Religion or Belief
Religion or Belief
Religion and belief is a protected characteristic that refers to a:
- Religion (e.g. Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Rastafarianism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Buddhism).
- Denomination of a religion (e.g. Anglicanism, Catholicism, Sunni, Lamaism).
- Religious or philosophical belief (e.g. Humanism, Spiritualism, Atheism and Climate Change).
Protection also applies to those who do not have a religion or belief.
Not all philosophical beliefs qualify for protection under the Equality Act 2010. Beliefs that do not substantially affect human life, are transitory or do not conform to democratic society, for example by conflicting with the fundamental rights of others, are not protected. So, for example, any cult involved in illegal activities would not satisfy this criteria.
The University supports Faith and Belief in Practice, an initiative that provides information and guidance and romotes awareness of issues related to religion or belief in the workplace.
More policy-related advice can be obtained through the University's Equality & Diversity section.
The University has published Guidance on Religion or Belief for Staff, which contains useful information and advice on religious practice. Further guidance published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for employers on religion and belief in the workplace can be found here.
Register of Facilities for Worship, Celebration or Meditation
The University of Cambridge has a number of facilities that are available to book for worship, celebration or meditation.