The Census results were first released in December 2012, and overall show that the percentage of people ticking ‘Christian’ in response to the question ‘What is your religion?’ has declined from 71% of the population in 2001 to 59% in 2011. At the same time, the number ticking ‘no religion’ increased from 15% to 25%. This change followed on from the BHA’s Census Campaign, which encouraged the non-religious to tick the ‘no religion’ box in order to help counteract the leading nature of the question – which assumed that respondents have a religion and (in its position on the form) encouraged respondents to record people to respond based on their upbringing, not belief or practice.

Among other points, the new data shows that the number of UK-born Christians decreased by 5.3 million since the 2001 Census, but Christianity’s overall decline was slowed as this was topped up by 1.2 million Christian immigrants. At the same time, the number of UK-born people with no religion increased by 5.8 million and the number of immigrants with no religion increased by 0.5 million.

The results also showed a particular decline in the number of Christians among young people, reinforcing that Christians are generally much older than those of no religion. 39% of those with no religion are under 25 while 42% are 25-49. These figures are 26% and 31%, respectively, for Christians.

BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, ‘The new analysis confirms that the future for the UK is a non-religious one. Most young people are non-religious and the religious proportion of the population is only being topped up by older people whose religion is generation-related rather than age-related and patterns of immigration which are unlikely to continue. Our social institutions, public policy and the way we think about our society and national identity has to catch up with this massive cultural shift.’

Notes

For further comment or information please contact BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson on 07534 248596 or at andrew@humanism.org.uk.

Read today’s findings: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/detailed-characteristics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/index.html

Read the BHA’s comments from the initial release of the results last December: http://humanism.org.uk/2012/12/11/census-results-show-huge-shift-in-cultural-identity-from-christianity-to-no-religion/

Visit the Census Campaign website: http://census-campaign.org.uk/

View our analysis of the results: http://humanism.org.uk/campaigns/census-2011/census-2011-results/

Read other surveys and statistics on religion or belief: http://www.humanism.org.uk/campaigns/religion-and-belief-surveys-statistics

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

The post New 2011 English and Welsh Census figures on religion released appeared first on British Humanist Association.

A spokesperson for GALHA LGBT Humanists commented ‘This report will chillingly remind our gay and lesbian members the discrimination many of us suffered 20 or 30 years ago in this country. We can only agree with the TGEU that ‘Trans people cannot wait any longer for the protection of their human rights’. GALHA recently held a Transphobia panel discussion in which members highlighted the discrimination and oppression that they still face today. We want to state our determination to campaign against transphobia at home and abroad

Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs commented: ‘On the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, we stand in solidarity with all those who suffer the physical and mental harm of prejudice, persecution and violence around the world, and deplore the inhumanity and irrational bigotry which motivates such hate.’

Notes

For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanism.org.uk or on 0773 843 5059.

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

The post GALHA and BHA support International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia appeared first on British Humanist Association.

Many hundreds of couples have humanist weddings in England and Wales each year but unlike in Scotland – where almost 3000 were conducted last year – they are not recognised as legal marriages.

An amendment to extend legal recognition to England and Wales has been tabled by MPs from all three main parties for discussion next week.  An earlier version failed by only one vote at the Committee stage of the Bill. The new amendment has been changed to take into account the government objections voiced at the time and until yesterday it seemed that it might be supported by ministers, who have given no substantive reason for opposing a simple reform that they are on record as accepting in principle.

Isabel Russo, Head of Ceremonies at the British Humanist Association (BHA) expressed disappointment at the surprise government announcement:

‘It is baffling and very sad that the government has taken this decision. All they are doing is standing in the way of the many thousands of couples who want their legal marriage to be a ceremony built on their love for each other and their deepest beliefs, conducted by a celebrant who shares those beliefs, which gives the occasion a significance that many couples feel they cannot gain elsewhere. All the marriages I have conducted have been for couples whose commitment was made all the stronger by the fact that they could make it is a ceremony that reflected their deepest values. I would have hoped this was something which government would support.’

Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association, added:

‘This message from the Government is a complete surprise to us and contradicts much of what they have told us in the many weeks we have been engaging with them. The amendment to give legal recognition to humanist marriages is supported by MPs from all three main parties, is not at all controversial, meets a genuine public desire, and has a negative effect on absolutely no one in society. It is more strictly and narrowly worded than even existing marriage law in order to introduce humanist marriage alone, and can have no unintended consequences. We are still hopeful that it will be supported by MPs in spite of this government scare-mongering.’

