Secular campaigners don’t have it in for religion. Religious belief or lack of it is a private matter.

Secularists are only concerned when religious "freedom" becomes religious privilege.

No one should be discriminated against for any reason and religious belief must be similarly protected.

The problem begins when the idea that it is a good thing for everyone allows religious belief to be excused from the law or allowed unduly to inform public policy.

Remember the stooshie during Kate Forbes’ candidacy for leadership of the SNP?

She argued that her views on marriage equality were Christianity based and therefore to condemn her for them would be to discriminate against her religion.

If you don’t let me discriminate against gay people then you’re discriminating against me.

This clash of "protected characteristics" came up during The Hate Crime Bill discussions.

Is religious belief really on a par with sexual orientation?

Surely religious belief is a choice?

'Secularism is not atheism' (Image: Jane Barlow)

The most recent census showed that religious believers are now a minority with Christians a further subset.

These figures fall further amongst the young.

This has motivated a school recruitment drive.

Why are some Abrahamic religions so keen to proselytise?

We remember the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes.

Convinced by conmen that only clever people can see the clothes they claim to make, the emperor’s court all praise and admire the........

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