National Secular Society

The Society was founded in 1866 by Charles Bradlaugh, later a radical Liberal MP. It took a leading part in the formation of the birth control movement and also works for other social reforms such as voluntary euthanasia, the rights of minorities, legal abortion, freedom of expression and animal welfare. The NSS supports the British Humanist Association's provision of non-religious ceremonies.

The Society's General Principles are as follows:

1. Secularism affirms that this life is the only one of which we have any knowledge and human effort should be directed wholly towards its improvement.

2. It asserts that supernaturalism is based upon ignorance and assails it as the historic enemy of progress.

3. Secularism affirms that progress is possible only on the basis of freedom of speech and publication; that the free criticism of institutions and ideas is essential to a civilised state.

4. Affirming that morality is social in origin and application, Secularism aims at promoting the happiness and well-being of humankind.

5. Secularism demands the complete separation of Church and State and the abolition of all privileges granted to religious organisations.

6. It seeks to spread education, to promote the fraternity of all peoples as a means of advancing world peace, to further common cultural interests and to develop the freedom and dignity of mankind.

The NSS has a monthly journal called The Freethinker. For more information try their web site at www.freethinker.co.uk/

The NSS has its own site at www.secularism.org.uk/

The NSS is closely affiliated to the Humanist movement which is concerned with conveying moral concepts through personal responsibility and reason rather than dogmatic imperatives.