South African Secular Society - SASS

14/06/2026

13/06/2026

12/06/2026

Confronting Religious Indoctrination in South African Schools
Religious indoctrination occurs when beliefs are presented as unquestionable truths and learners are encouraged to accept them without critical examination.
https://www.secularsociety.org.za/2026/06/10/confronting-religious-indoctrination-in-south-african-schools/

11/06/2026

Non-religious learners in South African schools
"I don't mind that other learners are religious. What bothers me is feeling like I don't belong. Every assembly starts with prayer, and everyone around me bows their heads. If I don't join in, I get strange looks. Sometimes teachers talk as if everyone believes in God. It makes me feel invisible."
This experience will sound familiar to many non-religious learners in South African schools.
Public schools serve learners from many different backgrounds and belief systems. No child should feel excluded, pressured, or treated as an outsider because they do not share the majority religion.
Respecting freedom of religion also means respecting freedom from religion. Schools should be places where every learner feels welcome, valued, and free to develop their own views.
How can schools create environments that are genuinely inclusive of all learners?

10/06/2026

International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations – 10 June
At a time when conflict, division, and misunderstanding seem increasingly common, the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations reminds us of the importance of listening to one another with openness and respect.
Progress is built not through hostility or exclusion, but through dialogue that bridges cultural differences, promotes mutual understanding, and recognises our shared humanity. Whether our differences are cultural, religious, political, or philosophical, peaceful engagement is essential for resolving conflict and building more inclusive communities.
The Secular Society supports the values of tolerance, reason, empathy, and respectful dialogue. Now more than ever, these values are needed to help create a more peaceful and cooperative world.

08/06/2026

Helping Children Navigate Religious Pressure
Children from secular or non-religious families may sometimes face religious pressure from friends, relatives, schools, or community groups. They may be told that they "should" believe certain things or feel excluded because they don't share the same beliefs.
As parents, we can help by teaching our children that people hold many different worldviews, and that disagreement does not diminish anyone's worth. Encourage them to ask questions, think critically, and express their views respectfully. Help them understand that they have the right to say, "That's not what I believe," without being rude or confrontational.
Building confidence, curiosity, and respect for diversity equips children to engage with others without feeling pressured to conform. The goal is not to teach children what to think, but how to think for themselves.
A freethinking child can be open-minded, compassionate, and confident in their own values while respecting the rights of others to hold different beliefs.

07/06/2026

06/06/2026

04/06/2026

Spark Curiosity in your Child
Children are natural scientists - always asking why, always poking at the world to see what happens. As freethinking parents, the best thing we can do is get out of the way and lean in.
Some ideas that actually work:
• Embrace the "why" questions - they're not annoying, they're the whole point
• Make ordinary moments count - a walk outside is a biology lesson; the grocery store is maths
• Choose open-ended toys - blocks, art supplies, anything without a "right" answer
• Visit museums and libraries - even once a month changes a child's frame of reference
• Let them be bored - self-directed exploration is where real curiosity lives
What's one thing your child is obsessed with learning about right now? 👇

02/06/2026

SASS interviewed Kai Taraporevala, the author of Modern Humanism: Science, Ethics and the Stewardship of Earth. Take a look.

https://www.secularsociety.org.za/2026/05/29/modern-humanism-an-interview-with-the-author/