Religion and education two institutions that have shaped societies for centuries, yet I can never understand why they are not distinctly separate. The notion that religious teachings should have a place in state education is, in my opinion, outdated, unnecessary, and, quite frankly, ridiculous. This isn’t an anti-religion tirade; I have no problem with people practicing their faith if that’s what takes their fancy. What I do have a problem with is religion creeping into spaces where it has no business being, especially when those spaces are meant to educate young, impressionable minds.

Morality Doesn’t Need a Holy Book

One of the most absurd arguments for religion in schools is that it’s needed to teach children right from wrong. As if the only thing stopping people from stealing sweets or bullying the vulnerable is the fear of eternal damnation. Morality is not exclusive to religion. Concepts of fairness, kindness, and justice exist independent of religious doctrine. We don’t need the Bible to explain why murder is bad or why treating others with respect is a good thing. These are principles rooted in human experience and common sense, not divine decree.

Atheists, agnostics, and secularists can and do live by strong moral codes without the looming threat of hellfire from some dodgy bloke with a chequered background. It’s about human decency, not supernatural punishment. And yet, time and again, religious institutions attempt to claim ownership over morality while simultaneously providing some of history’s greatest examples of moral failure.

The Hypocrisy of Religious Morality

If religious teachings are so crucial to ethical behaviour, where were Paula Vennells’ (an Anglican priest) Christian morals while innocent postmasters were being persecuted under her leadership at the Post Office? Donald Trump claims God save him from death. How about the priests and archbishops who covered up decades of child abuse within their institutions? These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a pattern where religion is weaponised, not to promote goodness, but to protect the powerful and silence the vulnerable.

Faith has long been used as a tool to control thinking. From childhood, many are indoctrinated with the fear of eternal punishment should they dare question religious authority. This environment breeds obedience, not critical thought—an approach that runs counter to what education is supposed to achieve. Schools should be places of learning, exploration, and intellectual freedom, not institutions of religious conformity.

Respect Should Work Both Ways

Religious individuals often argue that their beliefs deserve respect. Fine. But that respect should work both ways. Atheists, humanists, and secularists should not be treated as morally inferior simply because they don’t believe in a deity. The assumption that faith makes a person “better” is not only arrogant but demonstrably false, as history has repeatedly shown.

If someone chooses to follow a religion, that’s their personal choice. But it should remain just that—personal. It has no place dictating school curricula, influencing policy, or being forced upon children through compulsory religious education. If a child wants to learn about religion, they can do so outside of the classroom, just as they would with any other personal interest.

A Simple Conclusion: Religion and Education Should Not Mix

At the end of the day, the question isn’t whether religion is good or bad. It’s whether it should have a role in state education. And the answer, in my opinion, is a resounding no. Schools should be about knowledge, reason, and preparing young minds for the real world, not instilling religious dogma.

Believe in whatever you like. Worship a deity, a pink Unicorn, or even a well-behaved priest if it makes you happy. But we shouldn’t expect the state to play along with our fantasies. The idea that religion and education must come as a package deal is laughable, outdated, and completely unnecessary. Secular education isn’t about disrespecting religion—it’s about ensuring fairness, critical thinking, and the freedom for every child to develop their own beliefs without indoctrination.

And that, surely, is something we should all be able to get behind.