My reflections on leaving the National Secular Society to take on a new role in humanist community building.
Author Archives: ahumanistdad
How will the UK’s nonreligious majority impact older generations?
The discourse on Britain’s developing nonreligious majority has focused on the increase in younger generations leaving or being raised without religion. However, older age groups are also becoming steadily less religious.
Should we prefer secular polling places to churches?
The practical benefits of churches as polling places needs to be weighed against the potential impacts on priming and exclusion when considering their suitability, and this balance may shift in an increasingly irreligious society.
NI education conference shows cause for secularist hope
The National Secular Society recently held an online conference on inclusive education in Northern Ireland. Here, Alastair Lichten shares the videos from the conference and thoughts on the speakers’ key messages.
Theocracies and humanism in science fiction
Theocracies make for interesting settings and alternative worlds in science fiction and fantasy. They allow us to hold up a mirror to our own society, and in particular to question the consequences of dogmatism and religious power.
What ‘All churches are bad’ doesn’t mean
Popular among some atheists and critics of religion as a snappy and incendiary meme, and caricatured by their critics in turn, as an example of atheist arrogance. I try to unpack the context behind the catchphrase.
CofE plans to increase influence in post-16 education smack of hubris
The Church of England’s emerging plans to expand their role in sixth form and further education colleges, accompanied by empire building and evangelism, may undermine the secularity and inclusivity of this sector, argues Alastair Lichten.
A government blueprint for more religious control of schools?
The government’s new proposals for education reform in England could see increased discrimination, and most non-faith schools placed in faith-based academy trusts. Alastair Lichten explores the threat to secular education posed by the ‘Opportunity for all’ white paper.
Religious selection is only part of the problem with faith schools
Ending religious discrimination in faith school admissions is an important first step; but it will not undo all the harms caused by faith schools, says Alastair Lichten.
Remembering the ‘atheist bus’ campaign
What made the ‘atheist bus’ campaign so successful, what is its legacy, and what can other atheist, humanist or secularist campaigns learn from it?
Humanist Dad 👨👩👦👦 