The proposal to give legal recognition to humanist marriages in England and Wales has been made as an amendment to the Marriage Bill currently going through Parliament by the Labour MPs Kate Green, Chris Bryant, and Kelvin Hopkins, the Liberal Democrat MPs Stephen Gilbert, Dr Julian Huppert, and Stephen Williams, and the Conservative MP Mike Weatherley. It will be discussed at the Report stage of the Bill, which is scheduled for 20 and 21 May.

NOTES

For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanism.org.uk or on 0773 843 5059.

Humanist marriages have been legally recognised in Scotland since 2005 and now number nearly 3000.

Humanist marriages are legally recognised in Ireland, Norway, Iceland, and the province of Ontario among other countries.

As well as hundreds of marriages, the BHA conducts many thousands of funerals every year.  All the ceremonies are conducted by trained and accredited celebrants subject to strict quality assurance processes and 97% of clients give these ceremonies feedback of 5/5.

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

The post Government opposes cross-party move to give legal recognition to humanist marriages appeared first on British Humanist Association.

In August 2012 the Divisional Court dismissed Tony Nicklinson’s claim. He died less than a week later, on 22 August 2012. He had argued that the current state of the law breaches his rights under Article 8 ECHR and that the common law defence of ‘necessity’ should be available to a charge of murder in a situation such as his, to permit a doctor to assist him in ending his life where the court had in advance sanctioned this step being taken. His widow Jane Nicklinson, now joined by Paul Lamb, are through this hearing seeking to have the Divisional Court’s ruling set aside and for the case to be sent back to be heard before a fresh panel of Judges.

Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive, commented ‘The brave individuals bringing these cases are overcoming great personal tragedies in order to advance justice and bring about a more humane society and we are proud to be parties to their cases in support of them. When a mentally competent adult is suffering incurably, is permanently incapacitated, and has made a clear and informed decision to end their life but is unable to do so independently, simple compassion calls out to us to give assistance – it’s the right thing to do. That’s what the overwhelming majority of the British public believe, and we think the law should reflect that.’

The cases being heard this week, which focus on the right of those incurably suffering but not terminally ill to receive assistance in ending their lives, comes just a day ahead of the introduction in the House of Lords of a Private Member’s Bill to legalise assisted dying in the more limited circumstances of terminal illness. Over the next two days the BHA will be supporting the AM/Martin case which is also being heard in the Court of Appeal. ‘Martin’ also lost his claim before the Divisional Court in August 2012, and now appeals against that ruling. His disabilities are such that he is unable to end his life without the assistance of others, by helping him to arrange to make use of or travel to Dignitas in Switzerland. Such assistance may fall within the definition of the criminal offence of assisting a suicide. He seeks clarity from the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning how he will exercise his discretion in relation to assistance from professionals and non-family members.

Notes

For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanism.org.uk or on 0773 843 5059.

BHA witness statements from:

Simon Blackburn is emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Cambridge.

A C Grayling is Master of the New College of the Humanities.

John Harris is professor of Bioethics at the University of Machester.

Richard Norman is emeritus professor of moral philosophy at the University of Kent.

Additional Background Information:

Polling showing 81% of public support assisted dying:

http://humanism.org.uk/2012/09/07/news-1108/

Previous BHA news article – ‘L’ waives right to anonymity in assisted dying court case:

http://humanism.org.uk/2013/04/18/paul-lamb-l-waives-right-to-anonymity-in-assisted-dying-court-case/

Previous BHA news article – Court of Appeal allows ‘L’ to join Tony Nicklinson Claim:

http://humanism.org.uk/2013/03/20/court-of-appeal-allows-l-to-join-tony-nicklinson-claim/

Previous BHA news article – New case to test rules on assisted dying in UK:

http://humanism.org.uk/2011/08/19/news-873/

The BHA’s campaign on Assisted Dying:

http://humanism.org.uk/campaigns/public-ethical-issues/assisted-dying/

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

The post Strong case for assisted dying made in final day of Nicklinson/Lamb Court of Appeal case appeared first on British Humanist Association.

In its evidence the BHA has submitted that, ‘Being able to die, with dignity, in a manner of our choosing must be understood to be a fundamental human right…Our position is that the right to choose when to die is inextricably linked to the right to life.

