Category: Religion
Dear Kate, Scotland doesn’t need to be saved by “Biblical truths”
Our Policy and Campaigns Officer Joe Higgins on Kate Forbes’s comments at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference organised by Jordan Peterson. In case you missed it, on 25 June Kate Forbes, the former deputy first minister, spoke at a…
Kate Forbes speaks at “anti-woke Davos”, calls for defence of Judeo-Christian values as basis of democracy
Forbes also said she won “public support” during her first minister leadership bid, and that Christian views were squeezed out during the assisted dying debate. Scotland’s former deputy first minister Kate Forbes recently made a not-so-surprising appearance at the Alliance…
Humanist Society interview series: Leon Langdon of Humanists International on Christian nationalist money in our politics
Leon Langdon is Senior Advocacy Officer at Humanists International and co-hosts the Freedom of Thought podcast. Leon tells us about the scale and reach of dark money from conservative groups around the world, and what we can do to fight…
Majority of MSPs choose secular affirmation in Holyrood first
MSPs were officially sworn into Holyrood today following last week’s Scottish Parliament elections. And for the first time, a majority of parliamentarians opted to make a solemn affirmation over the religious oath. This suggests that Scotland has elected its most…
Election 2026: School worship opt-out a key priority in children’s rights manifesto
Ahead of the Holyrood elections in May, we’re urging the next Scottish Government to end compulsory school worship and fundamentally reform the practice in non-denominational schools. Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) has also made an independent pupil opt-out for…
Humanist Win! New jury rules protect privacy of non-religious
Jurors who choose to make a secular affirmation will now be treated fairly under new legislation passed in Scotland. Previous rules for oaths and affirmations undermined free choice and failed to protect the privacy of non-religious jury members. The changes…
Let’s not withdraw: Philosophy with Children as an alternative
In this guest blog, Professor Claire Cassidy explains why compulsory religious observance (RO) flies in the face of Scotland’s commitment to children’s rights. She also provides a blueprint for an inclusive alternative that encourages pupils to think for themselves: Philosophy…
Amended school worship bill remains flawed as committee rejects pupil opt-out
Just before Christmas, MSPs completed Stage 2 of the Religious Observance Bill. This is where Holyrood committees debate and vote on changes to draft legislation. Our Policy and Campaigns Officer Joe summarises the key decisions of the day, and why…
MSPs voice support for pupil opt-out as Holyrood presses ahead with flawed Religious Observance Bill
The Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill has passed a first-stage vote in the Scottish Parliament. We welcome MSPs’ decision to agree to the general principles of the Bill. But there’s still crucial…
Two-thirds of Scots support independent pupil opt-out for religious observance, new poll shows
A new poll on the public’s view of religion in schools is published ahead of a key vote at Holyrood today. MSPs will debate the ‘Religious Observance’ Bill for the first time this afternoon (25 November). Humanist Society Scotland continue…
‘Children are not stakeholders to be appeased’: Education Secretary criticised for bowing to church pressure over school worship bill
Humanist Society Scotland has called out comments made by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills at the Holyrood equalities committee today. Jenny Gilruth MSP was giving evidence on the government’s Religious Observance Bill. The proposals fail to protect non-religious…