In defence of faith

For what should we give thanks this Christmas? The faith that sustains millions through life’s challenges and inspires countless acts of compassion every day? The hope that our world may be redeemed by love? The charity that makes us think of the voiceless and the vulnerable who need our love and protection? Faith, hope and charity are virtues at the heart of Christian belief. They are not exclusive to Christianity, of course, but the place of religion in our national life has underpinned the moral reasoning which has upheld our civilisation.

The idea that atheists are privyto some higher level of neutrality doesn’t stand up to scrutiny

The principle of the equal worth of every individual is at the heart of Christian belief. As St Paul writes, for Christians, ‘there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus’. This doctrine of radical equality, revolutionary in its time, has inspired the evolution of democratic institutions worldwide, sustains the idea of the rule of law, enjoins us to care for the sick, frail and elderly, makes the protection of the young a solemn duty and is the enemy of racism, slavery, oppression and cruelty.

It might be thought that this is an inheritance for which we should all be thankful. But the idea that individuals in public life should be inspired by faith when they reason morally is under renewed attack. The debate on the assisted dying bill has seen secular liberals demonstrate an intensified intolerance for what they see as the unjustified intrusion of religion into the public square.

The assault is not directed at Christians alone. The first to come under attack was the Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood, a Muslim. Her opposition to legislation facilitating suicide led to her Labour predecessor, Lord Falconer, saying: ‘I respect [her] religious belief but I do not think it should be imposed on everybody else.’