New Humanist: ‘They didn’t come from outer space’
May 1, 2013We’ve been primed by popular culture to expect a close encounter at any moment, governments have made preparations and the tin-hat brigade say they’re already here. But now ufology is in crisis and alien agencies are being wound up. James Gray explores the case of the missing little green men
New Humanist: ‘Hostile takeover?’
April 29, 2013The government wants the Catholic Church to step in to save England’s failing schools. James Gray looks at the latest threat to secular education
The Guardian: ‘Christian group makes legal appeal for charity status’
January 5, 2013A legal appeal will decide if the Charity Commission was right to deny charitable status to the Brethren movement – the case hinges on whether its doctrine and practices are compatible with public benefit.
New Humanist: ‘New faces of televangelism’
December 22, 2012The switch to digital has given British religious broadcasting a boost. James Gray visits one of the new Christian channels redefining faith on TV
The Guardian: ‘How can charities ensure against political bias?’
October 31, 2012The rules on maintaining political independence are not clear, but bias could undermine public trust in charities.
Democracy 2015: a symptom, not a solution
September 6, 2012Andreas Whittam Smith’s Democracy 2015 may be a symptom of what’s wrong with politics today, but it’s certainly not a solution.
New Humanist: ‘The town that’s twinned with Narnia’
September 5, 2012The medieval Devon town of Totnes is the capital city of pseudoscience, but local rationalists are mounting a fightback.
New Humanist: ‘A Green religion?’
July 5, 2012Is anti-science dogma damaging environmentalism?
Councils still sending staff on discredited NLP courses
June 20, 2012Councils are still spending thousands on NLP training courses, despite its techniques being discredited in the 1980s.
New Humanist: ‘Cult following’
April 30, 2012Exploitative religious fringe groups are on the rise in the UK. What should we do about it?
Will Aberdeen University give green light to anthroposophic medicine centre?
April 7, 2012Millions of pounds has been pledged to establish a new centre for anthroposophic medicine at the University of Aberdeen – but its management has raised serious concerns.
Toby Young’s curriculum confusion
February 11, 2012Is Toby Young right to say children are studying Heat magazine instead of Dickens?
Heavenly beings and astral forces: the real meaning of ‘social pedagogy’
February 3, 2012A freedom of information request reveals the extent to which the teaching of ‘social pedagogy’ is dominated by esoteric and occultist beliefs.
Gove introduces new rule forcing schools to promote marriage – or does he?
December 4, 2011Has Michael Gove really introduced a “new Section 28″?
The Guardian: ‘E-lobbying: Stop the spam’
November 16, 2011Charities need to have a dialogue with MPs, not clog up their inboxes with unwanted mass emails campaigns.
New Humanist: ‘Faith in the Big Society’
September 14, 2011David Cameron would like religious groups to deliver public services – but can they be trusted?
The Guardian: ‘Charities must use statistics truthfully’
September 6, 2011Being caught quoting unreliable data can damage any organisation’s reputation.
New Humanist: ‘Crisis pregnancy centres and anti-abortion tactics’
August 4, 2011An interview with Life’s education officer.
New Internationalist: ‘Making Waves’ with Krystian Legierski
July 11, 2011An interview with the Polish gay rights campaigner.
Red Pepper: ‘Closed curtains at the palace’
April 17, 2011A look at attempts to let the Freedom of Information Act shine a light on the royals.
What is Transcendental Meditation?
March 25, 2011The story behind the Transcendental Meditation movement, which hopes to open its first publicly funded school in the UK.
New Humanist: ‘Free to teach creationism?’
March 14, 2011Under the government’s education reforms, 15 per cent of groups applying to open academies are religious. How would those schools handle evolution?
Polish embassy complains to The Sun over immigrant prisoner story
February 24, 2011The Polish embassy has sent an official letter to the editor of The Sun to complain about an article in Saturday’s paper.
The Times: ‘Free schools and the Steiner school debate’
February 17, 2011A look at the Steiner school movement and the growing campaign against it.
The Guardian: ‘Reactionary forces are shaping the debate on internet porn’
December 23, 2010Religious campaigners are exploiting concerns over children’s sexualisation to push their own agenda.