Policy Areas - Religion and Society

Faith bodies should end discriminatory practices

Press Office — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:35:59 +0100

Responding to the decision by an employment tribunal that a Christian charity constructively dismissed a former employee, himself a Christian, when he refused to discriminate against non-Christians

Christian charity found to have discriminated on grounds of religion

staff writers — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:28:35 +0100

An Employment Tribunal in Abergele has today unanimously found in favour of a former employee of a Christian charity who was claiming constructive dismissal and discrimination on grounds of religion or belief.

Church of Scotland to invest in new forms of ministry and mission

staff writers — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:55:19 +0100

The Church of Scotland is planning substantial financial investment in new forms of church life. At its upcoming General Assembly, the Kirk's Ministries Council will outline plans to devote £1.5 million over five years to 'emerging ministries'.

Children should not be made to worship

Press Office — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:42:19 +0100

The Christian think-tank Ekklesia has concurred with the findings of a new report from Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights which says that any child of ‘sufficient maturity, intelligen

Call for children to be able to withdraw from collective school worship

staff writers — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:24:27 +0100

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has called on the government to support the new report from Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights which calls for children to be given the right to withdraw from worship in schools.

Cutting state support for the churches

Simon Barrow — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:44:36 +0100

The Catholic Church was once central to Spanish life. But Spain is changing — just like its European neighbours, says the US-based international magazine, Newsweek.

Methodists told to expect mixed prospects for the future

staff writers — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:53:08 +0100

Methodists in Britain have been told by their president that the future holds a mixed prospects for both renewal and demise for. The Rev Dr Martyn Atkins was speaking at a large Pentecost rally in the heart of the capital.

Putin successor Medvedev gets Patriarchal blessing

Ecumenical News International — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:42:24 +0100

President Vladimir Putin's successor, Dmitry Medvedev, has been inaugurated in the Kremlin with pomp, circumstance, and prayers from Patriarch Alexei II of the Russian Orthodox Church - which has paid tribute to the new national leader.

Violence, ethnicity, religion and ancient symbols

Savi Hensman — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:23:50 +0100

A closer look at the Sri Lankan experience may throw some light on other situations where struggles supposedly based on ethnicity or religion turn out to be more complex – and where human rights are of critical importance, says Savi Hensman.

McLaren talks to Associated Press

Simon Barrow — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:21:03 +0100

Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises and a Revolution of Hope, argues that Christians must work for systemic change that deals with the causes of human suffering.

Catholics set up their own social networking website

staff writers — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:56:53 +0100

Following the worldwide success of online social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo, the Roman Catholic Church is getting in on the act with a website which hopes to attract more than just the usual faithful.

Religious polemics migrate to cyberspace

Adam Darlage — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:44:52 +0100

New technology has always played a part in religious polemics and in the sense of identity generated through the heated exchange of opinion, says Adam Darlage. Consider Luther and the Catholics, and also what we see happening in cyberspace today.

The struggle between good and bad religion

Giles Fraser — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:24:41 +0100

The struggle between good religion and bad religion is at a crucial juncture on te domestic and global stage, says Giles Fraser. He believes the Quilliam Foundation, a new Muslim think tank, can make a positive contribution.

Churches must face facts - with hope

Press Office — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:27:22 +0100

"Arguing about the latest statistics misses the point," says Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society think-tank Ekklesia.

Christian Research data defended, but church decline continues

staff writers — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:20:54 +0100

The Christian Research organisation, whose latest data survey on the decline of UK church attendance has annoyed the Church of England, has defended its work against accusations of being misleading.