‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street,
London.
WC1E 6HD
Registered Charity No. 285987
‘Religion or Belief’
Quiz
‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street,
London.
WC1E 6HD
Registered Charity No. 285987
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
‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street,
London.
WC1E 6HD
Registered Charity No. 285987
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.
‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street,
London.
WC1E 6HD
Registered Charity No. 285987
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.’
‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street,
London.
WC1E 6HD
Registered Charity No. 285987
4 The Equality Act Part II outlaws inter faith groups if they don’t
admit non-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
‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street,
London.
WC1E 6HD
Registered Charity No. 285987
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
‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street,
London.
WC1E 6HD
Registered Charity No. 285987
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
‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street,
London.
WC1E 6HD
Registered Charity No. 285987
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 inclusive of nonreligious 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
‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street,
London.
WC1E 6HD
Registered Charity No. 285987
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
‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street,
London.
WC1E 6HD
Registered Charity No. 285987
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]
‘Religion or Belief’ Training Toolkit
British Humanist Association
1 Gower Street,
London.
WC1E 6HD
Registered Charity No. 285987
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.