Category - secular

Moral practice and non-belief

Giles Fraser — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:59:17 +0100

Atheists are often criticising the ethics of religious belief, says Giles Fraser. But do they base their own moral practice too much on what they are against?

Close discrimination loopholes for faith groups in welfare, government urged

staff writers — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:03:58 +0100

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has said that the government should close the discrimination loopholes for religious organisations involved in public service provision, and should ensure that all services are fully inclusive.

No hope in 'Christian nation' nostalgia

Press Office — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:49:58 +0100

Responding to the latest remarks by Bishop Michael Nazir Ali about the decline of Christianity and moral values in Britain Simon Barrow, co-directo

Accounting for the hope within

Simon Barrow — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:04:21 +0000

Ekklesia's friends and associates are a varied bunch - Anabaptist, Catholic, Evangelical, liberal, Protestant, radical and more. Here Theo Hobson tells it like it is for him.

Gongs, grins and faith in politics

Simon Barrow — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:06:14 +0000

The annual Channel 4 Political Awards offer an entertaining entree to the world of parliamentary politics, says Simon Barrow. But an award to a controversial lobby group raises questions about how politics is conducted - not least by Christians.

Church and media need new understanding, says Lutheran bishop

Stephen Brown — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:07:13 +0000

Church leaders and journalists have little idea of the pressures that each other face, according to German Lutheran Bishop Margot Kässmann, who has called for a new understanding.

Kosovo seeks democratic and secular path for independence

staff writers — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:32:42 +0000

Despite huge state-sponsored protests in Serbia, the rulers of the newly independent Kosovo say that their aim is social harmony, democracy and a plural secular settlement in the region.

Establishing fairness for church and society

Press Office — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:35:44 +0000

Commenting on a leader in The Economist [Feb 14th 2008] calling for the severing of the church-state link in England, Simon Barrow, co-director of the think-tank Ekklesia, said: "The fact that a ma

The Economist calls for cutting the cord that binds church and state

staff writers — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:24:57 +0000

The Economist magazine, a highly influential English-language international weekly, has come out in favour of the disestablishment of the Church of England and a clearer distinction between religion and governance.

Pope says science should serve humanity rather than the other way round

staff writers — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:30:49 +0000

Pope Benedict XVI has told a gathering of academics that science should serve rather than enslave humanity, warning that the reduction of human beings and nature to mere 'objects' is not good for the spirit of reasoned enquiry.