Prominent moral philosophers including Simon Blackburn, A C Grayling, John Harris, and Richard Norman have prepared the BHA’s evidence, which centres on the obligation we have to alleviate suffering, the principle of personal autonomy, and the right of mentally competent adults to make decisions about their lives, as long as they do not result in harm to others.

Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive, commented ‘The brave individuals bringing these cases are overcoming great personal tragedies in order to advance justice and bring about a more humane society and we are proud to be parties to their cases in support of them. When a mentally competent adult is suffering incurably, is permanently incapacitated, and has made a clear and informed decision to end their life but is unable to do so independently, simple compassion calls out to us to give assistance – it’s the right thing to do. That’s what the overwhelming majority of the British public believe, and we think the law should reflect that.’
Yogi Amin of Irwin Mitchell LLP acting on behalf of the BHA commented ‘The law should be certain and reflect modern society. Both parliament and judge made law should develop to allow for personal autonomy’.

The cases being heard today, which focus on the right of those incurably suffering but not terminally ill to receive assistance in ending their lives, comes just two days ahead of the introduction in the House of Lords of a Private Member’s Bill to legalise assisted dying in the more limited circumstances of terminal illness.

The public consistently and overwhelmingly supports both sorts of assisted death, with 81% saying last year that mentally competent individuals with incurable or terminal diseases who wish to end their lives should be able to receive medical assistance to do so, without those assisting them facing prosecution.

Notes

For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanism.org.uk or on 0773 843 5059.

Simon Blackburn is emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Cambridge.
A C Grayling is Master of the New College of the Humanities.
John Harris is professor of Bioethics at the University of Machester.
Richard Norman is emeritus professor of moral philosophy at the University of Kent.

Polling showing 81% of public support assisted dying:
http://humanism.org.uk/2012/09/07/news-1108/

Previous BHA news article – ‘L’ waives right to anonymity in assisted dying court case:
http://humanism.org.uk/2013/04/18/paul-lamb-l-waives-right-to-anonymity-in-assisted-dying-court-case/

Previous BHA news article – Court of Appeal allows ‘L’ to join Tony Nicklinson Claim:
http://humanism.org.uk/2013/03/20/court-of-appeal-allows-l-to-join-tony-nicklinson-claim/

Previous BHA news article – New case to test rules on assisted dying in UK:
http://humanism.org.uk/2011/08/19/news-873/

The BHA’s campaign on Assisted Dying:
http://humanism.org.uk/campaigns/public-ethical-issues/assisted-dying/

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

The post Nicklinson, Lamb and ‘Martin’ assisted dying hearings at Court of Appeal begin appeared first on British Humanist Association.

Attendance figures continued to show general long-term decline and low figures of attendance of all sorts. For example:

• 98% of people didn’t go to a Church of England service on an average week
• 95% didn’t go to Church at Christmas
• 88% of babies weren’t baptised
• 66% of funerals weren’t Church of England

Taken together with other polls and surveys, these figures confirm that the majority of people do not engage in religious practice, nor have religious beliefs, nor a religious identity.

BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented:

‘Most people don’t look to the Church of England even at the times of year or times in their life when to do so was traditional even for non-believers. Only 2% of people went to a Church of England service on an average week and only 5% of people at the “popular” time of Christmas – a lower attendance than in many years in the past decade. 66% of funerals were not Anglican, even though older people are more likely to be Anglicans, and most marriages weren’t Anglican either. Although the Church of England undoubtedly provided useful services to its members, the vast majority of the people of England have nothing to do with it.

‘In an ideal world, these figures would be of interest only to sociologists and the church itself. In a nation where the church in question has a privileged legal and constitutional position, they must be subject to wider public scrutiny and their implications drawn out. What they illustrate yet again is a church established by national law that has long ceased to be a truly national church. It is about time the legal position caught up with the social reality and the privileged place of Anglicanism and Anglicans was brought to an end. It can’t be right for a minority concern to have unique and automatic seats in our parliament, control of nearly a third of our state schools, and almost monopoly public funding for its mission in state funded social institutions like our prisons and hospitals. Our diverse and increasingly non-religious society needs a more appropriate settlement.’

NOTES

For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs on pavan@humanism.org.uk or on 07738 435059

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

The post Church statistics show continued decline, call into question establishment appeared first on British Humanist Association.

