The Westminster Faith Debates Seven Debates on the Place of Religion in Our Public Life
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The Westminster Faith Debates Seven Debates on the Place of Religion in our Public Life Summarised by Linda Woodhead Introduction In the fi rst half of 2012 a series of debates on religion in British public life were held in Westminster. Organised by the Rt Hon Charles Clarke and Professor Linda Woodhead,1 these debates presented new research fi ndings from the £12m national Religion and Society Programme funded by the AHRC and ESRC.2 Academics presented the fi ndings, which were responded to by public fi gures, and discussed in open debate with a large audience which included politicians, members of religious and secular organisations, and the general public. The aim of the series was to update understanding and raise the level of conversation about religion. The debates attracted widespread media coverage and public debate. “As a result of my time This booklet offers brief summaries of the debates and the issues they raised. The debates can also be accessed in audio and visual form by in offi ce as Education following the links below or googling ‘Faith Debates’. Secretary and Home Secretary I became “This series has been extremely successful acutely aware of the in raising the level of public debate about religion, on topics of great importance for importance of religion our national life.” in our society and the The Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP, Attorney General need to think more clearly about what 1 Charles Clarke was Home Secretary 2004-2006 and is currently Visiting Professor in Politics and Faith at Lancaster University. Linda Woodhead role it plays and how is Professor in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religious studies at Lancaster University, and Director of the Religion and we could address Society Programme. They were assisted by Dr Rebecca Catto and Peta Ainsworth at Lancaster University, and by Elizabeth Hunter the Director things in a better way.” of the think tank Theos. 2 The Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Charles Clarke Social Research Council. See www . religionandsociety . org . uk 3 Contents . Page 1 What’s the Place of Religion in Public Life? . .6 Tony Blair, Charles Moore, Rowan Williams 2 Religious Identity in ‘Superdiverse’ Societies . 12 Kim Knott, Therese O’Toole, Trevor Phillips, Dominic Grieve 3 What’s the Place of Faith in Schools? . 18 Bob Jackson, Jim Conroy, Richard Dawkins, John Pritchard 4 What have we Learned about Radicalisation? . 24 Mark Sedgwick, Marat Shterin, Matthew Francis, Mehdi Hasan, Ed Husain 5 What Role for Religious Organisations in an Era of Shrinking Welfare? . 30 Adam Dinham, Sarah Johnsen, David Blunkett, Peter Smith 6 What Limits to Religious Freedom? . 36 Maleiha Malik, Peter Jones, Lisa Appignanesi, Michael Nazir-Ali, Julia Neuberger 7 What are the main Trends in Religion and Values in Britain? . 42 Grace Davie, Linda Woodhead, Aaqil Ahmed, Cole Moreton 1 WHAT’S THE PLACE OF RELIGION IN PUBLIC LIFE? In conversation Tony Blair Former Prime Minister Charles Moore Journalist, The Daily Telegraph Rowan Williams Archbishop of Canterbury Conclusions from the debate Religion has always made Questions for debate an important contribution to Some of the speakers in public life, and continues to do previous debates – like Bishop so. Religious convictions can Michael Nazir-Ali – believe and should be brought into that religion has been pushed public debate and decision- out of public life, marginalised, making in a democracy. Few even persecuted. Others, like religious people in the UK want Richard Dawkins, think it’s not to impose their truth on others; been pushed out far enough most are happy to abide and still has undue infl uence by the democratic process. in government, schools and so The state and religious on. How well does the UK ‘do’ communities should work in religion in public life, and what partnership – to do so makes improvements are needed? both more responsible. 6 7 Points of Debate and Disagreement Practical Suggestions “I think what we need is a State and religious communities should work Being religious involves believing Most religious people do not combination of religion- in a close relationship, so that the former cannot ignore the latter and the latter cannot that you have unique access believe that they have a unique friendly democracy and just opt out of public life and responsibility. to the truth and that ‘error hold on truth, and think that democracy-friendly At a time when religious extremists often has no rights.’ ‘there are many ways to God.’ religion… religion should shout loudest and gain a disproportionate have its proper place but hearing, it is important to support democracy- in the end the processes friendly religion around the globe. Religion is primarily a matter Religion has as much, if not more, of democracy must be Rather than condemning religious people for of beliefs which are held to to do with values, with how one supreme in the ultimate irrational and false beliefs, those who attack decision making.” religion should pay more attention to the be true by their followers behaves, with relationships with values, ways of life, and relationships/ (and false by their critics). God and other people. Tony Blair communities which are what count for many religious people. Christianity still has access to Britain’s Christian heritage the public sphere (e.g. schools, is under threat as never and in handling tragedy and before, from human rights celebration), and human rights legislation above all. have religious roots. Public religion isn’t so much Organised religion in the UK is too about column inches or a wary of the media and does not national voice, but action communicate well in public life. at the local level. 8 9 “I think the position of religion in public life is not just a matter of column inches or whatever, I think it’s very much about how “I see the extent to which it works on the ground in people of faith feel victimised localities.” or marginalised, I’m not sure Rowan Williams they always see it clearly… a few extremely hard cases “The more organised the have created a slightly religion is the less keen highly-coloured view of it seems to be on clear where we are.” communication.” Rowan Williams Charles Moore How the Media Reported the Debate “For what it lacked in controversy, a “Moore deplored the way the press head-to-head between Tony Blair and had condemned the very notion that Rowan Williams last night made up for Blair might have prayed with George in confession.” Bush. ‘Did you pray with him, by the Ruth Gledhill way?’ he demanded. Blair was The Times unruffl ed. ‘It wouldn’t have been 25 July 2012 wrong,’ he said, ‘but it didn’t happen. And I’m sure that, as a journalist, you “On the question of women bishops, understand the distinction.’ ‘Touché!’ Dr Williams said that he had recently Moore cried.” learned ‘just how diffi cult it is for London Evening Standard women to hear an all-male body 25 July 2012 pronouncing on their future.’” Madeleine Davies Church Times 26 July 2012 Watch the debates and download the podcasts www.religionandsociety.org.uk/faith_debates/public_life 10 11 2 RELIGIOUS IDENTITY IN ‘SUPERDIVERSE’ SOCIETIES Academics Conclusions from the debate Kim Knott Lancaster University Since the 1970s the UK has Therese O’Toole Bristol University been the most successful country in Europe at Public Figures integrating an increasingly wide range of religious Trevor Phillips Chair, Equality and Human Rights Commission identities and allowing them Dominic Grieve Attorney General agency in society. This achievement should be more widely recognised. But the success means that religious identities are now so diverse that it is no longer as helpful to think of a small number of ‘world faiths’ which make people ‘Hindu’, ‘Muslim’, ‘Christian’ etc and which must relate to one another in a ‘multi-culture’. Many people are now religious ‘in their own way’, there are many varieties of Hindu, Muslim, and Christian, and religious Questions for debate identities are infl ected by How do we live well together ethnicity, gender and so on. in an increasingly diverse The concept of ‘superdiversity’ society, and how does religion may now be more helpful contribute for good or ill? than ‘multiculturalism’. 12 13 Research Findings Points of Debate and Disagreement Britain leads in Europe in successful “It’s about the vision we ‘Superdiversity’ can be cashed out multi-faith work and integration of have of ourselves as a religious groups; many such groups are in policy terms. E.g. less attention society and how we live now signifi cant agents in civil society; should be given to so-called New Labour achieved a great deal in well together…” ‘Superdiversity’ is too vague ‘faith communities’ and their supporting multi-faith and inter-faith to have policy relevance. work; the Coalition government is Linda Woodhead leaders, and more to individuals continuing this work with more – including the majority of confi dence but less cash. believers in the UK who do not Religious diversity is no longer a matter belong to an organised religion. of homogenous religious communities (Christian, Muslim, Hindu etc.) living side by side and together. Earlier talk of ‘multiculture’ can be unhelpful if it It is anachronistic in a multifaith It is appropriate to distribute perpetuates this idea. society to distribute funding funding for many faith bodies via for faith bodies via the Church The decline of organised forms of the Church of England because religion has been accompanied by a of England, as the Coalition it has a long history of dealing multiplication of religious groups, more government’s Near Neighbours individualised religious identities, and tolerantly with different beliefs.