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World News

Christians encouraged to take online survey to assess level of religious exclusion

by Donna Birrell

Christian advocacy group Voice for Justice UK (VfJUK) says it received more than 600 responses within two days of launching an online questionnaire this week to assess freedom of expression and practice of Christian Beliefs in the UK.

It comes amid concern over growing numbers of reports of intolerance and discrimination faced by Christians in recent years, and is a preliminary to the Commission of Inquiry into Discrimination Against Christians (CIDAC), being launched by VfJUK later in September. 

The survey invites people to answer questions about their experiences in workplaces, educational institutions, social media platforms and interactions in everyday life. It hopes Christians from diverse backgrounds and denominations will take part in order to reflect the full spectrum of experiences faced by Christians practising their faith.

The organisation says responses so far show Christians are experiencing disrespect and ridicule, self-censorship and self-exclusion. Some people say they have also been denied jobs on account of their beliefs and subjected to subtle and not so subtle processes of exclusion.

Rev Lynda Rose, Founder of Voice for Justice UK, highlighted the purpose of the survey:

“We aim to find out if Christians really are suffering discrimination and bigotry, or if it’s all a fuss about nothing, and their complaints just those of a once elitist group losing influence and its hold on power. Ahead of that, we want to find out what grass-root Christians and other faith groups think – is freedom of speech and belief a reality in the UK? Or are Christians the sacrificial lambs on the alter of woke reconfiguration?”

The UK has been revealed as the number one country in Europe for having the most cases of legal prosecutions for alleged ‘hate speech.’ VfJUK says in addition, Christians have been found to face discrimination and intolerance in many areas including parents being denied the liberty to educate their children according to their philosophical and religious views, mainstream media sources marginalising Christians, employment sanctions for expressing Christian beliefs even privately. The group also cites limitations on freedom of conscience affecting medical staff and teachers holding pro-life views, Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) and Christian businesses being forced to close bank accounts because of intervention by pressure groups.

Full findings will be released with the launch of The Commission of Enquiry into Discrimination Against Christians (CIDAC) in September.

The questionnaire can be accessed here :  Freedom in Faith – Voice for Justice (vfjuk.org)

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