
Mon, 11 Nov 2019
In this week's episode, Emma Park is joined by the NSS's Megan Manson and Chris Sloggett to discuss the Church of England's privileged role in Remembrance Sunday. Is it right that the Church should lead the service of remembrance at the Cenotaph? Does the C of E represent modern Britain? How can Remembrance be made relevant to the younger generation?
Ep 17: Thought for the Day | RE in Wales
Mon, 28 Oct 2019
In this week's episode, Emma Park is joined by Chris Sloggett and Helen Nicholls to discuss whether BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day should still be exclusively for "speakers from the world's major faiths". John Humphrys, former presenter of the Today programme in which Thought for the Day is featured, recently criticised it as 'discriminatory'.
Ep 16: Operation Christmas Child | Faith schools
Sun, 13 Oct 2019
In this week's episode, Emma Park speaks to Megan Manson about Operation Christmas Child, a programme that encourages schoolchildren and youth groups around the UK to send Christmas shoeboxes to children in developing countries. Those sending the shoeboxes may not be aware that they are being used as part of a conversion drive by an evangelical Christian charity, Samaritan's Purse. The case raises the question of whether 'the advancement of religion' should still be a charitable purpose.
