News by email Donate

Suggestions

Humanist-Society-of-Scotland-main_article_image.jpg
The Humanist Society of Scotland
UK News

Humanists call for end of religious influence in Scottish schools

The 'Religion in Scots Law' study was conducted by the University of Glasgow with £40k of funding from the Humanist Society of Scotland (HSS).

The HSS says it's supporting the report's findings in full and has announced it will set out in the coming months it's plans to reform the education system in Scotland.

HSS Chief Executive Gordon MacRae said: "The motivation for this commission came from the increased public and political awareness of the changing role of religion and belief in Scottish public life.

"Many people in Scotland will be surprised by the quirks highlighted in this report, such as; Church Ministers getting a 50% discount on their Council Tax, religious communities being exempt from the requirement to pay a minimum wage, and the fact that Scotland never quite got around to repealing the Blasphemy law.

"But for us, the most significant theme in the report is a weakening of the position of religion in Scots law in all areas, except education; where it has been significantly strengthened in recent years.

"Humanist Society Scotland supports the move towards an inclusive, secular education system where children and teachers are not discriminated against because of their religion or belief.

"This report will be key catalyst for the ongoing public debate about the role of religion in education. In the coming weeks and months we will be outlining our position for reform of the education system in Scotland."

The Humanist Society of Scotland

Picture: (Left to right) Gordon MacRae, Prof Callum Brown and Prof Jane Mair.

Prof. Callum Brown at the University of Glasgow, added: "This report is a significant contribution to the current public debate about the role of religion in Scottish public life.

"We hope that by giving an authoritative and comprehensive examination of the areas into which religion intrudes into Scots law will help to inform the current debate.

"The report outlines examples of religion's place in the law, which is by and large now being eroded by human rights legislation from Europe, Westminster and Holyrood.

"This report is timely, given the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections in May, and we are confident it will inform the policies of future Scottish Governments in the years to come."

Speaking to BBC Scotland, the Very Rev John Chalmers, principal clerk to the Church of Scotland General Assembly, said: "It was, after all, the church which put education in place, in every parish in Scotland.

"The influence couldn't have been greater in those days. Now, the church is invited to participate where appropriate to participate in religious reflection in schools.

"It doesn't force that down anybody's throat. It is there, if invited, and it's there to contribute alongside other faiths and others from the ecumenical spectrum."

News you can believe in. Stand with Premier Christian News today.

Your gift today ensures that Premier Christian News can press forward in strength, reaching more people with biblical truth and shaping the future of Christian thought. It’s more than just a donation—it’s an investment in renewed minds and transformed lives. 

Without continued support, the ability to create and distribute resources that strengthen faith and equip the church will be compromised. But with your help, we can grow deeper, stand firmer, and shine brighter in the culture.

Your support today is critical.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate