A British Airways worker has lost her case for religious discrimination over wearing a gold jewellery cross to work. It is the latest in a spate of recent cases where Christians have claimed to be discriminated against, and courts have subsequently ruled that they have not.

Trying to make workplaces religion free is no solution to human fears about 'the other', says Simon Barrow, reflecting on recent cases of controversy involving religious dress and symbols in schools and companies.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have welcomed the decision by BA (British Airways) to review and modify its uniform policy to allow the wearing of crosses and religious symbols. But questions have been raised by others about the tactics used by campaigning church groups towards the company, which have been described by some as "bullying".

The New Year has started more-or-less where 2006 left off, with a new row about religious symbolism and artefacts in relation to the policy of a major airline.