Britain – Christian country or not?

Senior Conservative politicians have hit back at claims by militant atheists that Britain is not a Christian country.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith told the Daily Telegraph modern Britain had “Christian heritage”.

Mr Grieve, a patron of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, said atheism had not made “much progress” in the UK.

Christian Heritage

“Many of the underlying ethics of society are Christian-based and the result of 1,500 years of Christian input into our national life,” he said.

“It is not going to disappear overnight. They [atheists] are deluding themselves.”

Mr Duncan Smith said claims that Britain was not a Christian country were “absurd” and ignored “both historical and constitutional reality”.

“It is arguably our Christian heritage, with its innate tolerance and inclusivity, that has ensured the freedom of all voices – religious or non-religious – to be heard and to be valued,” he said.

Division

The scathing comments follow a letter in the Daily Telegraph signed by a group of militant atheists, headed by Philip Pullman and Polly Toynbee, claiming that “we are a largely non-religious society” and that “constantly to claim otherwise fosters alienation and division in our society.”

“At a social level, Britain has been shaped for the better by many pre-Christian, non-Christian, and post-Christian forces,” they claimed. Maybe and maybe not. But the furious signatories, most of whom are closely associated with either the British Humanist Association or the National Secular Society, cannot bring themselves to agree that Christianity has done the most to make Britain great.

The atheists’ letter was in its turn a response to Prime Minister David Cameron’s hosting a reception for Christian leaders at 10 Downing Street and following up with a video and an article in Church Times earlier this month, all emphasising the importance of Christianity.

Reception at 10 Downing Street

At the reception, held on Wednesday 9th April, Mr Cameron said: “I’m proud to hold a reception for Christians here in Downing Street and proud to be a Christian myself and to have my children at a church school.”  He went on: “I am proud of the fact we’re a Christian country and we shouldn’t be ashamed to say so.”

The Prime Minister set out three targets:

“The first is to expand the role of faith and faith organisations in our country.” This is the ‘Big Society’ again.

“Second thing is I hope we can do more to raise the profile of the persecution of Christians around the world. It is the case today that our religion is now the most persecuted religion around the world. I think Britain can play a leading role in this.”

The third thing, he said, mattered both to politicians and to church people: “What we both need more of is evangelism. More belief that we can get out there and actually change people’s lives and make a difference and improve both the spiritual, physical and moral state of our country, and we should be unashamed and clear about wanting to do that.”

Easter Message

In a short Easter message posted on YouTube a couple of days later, Mr Cameron spoke of how Christianity benefits the United Kingdom, saying that Easter is the most important date in the Christian calendar, and remembering seeing the places where Jesus Christ walked in the Holy Land.

He commended the “countless acts of kindness by those who believe in and follow Christ” as well as the broad social good done by ministries that serve the homeless and those in prison. He also reiterated his call to remember the persecuted Church around the world and affirmed that “religious freedom is an absolute, fundamental human right,” one which Britain is committed to “protecting and promoting.”

Healing power of the Church

In his article in Church Times, published on 16th April, Mr Cameron announced an £8 million grant to the church-based Near Neighbours programme and spoke of knowing the power of the Christian faith in his own life.  “I have felt at first hand the healing power of the Church’s pastoral care,” he said, referring to the death of his son.

Speaking about the importance of Christianity, he said: “Some people feel that in this ever more secular age we shouldn’t talk about these things. I completely disagree. I believe we should be more confident about our status as a Christian country, more ambitious about expanding the role of faith-based organisations, and, frankly, more evangelical about a faith that compels us to get out there and make a difference to people’s lives.”

He concluded: “We can change the world and make it a better place. That to me is what a lot of the Christian message is about – and it is a confidence in our Christianity that we can all reflect on this Easter.”

Pray that the Prime Minister’s words become a reality in Government.  Pray that his ‘doing God’ is not just a reaction to the electoral threat of UKIP.  Pray that Mr Cameron will see the damage ‘gay marriage’ has done and will do to our society and our Christian heritage.  Pray that Britain would indeed stand up for persecuted Christians around the world.  Pray that the law will change to protect Christians evangelising and sharing their faith at work. Pray for a deeper understanding of our Christian heritage in the Church.  Pray that God will confound his enemies.

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