News and Opinion

The Government has published a report declining to allow Humanist marriages despite a public consultation which showed over 90% of respondents to be in favour. It is reported that this is the result of their election strategist Lynton Crosby decreeing that nothing "promoting initiatives that are not central to the party’s key election themes of crime, the economy, immigration and welfare" should be taken forward before the General Election. The reasons given for not agreeing to Humanist Marriages were in summary: Location (listed as the key difficulty) Humanists want the freedom to hold ceremonies anywhere, a right enjoyed by the Quakers and Jews since 1753. However the Church of England and others entitled to undertake registered marriages are restricted in that they have to use their own buildings and they wish to apply the same restriction to Humanists. The simple answer is to remove the restriction on all the marriage providers and allow them to choose as to whet...

The Government has set out the fundamental human values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. It requires these to be the basis of education in Britain, describing them as British values.  Following the Trojan Horse events in Birmingham, the President of the Society, Gush Bhumbra, has written open letters to the City Mayor and the leader of Leicestershire County Council , seeking their assurance that they have measures in place to ensure that students at all schools within their areas (whether or not of a religious character) are educating their students about these values. Sir Peter Soulsby has responded saying: Thank you for writing to me about our child protection, safeguarding and welfare responsibilities under the Children Act 2004. I note also your request for assurances about the particular norms and values that our children are being taught within our schools. Further to...

A poster has appeared the local Boys' School of the Madani Federation stating: MUSIC | HARAAM Listening to Music is Haraam and a Sin   Stay away from evil acts such as listening to music and encourage others to do the same too! Music is a tool of Shaytan (Satan)   The playing of musical instruments and listening to them is Haraam   According to the Law of Islam one who participates in music is regarded as a Fasiq (Sinful person)   One of the harms of music is that it distracts one from his Creator   The messages of today's music follow a general theme of love, drugs and freedom   Appearance of music and stringed instruments is a cause of Allah's anger   It is the tool of Shaytan (Satan) by which he attracts people to commit wrongful acts Music is Haraam The Federation's website states that Music is studied (along with other subjects at Key Stage 3) but does not appear to be included as a GCSE option. Gush Bhumbra, the ...

I'm intending to go along to this event and decided I would set out my thoughts on the questions put so I will hopefully be able to give some cogent answers. As always as a Humanist I have to admit that I can be wrong and would therefore welcome comments below. The Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life: community, diversity and the public good 12 March 2014, 3.30-5.30pm The commission asks: What are the foundations of a democratic and diverse nation? How is community identity formed in a multi-faith society? Should the freedom of religious expression be limited? How should religion and belief be taught in state schools? What lessons can Leicester share about interfaith dialogue and action? What are the foundations of a democratic and diverse nation? I think the word liberal is missing here. Our liberties, established in the Magna Carta, Bill of Rights 1689 and the Human Rights Act, limit the power of the state over the individ...