A new BBC backed poll suggests a majority of people in Britain believe religion should be respected and valued in public life - but other research also says they oppose domineering religion.

The first of four major conferences looking into issues regarding equality, human rights and ‘religion or belief’ will take place in London on Monday 10 November, involving a range of senior figures in the field.

Author and evangelical thinker Brian McLaren wants to shift the argument within Christianity away from "culture wars" and towards a rediscovery of the Gosple message free of the overbearing impact of Christendom culture.

But new research from the religion and society think-tank Ekklesia suggests that those who want to keep the church defined by very narrow parameters are straying from well established Christian tradition.