I write here about the Batley Grammar School blasphemy scandal from March 2021, and in response to Matt Syed’s Times article on 1 April about it.
I am religious. And a liberal modernist, despite post-modernist empathy. Karl Popper was right in his paradox about tolerance – a society needs to be intolerant of absolutism in order to preserve tolerance. As well as opposing religious fundamentalism, we can tease atheism and Darwinism too as part of liberal debate – I disagree with Matthew here, as well as fundamentalists. “Survival of the fittest” is a mantra that has a lot to answer for, morally, rather than the admonition to “Love Thy Neighbour”. But that’s the point. We agree we can debate it and respect each other’s freedom in that. Democracy (one adult, one vote) is precious and delicate. Guard it jealously, despite all its faults. The question is begged by Karl Popper – what should a tolerant society be intolerant of, to maintain tolerance? Similarly, where does free expression end to achieve this? An investigation at the school here, yes. But the teacher in this case needs to be free and safe. And so do tolerant Muslims in the UK. Or none of us are. But I do not see that either atheism nor anti-religion provide a basis for building a great society, either. So I’ll stick with my liberal religion, and its advance, as the best hope. With that, I commend Matthew’s article.