British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987

1. British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 ‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit ‘Religion or Belief’ Quiz

2. British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 ‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit 1 The Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination but there are exemptions for religious organisations. False • The Human Rights Act prohibition of discrimination only applies to Public Authorities • However, there is uncertainty over whether organisations running contracted-out public services count as ‘public authorities.’ • Meaning that service users may not be directly covered

3. British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 ‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit 2 ‘Religion or belief’ organisations can legally discriminate against people in employment if they are of a different ‘religion or belief.’ In Certain Circumstances • Employment Regulations (Religion or Belief) 2003 • Genuine Occupational Requirement • Should be in job advert - should be explicit • Must be proportionate to apply in that particular case • If brought to tribunal - the onus is on the organisation to prove that it is proportionate and valid to use in this case.

4. British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 ‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit 3 ‘Religion or belief’ organisations can legally discriminate against people in employment if they are not heterosexual. In Certain Circumstances • Employment Regulations (Sexual Orientation) 2003 • Organisations ‘for the purpose of an organised religion’ • To ‘comply with the doctrines of the religion’ • Or to ‘avoid conflicting with the strongly held religious convictions of a significant number of the religion’s followers.’

5. British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 ‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit 4 The Equality Act Part II outlaws inter faith groups if they don’t admitnon-religious people. False 57 Organisations relating to religion or belief (1) This section applies to an organisation the purpose of which is— (e) to improve relations, or maintain good relations, between persons of different religions or beliefs. (2) But this section does not apply to an organisation whose sole or main purpose is commercial. (3) Nothing in this Part shall make it unlawful for an organisation to which this section applies or anyone acting on behalf of or under the auspices of an organisation to which this section applies— (a) to restrict membership of the organisation

6. British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 ‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit 5 This strand of equality and human rights legislation only protects people with religious beliefs. False • Equality Act Part II • Religion and belief • In this Part— • (a) “religion” means any religion, • (b) “belief” means any religious or philosophical belief, • (c) a reference to religion includes a reference to lack of religion, and • (d) a reference to belief includes a reference to lack of belief. • Also used in Human Rights Act, Employment Regulations etc

7. British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 ‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit 6 Humanism is a faith.  False • Non religious ethical philosophy – legally, a belief • The belief that we can live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs • Believe in individual rights and freedoms ‑ but believe that individual responsibility, social cooperation and mutual respect are just as important • Make sense of the world using reason, experience and shared human values • Naturalistic outlook entails atheism and agnosticism • Based on ‘The Golden Rule’ – ‘Do as you would be done by’ – this is present in almost all ‘religions or beliefs’ and predates the present majority religions • Belief that moral values are properly founded on human nature and experience alone

8. British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 ‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit 7 Community Cohesion is only about race and faith. False • All work on community cohesion should involve the whole community • Any work around ‘religion or belief’ should be inclusiveof non-religious individuals and representatives from minority religions • ‘We want to make clear that cohesion is not just about race and faith’ – Our Shared Future, Commission on Integration and Cohesion 2007

9. British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 ‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit 8 There are successful networks which include both religious and non–religious representatives. True • Religion and Belief Consultative Group • Membership includes - Inter Faith Network for the UK, Faithworks, the Evangelical Alliance, CARE, the British Humanist Association and the National Secular Society • HEAR • The equality network for London • Religious Education Council of England and Wales • Membership includes – The Baptist Union of Great Britain, The British Sikh Education Council, The British Humanist Association, The Islamic Academy • Westminster Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education • And many other SACRE’s around the country • Suffolk Inter Faith Resource (SIFRE) • Suffolk Humanists were a founding member

10. British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 ‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit 9 The Equality Act Part II prohibits discrimination by public bodies on the grounds of ‘religion or belief.’ True • “It is unlawful for a person (“A”) concerned with the provision to the public or a section of the public of goods, facilities or services to discriminate against a person (“B”) who seeks to obtain or use those goods, facilities or services— • (a) by refusing to provide B with goods, facilities or services, • (b) by refusing to provide B with goods, facilities or services of a quality which is the same as or similar to the quality of goods, facilities or services that A normally provides. • (c) by refusing to provide B with goods, facilities or services in a manner which is the same as or similar to that in which A normally provides goods, facilities or services. • (d) by refusing to provide B with goods, facilities or services on terms which are the same as or similar to the terms on which A normally provides goods, facilities or services.” • On the grounds of B’s ‘religion or belief.’ [Sn 46] • It is specifically provided that it is unlawful for a public authority exercising a function of a public nature to do any act which constitutes discrimination. [Sn 52]

11. British Humanist Association 1 Gower Street, London. WC1E 6HD Registered Charity No. 285987 ‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit 10 It is a human right to express your ‘religion or belief.’ True...BUT.... Human Rights Act 1998 Article 9 – Freedom of thought, conscience and religion 1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance. 2. Freedom to manifest one’s beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.