A ground-breaking case on the right to a pluralistic education in Northern Ireland is currently being considered by the High Court.
Full shownotes and subscriber information: https://www.secularism.org.uk/podcast/2021/12/ep-63
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A spoof religion devised to mock creationism has attracted a global following. But what does ‘religion’ mean anyway?
With Derk Venema (03:20), Tanya Watkins (28:35), and Tony Meacham (43:17).
Full shownotes and subscriber information: https://www.secularism.org.uk/podcast/2021/08/ep-55
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Opinion Out Loud brings you a selection of the National Secular Society’s opinion pieces in audio format.
The Church of England’s new evangelical missional strategy should lead us to question its entitlement to proselytise in schools, argues Stephen Evans.
Read this original opinion piece: https://www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2021/07/schools-arent-there-to-save-the-church
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Opinion Out Loud brings you a selection of the National Secular Society’s opinion pieces in audio format.
Every child has been withdrawn from sex education classes at an independent faith school. Megan Manson says the parental right of withdrawal is incompatible with children’s right to an education that keeps them safe.
Read this original opinion piece: https://www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2021/05/parents-religious-wishes-must-not-trump-childrens-safety-and-education
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What does it mean for a school to be ‘C of E’? And how far does the Church of England’s influence extend over state-funded education?
Full shownotes and subscriber information: www.secularism.org.uk/podcast/2021/05/ep-50
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Lloyd Evans was an elder in the Jehovah’s Witnesses, before he left the organisation in 2013. He has since been campaigning to expose its workings to the public.
Full shownotes and subscriber information: https://www.secularism.org.uk/podcast/2021/04/ep-48
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This episode is about Batley Grammar School’s decision to suspend and investigate a teacher for using a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad in an RE lesson on blasphemy.
Full shownotes and subscriber information: https://www.secularism.org.uk/podcast/2021/04/ep47
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Alastair Lichten is joined by Sam Fitzsimmons and Matthew Milliken discuss the range of challenges facing Northern Ireland’s divided education system and hopes for the future.
Full shownotes and subscriber information: https://www.secularism.org.uk/podcast/2021/01/ep-42
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Baroness Lynne Featherstone joins the podcast to discuss the tenth anniversary of the Equality Act 2010, the Act’s significance and the problems caused by continuing religious privilege, as covered in a recent NSS report.
Full show notes and subscriber information: https://www.secularism.org.uk/podcast/2020/10/ep36
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How much progress will the Welsh government make with its proposed reforms to RE? In this episode, Emma Park speaks to Stephen Evans, CEO of the NSS, and Alastair Lichten, head of education, for an update.
Encouragingly the subject’s name is to be changed to ‘Religion, Values and Ethics’, to reflect a more pluralistic and critical approach. But the proposed abolition of parents’ right to withdraw their children is more concerning. Faith schools will still be able to teach RVE ‘in line with the tenets of their faith’, but will be obliged to offer a secular alternative if parents expressly choose it.
Do these proposals go far enough? And should religious education continue to be a separate subject that is compulsory for all students up until 16? Join Emma and her guests for comment and analysis.
Follow Emma on Twitter: @DrEmmaPark
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD2syE26heQ&feature=youtu.be
Transcripts: https://www.secularism.org.uk/transcripts
Notes
NSS response to RVE proposals in Wales: https://www.secularism.org.uk/21st-century-re-for-all/rve-wales.html
Will Wales lead the way in reforming RE? – Stephen Evans, 2 June 2020: https://medium.com/@stephen.evans_42820/will-wales-lead-the-way-in-reforming-re-415cf3049fa6
Should lessons on sex and religion take parents’ wishes into account? –– Emma Park, 12 March 2020: https://life.spectator.co.uk/articles/should-lessons-on-sex-and-religion-take-parents-wishes-into-account/
NSS podcast, Episode 17: RE in Wales: https://www.secularism.org.uk/podcast/2019/10/ep-17-thought-for-the-day-re-in-wales
Make a stand for freedom, fairness and human rights by adding your voice to the call for a secular democracy. Join the National Secular Society today https://www.secularism.org.uk/join
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