As a member of the Dying Matters coalition, the BHA endorses the underlying message of this year’s theme.   Many of the BHA’s accredited celebrants, who lead funerals under the ‘Humanist Ceremonies’ banner, know only too well how regret is a sentiment often expressed by bereaved family and friends – so the Dying Matters theme is on the nail.

Nothing can eradicate the inevitable sadness accompanying a loved one’s death, but advance discussion and planning goes some way to providing comfort all round.  Steps might include signing an Advance Decision about end of life care (papers for which can be downloaded here: http://www.compassionindying.org.uk/about-advance-decisions ), registering as a potential organ donor, and discussing funeral plans – great solace can be found at a funeral in something as simple as knowing that the deceased chose the music that is played.

To back up the Be ready for it theme, Dying Matters has produced various materials available to download for free, or hard copy ordering online.  For more information see: http://dyingmatters.org/page/supporting-dying-matters-awareness-week

BHA Head of Ceremonies Isobel Russo commented ‘The work Dying Matters is doing is fresh, exciting and in accord with the outlook of our own funeral celebrants, which empowers people to genuinely engage with and articulate the experiences of death and dying.’

Ends

For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanism.org.uk or on 0773 843 5059.

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

The post BHA celebrants support Dying Matters awareness week appeared first on British Humanist Association.

BHA Head of Ceremonies Isabel Russo explained, ‘The amendment which would allow for humanist couples in the UK to have the same choices as those in Scotland and Ireland was debated at an earlier stage of the Marriage Bill and resulted in a tied 7/7 vote. We hope that it will now pass at the next stage, since it has been altered to meet all the (limited) opposition that was expressed to it earlier. There’s an obvious unfairness in a law which allows everyone to have a civil marriage but allows only religious couples to have legal recognition for the ceremony based on their most fundamental values and beliefs, conducted by a person who shares them. Humanist weddings are increasingly popular and legal recognition for them would be widely welcomed.’

Ends

For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanism.org.uk or on 0773 843 5059.

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

The post More and more couples choosing a humanist marriage appeared first on British Humanist Association.

The BHA first became aware of the problem when anti-creationist campaigner Jonny Scaramanga identified through Ofsted reports that funds were being spent on schools in the Christian Education Europe  network of private creationist schools that teach the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum. The curriculum teaches that the Loch Ness monster disproves evolution and that there is no biological basis for homosexuality. By looking at Ofsted reports it is possible to identify at least six schools that are receiving funds (Carmel Christian School, Excellence Christian School, Redemption Academy, Kings Kids Christian School, The Lambs Christian School and Beehive School).

The BHA was unsure what is actually taught at nursery stage in ACE schools, and so bought a number of ACE textbooks to find out. At nursery stage, children are taught in Science to identify what is taught on each of the days of creation, and about Adam and Eve. In Social Studies, they are also taught about Noah’s Ark.

Funds are also being spent on:

• Christian Schools Trust schools such as The King’s School. The organisation has a statement explaining that it is creationist and recommending creationism is taught in member schools.
• Charedi Jewish schools such as Beis Trana Girls School and Ohel Blima Rochel D’bobov School. In a piece for The Telegraph last July an advisor to Michael Gove referred to some Jewish schools as ‘segregationalist’ and inappropriate for state funding as Free Schools.
• Numerous Steiner schools such as North London Rudolf Steiner School, The St Michael Steiner School, Waldorf School of South West London, Monkton Wyld Court Kindergarten, Laurel Farm, Rowans Day Nursery at Michael House School, Rudolf Steiner School Kings Langley and Exeter Steiner School. Steiner schools frequently employ an ‘anthroposophical doctor’ who gives homeopathy to students, and are regarded by the Health Protection Agency to be unvaccinated communities.

However, these are only some of the schools where such funding happens to be mentioned in the school’s Ofsted report; the true number is likely to be (perhaps substantially) higher.

The funds are allocated by local authorities, with the criteria for which schools are funded simply being that they are not exempted from the requirement to teach the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). But this simply specifies basic requirements about teaching literacy, mathematics and ‘understanding the world’, and does not preclude pseudoscientific or extreme religious groups from being funded. It would seemingly preclude Steiner schools, which have exempted themselves from the early years foundation stage since 2009. However, this does not seem to have prevented these schools from getting funding.

