There was something very odd in the PM’s speech last night - something which infuses RE in the primary school curriculum too: the idea that everyone in this country is religious in one way or another, when we know from polls that over half the population is not religious. 1/7
He said, “You can be a practising Hindu and a proud Briton as I am, or a devout Muslim and a patriotic citizen as so many others are; or a committed Jewish person and the heart of your local community, and all underpinned by the tolerance of our established Christian church.” 2/7
Is it really the established church that makes ours a tolerant society? Only 12% of the UK population are self declared followers of the Anglican faith. Less than 2% are regular churchgoers. The RSPB has more members. 3/7
Fundamentally I am very sceptical of any argument which suggests that the basis of a tolerant society comes from one faith, when there are many here, when more than half the population is not religious. 4/7
It’s a curiously ahistorical, nostalgic point of view as well. As though there is no complicated history. As though Britain has always been on a steady path of humanitarian advancement. As though Protestants never persecuted Catholics or other non-conformists. 5/7
But history also shows us this is a familiar trope - a version of the antemurale myth: in the 50’s, Christianity was claimed to be a bulwark against communism; then for some, against Islam, and now it seems, against any form of extremism. 6/7
So my response is this: yes, you can be committed to the idea of a tolerant, fair society - and the democratic principle of freedom of speech - while believing in any god, but also and importantly, Mr Sunak, while believing in none. Like the majority of the people you govern and represent. 7/7
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