Britain. A secular state ?

[megalithic 10]

Is it an option ?

[callippo 10]

the massive constitutional reform necessary to revamp the UK as a totally secular state is like abolishing the monarchy. It would take years, be deeply divisive, and rip the heart out of the country. Given that the UK is a de facto secular state anyway, and one of the more advanced ones where all the key indicators like not only divorce, gay rights, abortion but same-sex marriage is about the become legal too, anybody that seriously wants to see all the chaos that would ensue for what amounts to being merely whimsical reasons, needs their heads examining.

[Alien52 10]

I voted troll.

secular "state" of being.?????

Just noticed the time of the post.

So glad I sleep well.

[Annie Bynnol 612]

The UK is not a secular state.

Religion might have lost its majority support in the community but maintains its grip.

Its' head of state is entitled " Defender of the Faith"

Her successor wants to be renamed defender of the faiths.

Religious leaders have guaranteed seats in Parliament and have influence on important policy making Government Committees.

MPs are elected by constituents but often ignore this and vote on the basis of their religions doctrine.

Religious MPs constantly slow the progress of human rights and medical development.

Religious spokespeople are invited onto our media and without their bias being referred to.

Schools can teach religion and governed by religion.

Teachers/ staff can be appointed based on their religion.

Edited June 10, 2013 by Annie Bynnol

[Super Hans 10]

Secular state - less hate.

 

It rhymes so it's right haters.

[alchresearch 214]

How are you defining "religious schools"? You mean like a CofE or Catholic High School?

 

If so then perhaps you need to have a look at what they actually do teach in RE lessons.

[Super Hans 10]

How are you defining "religious schools"? You mean like a CofE or Catholic High School?

 

If so then perhaps you need to have a look at what they actually do teach in RE lessons.

 

Mainly referring to Islamic schools where they teach people to learn the Koran word for word.

 

All these kids have great potential and it's being wasted on learning a meaningless book.

 

If that is going on with the Bible, ban that too, I don't want to exclude any religion from this debate.

[Jeffrey Shaw 90]

The UK (for that is the name of the country, not 'Great Britain') has laws that rest on Common Law. The Monarchy involves heading the Church of England, although that was not so before the time of Henry VIII- so blame him!

[callippo 10]

having a secular constitution is a total red herring. It's irrelevant. Take this :

 

No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.

 

that sounds like a secular type set up, right?

 

well think again, because that is taken from the constitution of the Philippines, where the largest and most powerful church permeates every facet of life in the whole country affecting everybody's life on a daily basis, and where not only abortion, but divorce remains illegal - the only country in the world, where this is so. What a constitution says, and what actually happens, are two totally different things.

[flamingjimmy 10]

What a constitution says, and what actually happens, are two totally different things.

 

Yes, that's true.

 

Just because having a constitution doesn't immediately solve everything and make society perfect doesn't mean we should throw out the idea altogether.

 

Just imagine how much worse the US might be in terms of secularism if it weren't for the similarly worded clause in their founding documents?

 

'Intelligent design' in schools, non-Christians barred from office, legally mandated prejudice of homosexuals etc.

[Annie Bynnol 612]

How are you defining "religious schools"? You mean like a CofE or Catholic High School?

.

The State CofE and Catholic have a national curriculum, OFSTED and governors answerable to the local area.

Schools that are now outside LEA control be they the old "failed school" academies such as run by Emmanuel Schools Foundation/ULT/UL etc

Or the newer Academies, Free Schools and the Faith schools all taking the tax public money but with governors independent of local or LEA influence.

 

Religious education taught to meet a curriculum or syllabus and agreed by governors answerable to the local community as has been the normal practice in state schools could be very different to religious teaching experienced in these new schools.

 

---------- Post added 10-06-2013 at 14:51 ----------

 

The original question was:

How are you defining "religious schools"? You mean like a CofE or Catholic

High School?

... and was aimed at Annie Bynnol but as Super Hans replied with the following:

 

Mainly referring to Islamic schools where they teach people to learn the Koran word for word......

 

I would like to make it very clear that this comment is not mine.

[Alien52 10]

The UK (for that is the name of the country, not 'Great Britain') has laws that rest on Common Law. The Monarchy involves heading the Church of England, although that was not so before the time of Henry VIII- so blame him!

 

UK of GB and NI surely.