The BHA contacted the DfE to ask whether it considered the funding of creationist nurseries acceptable, and it said that it only required nurseries to teach the EYFS and meet general requirements on private schools.

BHA Head of Public Affairs Pavan Dhaliwal commented, ‘It is outrageous that public funding is being spent on nursery places for children at schools that the Government considers too extreme to run state schools. The Government urgently needs to review who this funding is going to.

‘To those that would say that it doesn’t matter what is taught to children so young, we would respond that education is vital whatever the age of the child. The Jesuits say “Give me the child for his first seven years, and I’ll give you the man.” This funding gets these groups half way there.’

Jonny Scaramanga is a PhD student who went to an ACE school and now campaigns against them, and who first spotted this issue. Mr Scaramanga added, ‘My experience of ACE schools is that people of other faiths and no faith are seen as inferior. Children are taught “true Christians” should not associate with them, because their beliefs are categorically false and harmful. They also present a highly distorted view of science, and this makes them unsuitable candidates to receive government funding.’

Coincidentally the Government is currently consulting on reforming how such places are funded. The BHA has responded to the consultation urging funding to the groups it has identified to cease.

Notes

For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanism.org.uk or on 0773 843 5059.

Read coverage in Nursery World today – ’Questions over funding for creationist nurseries’: http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/1181091/Questions-funding-creationist-nurseries/

See the BHA’s scans of Accelerated Christian Education kindergarten Science and Social Studies textbooks: http://humanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/ACE-nursery-science.pdf – these were purchased by a supporter of the BHA from Christian Education Europe’s UK shop.

Read BHA correspondence with the DfE on Carmel Christian School, an ACE school that was the first to be identified: http://humanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Correspondence-between-the-BHA-and-DfE-concerning-creationist-nurseries-receiving-state-funds.pdf

Read about the Government’s Consultation on proposed changes to the role of the local authority in early education and childcare: https://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=consultationDetails&consultationId=1889&external=no&menu=1

Read the response from the BHA to the consultation: http://humanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Role-of-LA-response-form-4-response-from-the-British-Humanist-Association.pdf

Read more about the BHA’s campaigns work on ‘faith’ schools: http://humanism.org.uk/campaigns/schools-and-education/faith-schools/

Read more about the BHA’s campaigns work on science, evolution and creationism: http://humanism.org.uk/campaigns/schools-and-education/school-curriculum/science-evolution-and-creationism/

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

The post Public funds being spent to send children to creationist, Charedi and Steiner nurseries appeared first on British Humanist Association.

Police in Bangladesh have arrested several “atheist bloggers” and shut down their websites. Those confirmed arrested include Subrata Adhikari Shuvo, Mashiur Rahman Biplob, and Rasel Parvez, from Dhaka, and the popular blogger Asif Mohiuddin, who was viciously attacked in January. They have all been interrogated and remanded in custody. Islamists have provided the Bangladeshi government with a list of 84 “atheist bloggers” demanding that they repent or face “blasphemy” charges.

In their London action today, BHA, IHEU and CFI UK focussed on encouraging UK citizens to lobby the UK government to express its support for the imprisoned men. They have already called for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to intervene with the government of Bangladesh and are encouraging everyone to write to British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Gibson, urging him to do so. At the same time, protestors called on the Bangladeshi government to respect the human right to freedom of thought, to freedom of belief, and to freedom of expression and release the bloggers.

Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the BHA and First Vice President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, which represents over a hundred Humanist member organisations around the world, commented ‘Those of us who enjoy the benefits of free expression have a moral obligation to stand up for the rights of those persecuted people around the world who do not. The UK government must take action to ensure the release of these men and we all need to take action in urging them to do so. Any arrest or imprisonment for the harmless act of so-called ‘blasphemy’ anywhere in the world is an affront to human rights, human dignity, and the aspiration of a free world.’

Stephen Law of Centre for Inquiry UK, a section of the BHA, commented ‘When a regime caves into pressure to punish those who have “given offence”, it encourages the offence-takers to become ever more strident and hysterical in their demands. I hope Bangladesh will stick to fair and impartial secular principles that guarantee freedom of speech for all, irrespective of their views on politics or religion, and irrespective of whether others happen to “take offence” at what they say.’

Ends

For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanism.org.uk or on 0773 843 5059.

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

The post Humanists call for action on imprisoned Bangladesh bloggers appeared first on British Humanist Association.