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It is shocking that thousands of young children in British schools are being taught that the penalty for being gay is death. It is also shocking that they are being asked to list the "reprehensible" qualities of Jewish people.

I am concerned that the "Big Society" could result in more children receiving a most unsatisfactory education.

re: Health care facility making policy based on equality - a morally correct action...

There should be no statutory religious holidays in any of our cultures. The population mix is complex and diverse so changing stat holidays to inclusive ones is correct. Let's do remember that what we northern folk are actually celebrating on December 21/22 is the Winter Solstice, a natural astronomical phenomenon that is as observable as the fact that all mammals bleed red.

Those who work in health services are on the job 24-7. Workers tend to trade off days with their teams for private needs. That seems reasonable.

Lucy

"Let's do remember that what we northern folk are actually celebrating on December 21/22 is the Winter Solstice, a natural astronomical phenomenon..." that has nothing whatsoever to do with religion...

Did I put the quotes in the right place there?

Humanists in general will warmly welcome the Queen’s recognition that people of no faith can lead moral lives and make an equally important contribution to society.

The Queen told the Church of England General Synod that believers and atheists were equally able to contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of the country.

The Queen, who is supreme governor of the Church of England, said: "In our more diverse and secular society, the place of religion has come to be a matter of lively discussion. It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue and that the wellbeing and prosperity of the nation depend on the contribution of individuals and groups of all faiths and none".

This is a truly remarkable recognition and, coming as it does from the Head of State, it is also extremely important. For far too long religionists have tried to claim that only they can lead moral lives and that religious faith of some sort is vital to society's wellbeing. The Queen's words knock this on the head and should be a lesson to all those who denigrate unbelievers.

We hope that the Queen's words will be noted by those political parties who grant religionists unfair privileges, as well as the media which is often grossly prejudiced in their favour.

I agree Brian,

The Queen has given her answer to the question I have often seen on here about can you have morality without religion. She is saying you can and people of belief should recognise that or more bluntly it is arrogant of them to assume that their beliefs are the only source of morality.

Of course as I take the view that the morality that religious people espouse is man made due to the fact that their religions are man made I find it an obvious position.

It would seem to be the direct opposite of what the pope said when he was here and I wonder if this was deliberate to try and counteract his uneducated and denigrating outpourings.

Brian

Referring to your last paragraph, I would advise you not to hold your breath!

I remember Jonathan Sacks making the same point that people are moral regardless of religion, adding, however, that religion is the most powerful form of altruism.

I think it is accepted by many church leaders now that the crude argument that all goodness flows from religion is a weak one which wins no converts. All people regardless of religion can act morally, they may tell us, but religion is the best means to bring about goodness!

Mary Warnock's choice on tonight's A Good Read was Pullman's "The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ". It was very well received by all the panel: I'm tempted to give it a go myself even though I haven't liked anything else by Pullman I have ever read. I imagine the discussion is available on i-player if anyone is interested.

The David Berger Interview is illuminating but not at all surprising

Brian,

Of course people with no faith can live what they feel to be moral lives. What else would we expect of human beings, created in the image of God? (Genesis 1v27)