ISLAMAPHOBIA AND THE LEFT 2
If the growing tide of religious fundamentalism is to be countered in the UK I would suggest that what is required is a confident reassertion of secular enlightenment values. As a starting point I would suggest the following.
First there needs to be a clear separation between church and state, requiring the disestablishment of the Church of England and the repealing of the Blasphemy Law. This would remove the special privileges afforded to Christianity and create a level playing field between faiths.
Secondly the enactment of a Bill of Rights, clearly establishing 1) freedom of speech, 2) the freedom to practise any religion and none, 3) freedom of assembly and clear restriction on the powers of government to restrict such freedoms.
The disentangling of religion and education is an essential part of this project, however the Blair infatuation with ‘faith based’ education has greatly complicated the task and it is difficult to see how this might easily be achieved. However the first point of call must be the national curriculum that needs to police a clear separation between acts of religious worship, especially proselytizing and education respecting religion. Instruction needs to be provided on all faiths as well as the atheist and agnostic traditions, providing for genuine critical evaluation. The clauses of the 1944 Education Act requiring religious worship of a ‘broadly Christian character’ should be repealed.
These steps, difficult enough in themselves provide only the framework within which a more confident secular culture can reassert itself. Ironically it is I believe only a strong secular state that can best hold the ring between competing faiths and ensure that no particular faith imposes its belief systems on others.
Primarily however those who hold liberal secular values, the legacy of the enlightenment, need to regain the confidence to stand up to religious bullying and the aggressive demands of faith communities and defend the freedoms won at such considerable cost. It is long past the time for weasel responses, what is now required is the robust confidence and assertiveness of our opponents.
First there needs to be a clear separation between church and state, requiring the disestablishment of the Church of England and the repealing of the Blasphemy Law. This would remove the special privileges afforded to Christianity and create a level playing field between faiths.
Secondly the enactment of a Bill of Rights, clearly establishing 1) freedom of speech, 2) the freedom to practise any religion and none, 3) freedom of assembly and clear restriction on the powers of government to restrict such freedoms.
The disentangling of religion and education is an essential part of this project, however the Blair infatuation with ‘faith based’ education has greatly complicated the task and it is difficult to see how this might easily be achieved. However the first point of call must be the national curriculum that needs to police a clear separation between acts of religious worship, especially proselytizing and education respecting religion. Instruction needs to be provided on all faiths as well as the atheist and agnostic traditions, providing for genuine critical evaluation. The clauses of the 1944 Education Act requiring religious worship of a ‘broadly Christian character’ should be repealed.
These steps, difficult enough in themselves provide only the framework within which a more confident secular culture can reassert itself. Ironically it is I believe only a strong secular state that can best hold the ring between competing faiths and ensure that no particular faith imposes its belief systems on others.
Primarily however those who hold liberal secular values, the legacy of the enlightenment, need to regain the confidence to stand up to religious bullying and the aggressive demands of faith communities and defend the freedoms won at such considerable cost. It is long past the time for weasel responses, what is now required is the robust confidence and assertiveness of our opponents.
