Liberal Democrat Christian Forum - Archbishop and Cardinal launch 'fight back for faith'

Archbishop and Cardinal launch 'fight back for faith'

Written by Jo Holland
Thursday, 14 December 2006
People who campaign for the removal of religion from public life are themselves guilty of an "intolerant faith position", leaders of the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches claimed in November. Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Cardinal Cormac Murphy- O'Connor, leader of Catholics in England and Wales, argued that religiously-inspired activity in public life can be "radically inclusive." Their remarks were made in a joint foreword to the report “Doing God: A Future for Faith in the Public Square” published by the newlyformed Theos religious think tank. The report argued against confining faith to the private sphere, and said that religion will play an increasingly significant role due to the increasing involvement of faith groups in the voluntary sector, research about the role it plays in happiness, and the politics of identity. "Many secularist commentators argue that the growing role of faith in society represents a dangerous development," the Archbishops said in the foreword. "However, they fail to recognise that public atheism is itself an intolerant faith position. "If we pay attention to what is actually happening in the United Kingdom and beyond, we will see that religiously-inspired public engagement need not be sectarian, and can in fact be radically inclusive." The Archbishop's remarks came after controversy in recent weeks over faith schools and the popularity of militant atheist Richard Dawkins, the Oxford University professor whose book “The God Delusion” has been a best-seller. Director of Theos, Paul Woolley, said: "It is clear that society is embarking on a process of rapid de-secularisation. It is no longer considered bold, brave and brilliant to argue that religion is an infantile delusion. "Interest in faith is increasing across Western culture. Religion is firmly on the agenda of both government and the media, and Theos aims to speak into this new context." In the 1980s and 1990s think tanks challenged the status quo and helped to change the climate of opinion in society. Theos undertakes research and provides commentary on social and political arrangements. It aims to provide alternative perspectives to the orthodoxies of secular culture and to impact public opinion about the role faith and belief in society. The word "Theos" and the descriptor, "the public theology think tank", reflect its overall aim of putting God "back" into the public domain. For more information, go to www.theosthinktank.co.uk

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