D to The Telegraph .
‘We respect the Prime Minister’s right to his religious Sir Terry Pratchett OBE, fantasy "ction author, satirist beliefs and the fact that they a!ect his own life as a Dr Evan Harris, former Liberal Democrat Member of politician. However, we wish to object to his repeated Parliament and Vice President of the BHA mischaracterising of our country as a ‘Christian Dr Richard Bartle, country’ and the negative consequences for our Professor of Computer Game Design Sian Berry, Green campaigner, politician and author politics and society that this view engenders. Professor John A Lee, histopathologist and Professor of ‘Apart from in the narrow constitutional sense that Pathology we continue to have an established church, we are Professor Richard Norman, philosopher not a ‘Christian country’. Repeated surveys, polls, Zoe Margolis, author and studies show most of us as individuals are not Joan Smith, journalist and author Christian in our beliefs or our religious identities Michael Gore, CVO CBE and at a social level, Britain has been shaped for the Derek McAuley, General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches better by many pre-Christian, non-Christian, and Lorraine Barratt, former member of the Welsh Assembly post-Christian forces. We are a plural society with Dr Susan Blackmore, writer and broadcaster citizens with a range of perspectives and a largely non- Dr Harry Stopes-Roe, Vice President of the BHA religious society. To constantly claim otherwise fosters Sir Geo!rey Bindman QC (Hon), human rights lawyer alienation and division in our society. Adele Anderson, actor and singer ‘Although it is right to recognise the contribution Dr Helena Cronin, co-director, Centre for Philosophy of made by many Christians to social action, it is wrong Natural and Social Science Professor Alice Roberts, Professor of Public Engagement in to try to exceptionalise their contribution when it Science, anatomist, author and broadcaster is equalled by British people of di!erent beliefs. It Professor Chris French, Professor of Psychology, editor of #e needlessly fuels enervating sectarian debates that are Skeptic by and large absent from the lives of most British Sir Tom Blundell, scientist people, who – as polls show – do not want religions Maureen Du!y, poet, playwright and novelist or religious identities to be actively prioritised by their Baroness Whitaker, Labour peer elected government.’ Lord Avebury, Liberal Democrat peer Richard Herring, writer and comedian Professor Jim Al-Khalili, President of the BHA Martin Rowson, writer and cartoonist Phillip Pullman, author Tony Hawks, comedian, writer, musician and philanthropist Dan Snow, historian and broadcaster Peter Cave, philosopher and author Tim Minchin, musician and writer Diane Munday, campaigner Dr Simon Singh, science writer Professor Norman Maclean, Emeritus Professor of Genetics, Ken Follett, novelist biologist Dr Adam Rutherford, broadcaster and science writer Sir Harold Kroto FRS, Nobel Prize winner, Sir John Sulston FRS, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Professor of Chemistry Sir David Smith FRS FRSE, eminent botanist Sir Richard Dalton, former diplomat Professor Jonathan Glover, philosopher Sir David Blatherwick, KCMG, OBE, diplomat and writer Professor Anthony Grayling, philosopher Michael Rubenstein, writer and legal expert Nick Ross, broadcaster Polly Toynbee, columnist and broadcaster CJ De Mooi, actor and professional quizzer Lord O’Neill, Labour peer Virginia Ironside, writer Warren Lakin, entertainment producer and writer Professor Steven Rose, scientist and writer Sir Jonathan Miller CBE, theatre and opera director, Natalie Haynes, comedian and writer broadcaster and sculptor Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner Nicci Gerrard, novelist Professor Raymond Tallis, physician, philosopher and author David Nobbs, comedy writer and novelist Dr Iolo ap Gwynn FRMS, scientist and mountaineer Robin Ince, stand-up comedian, writer and actor Stephen Volk, screenwriter and author Professor Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist and writer Steve Jones, Professor of Genetics, science writer and broadcaster 3