A Push for Religious Literacy Among UK Politicians: The Gift of a Book
In a bid to enhance understanding of Christianity’s impact on British history and society, The Christian Institute is gifting a significant book to UK parliamentarians this Easter. Amidst declining influence of religion in politics, the effort seeks to reignite interest in the nation’s Christian roots.
Historically, political figures like Tony Blair’s spokesman Alastair Campbell have distanced themselves from religious discourse with statements such as, “We don’t do God.” This sentiment was echoed when Tim Farron resigned as Liberal Democrat leader in 2017, citing challenges in aligning his Christian beliefs with political leadership.
In today’s political landscape, Britain’s leadership includes its first openly atheist prime minister and an agnostic leader of the opposition as of 2026. Even political parties that acknowledge Christian heritage are led by individuals for whom faith is a personal rather than political matter.
Notably, Rupert Lowe of Restore Britain has not declared any religious affiliations, while Nigel Farage of Reform UK identifies as an Anglican, though he does not frequently attend church services.
The Christian Institute’s initiative involves sending a copy of Dr. Sharon James’s book, How Christianity Transformed the World, to Members of Parliament and members of devolved assemblies. This book highlights stories of Christians who have positively impacted society, inspired by their faith, and is noted for its “evangelical perspective,” akin to the arguments in Tom Holland’s Dominion.
Dr. James commented, “Without the impact of Christians following the teachings of Christ in the public square, the world would be less just, less free, less educated, more cruel, and more poor. Above all, it would be without hope – the ultimate hope of life in Christ.”
She added, “There is no doubt that there is a renewed interest in the Christian faith in the UK, including among some of our politicians. There is a huge religious literacy gap and our hope is that this book will help politicians to better understand what the Christian faith really teaches.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
