Leicester Secularist Blog

This year the Easter weekend starts on 29 March, next year it will be 18th April and in 2026 it will be on 3rd April. This ‘moveable feast’ can vary by more than a month from March 22 at the earliest to April 25 at the latest. This variation in the length of school terms can play havoc in schools resulting in less time in school immediately prior to external examinations. In Leeds, the school Easter holiday has been fixed since 2010. The two week Easter holiday in Leeds has always taken place during the first two full weeks in April, regardless of when Easter falls on the calendar. Now the Welsh government is consulting on decoupling the school spring break from the Easter public holiday in Wales. It seems nonsensical that the school terms in Leicester and Leicestershire are structured around Christian observances. According to the 2021 census, Christianity is not the majority religion in either Leicester or Leicestershire (24.7% Leicester, 45.7% Leicestershire)

The Society hosted a talk on the caste system on 3rd December 2023. Before the talk on 19th November the Secretary of the Society received the following email - We write to express our deep concern and offense regarding the title of an event scheduled to take place at your venue, titled "Hinduism: Wretched Immoral Compass." It has come to our attention that such a choice of words is not only derogatory but also appears to be anti-Hinduism.   Hinduism, a faith with a rich history spanning thousands of years and followed by over one billion people worldwide, deserves respect and understanding. Using such inflammatory language seems designed to appeal and incite hatred towards Hindus, who are one of the largest and most peaceful communities globally. As a secular society, we believe it is your responsibility to avoid language that may be offensive or disrespectful towards any faith.   We urge you to consider the implications of this event title and whether it aligns with t

Dear Mrs. Hunt, We were very concerned to read your letter of 26th November 2023 (on House of Commons stationery and published on your website) to the Leicester Diocese of the Church of England. In this you oppose the proposals being put forward by the Diocese as an MP. We would have no concern if you wrote as a member of the Church of England, but intervening as a Member of Parliament is blatant political interference in the way a religious body can operate. We appreciate that the Church of England has yet to be disestablished, but as the Member of Parliament for Loughborough, you speak on behalf of a population the vast majority of which does not involve itself with the Church of England. The 2021 census shows that the religious breakdown of Loughborough’s population is 43% non religious, 41% Christian (of various denominations), 4% Hindu, 4% Muslim and 8% other. Those actually involved on a regular basis with the Church of England, based on attendance figures, constitute only abo