Humanist barred from religious body

[rug]

By Julie Spencer
November 28, 2011

Faith and community leaders who advise on religious teaching in Bracknell Forest will not allow a humanist to join their ranks.

Members of the borough’s Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) voted unanimously at their meeting on Friday, November 11, to reject an approach from the atheist British Humanist Association.

The decision of the teachers, councillors and representatives from the Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh and Buddhist faiths on the committee was based on advice from borough solicitor Alex Jack.

He advised them that, although legally they could appoint a humanist, they were not obliged to do so.

http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2104073_humanist_barred_from_religious_body

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[trotsky]

2. "...the reason being that they are not a religion"

And yet the group is mentioned as being made up of "faith and community leaders."

Oh those stupid whiny non-believers, eh rug? Griping about people discriminating against them when it's just totally not true, right?

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Having said that, 'faith and community leaders' seems just to be the local paper's description

The council itself says "the major faith groups in the local community" and "Christian denominations and other religions" . So I can see why they'd say it doesn't include those that are specifically a faith. I'd agree it might be improved with a humanist viewpoint (though the various other representatives might provide that); but it's also notable that, among the current religious members, they haven't managed to get a Hindu or Muslim on the committee; just 9 Christians and 2 Jews. The population of the borough is, by the 2001 census, mainly Christian, then no religion, but Hindus and Muslims are more common than Jews. They haven't really gone for 'representation'.

[trotsky]

6. Interesting info. Thanks.

It would seem to me that secular individuals should have input when advising schools on religious education too, but that's probably just the totalitarian Stalinesque militant atheist in me.

[rug]

5. I'm sure the humanists are not seeking inclusion because they claim to be a religion.

I have my thoughts but on what basis do you think they're seeking inclusion? Bear in mind that this is the UK and the "Standing Advisory Council" appears to be quasi-governmental.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. I think because the 2010 Equality Act prohibits discrimination on basis of lack of religion

as well as on the basis of religion. However, I suppose the question here is whether this is 'discrimination' against people, or just non-religious bodies. They might say there are all kinds of non-religious bodies that aren't offered a place on the committee.

[rug]

8. Thanks for the info on the 2010 Act.

[Deep13]

9. +1

[NMMNG]

3. Why are religious people so opposed to inclusiveness?

:shrug:

[laconicsax]

10. 'Cause it's mostly petty tribalism. n/t

[MarkCharles]

11. In the UK, and in Ireland, schools regularly include religious education in ..

the curriculum, even at what we Americans would call the "elementary" school level.

In Ireland, almost all the schools for young children are Catholic schools, there are few "secular" schools at all in the whole country.

England is more broad in what religious education is included, and efforts have been made more recently to have the religious teaching reflect the beliefs of the population of the particular school district, not simply the Anglican viewpoint. So if the community in the district includes significant numbers of humanist non-believers, it would make rational sense to include their input in planning and approving of religious education curricula in the schools.