We should be moving towards a secular country.

[titbumwillypoo]

In the last census a third of the country identified as having no religion. This is a trend that is likely to increase in the future. I believe we should be moving towards having a complete separation of Church and state.

1. Removal of any religious leaders from the House of Lords. Believing in an invisible man is no qualification for having influence on the laws of our country.
2. Removal of charity status for all religions. Other entertainment venues don't get charity status, why should they? If they have a good business model for their club then the membership should be enough.
3. Removal of Faith schools. We don't let children drink or smoke or drive cars until they are mature enough to make that choice for themselves so why is it ok to allow them to be indoctrinated into these cults from such a young age?
4. Ban children from organised worship - See point 3
5. Ban religious symbols and dress from our streets. We don't allow nudists to wander around our city centres expressing their beliefs because it can cause offence so why do religions get to do it? What people do in their own home is up to them but publicly displaying your gang colours is divisive to a wider society. AIBU - Religion has a place in society AINBU - Religion is on the out and the faster it's gone the better.

A third? You want to make the country secular because a third have no religion? Interesting.

Freedom of conscience only acceptable if it's conscience you agree with, eh? Hmm.

I’m with you. Detest all religions. All about the control of women to some level or another.

1 and 2 sound reasonable. 3-5 are goose stepping lunacy and almost religious in their ridiculousness. Bit fascist and controlling?

Let's ban everything we disagree with. That'll in no way lead to a destruction of people's liberties, sure.

Being secular means the country does not align with particular religion.

I don't think any of your points are necessary for a country to identify as secular. They just sound intolerant.

I agree with 1,2 and 3 but I do think people should be able to wear what they like as long as it isn’t obscene but that comes under a different law (indecency?)
I do see religions as cults - some more harmful than others.
People also need (secular) moral teaching - I guess that’ll be another thing for schools. We need good moral leaders and there don’t seem to be any anywhere!

So I would not be allowed to wear my gold cross round my neck when nipping to Tesco!?

What would happen to me if I dared?

They sound oppressive. Because they are.

As an atheist I think you're unreasonable. There is definitely a debate to be had about the extent and influence of religion in modern society, but banning all appearance of it? Nah.

I don't think state funded schools should be able to select on a faith basis- it's discriminatory if paid for by the tax payer. They should be independently funded, private or not able to use faith as basis for selection.

I think we will remain a Christian country for some time to come

All your points suggest is creating a society that is intolerant of those with different beliefs. That’s not a society I wish to be any part of!

Why stop at just religious symbols. Surely if that’s your argument you are going to need all symbols banned or you have got yourself into the position of some people displaying gang colours but not others.

We're not a Christian country and haven't been for decades. Secularism is alive and well and doesn't need a banhammer to enforce it.

Shot on sight. It’s the only way people will learn the lesson. You need a proper deterrent.

I think giving everyone a set uniform to wear would be best. Prevent any risk of individual thinking.

Your proposal is focusing secularism on everyone though - that's not a neutral position. If this was motivated by good intentions the argument would be that many religions / viewpoints should coexist in harmony without one dominant one?

*imposing

Banning religion. Ok then so you want people who wear a turban, a star of David, cross or a headscarf to be put in prison?
People can and should practice religion at will, as long as it's not hurting anyone else. Which it isn't really.
I agree the church shouldn't be part of the state though.

Faith schools... should the government seize the land off the current, religious owners, or buy it?

When a majority have no religion, it would be a stronger argument.

At that point I'd agree with 1, 3 and 4. But 2 - church charities do a huge amount of good, and that infrastructure will need to be replaced BEFORE the church provision is removed. I realise some are immensely harmful but we should be able to weed those out through safeguarding.

And 5. We are a free country and being able to express one's self in clothing, jewellery etc is a valuable freedom.

I agree schools should be secular, and employers, clubs, venues should have the right to declare a secular environment. But not walking down the street.

Also very hard to police. What constitutes a religious symbol? A headscarf? My mum used to wear one when it rained, and she was a redhead from Catford. I have earrings I inherited from my gran. They are gold crosses set with diamonds. I wear them because they are stunning, not because of any religious affiliation.

Those are some very extremist views you’re expressing. I hope someone is protecting your children from this indoctrination.

I believe in separation of church and state and want an elected second chamber.

I disagree with you OP about religious symbols and think that they should be able to be worn in public. The comparison with nudity is not one I accept as valid.

I'm 100% atheist but believe in freedom of religion and belief and the only points I agree with are the first two. I also think it's bordering on offensive to refer to religious dress as "gang colours" - "gang" invokes a very negative stereotype.

You basically just mean all non-Christians don't you OP? For a lot of people their faith is as much to do with their ethnicity or heritage, as it is organised religion. We're already a pretty secular country but your vision is of an extremely intolerant country.