http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/mainnav/the-current-debate.aspx Theos Articles RSS Feed. 5 http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_the_fixed_retirement_age_be_axed.aspx?ArticleID=4199&PageID=47 People reaching the age of 65 will no longer be forced to retire from October 2011, under plans announced on Thursday (29 July) by the government. Currently, an employer can force an employee to retire at the age of 65 without paying any financial compensation. What are we to make of the government's proposal? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_Europe_survive_without_Christianity.aspx?ArticleID=4188&PageID=47 Pope Benedict recently announced the creation of The Pontifical Council for New Evangelization. Its remit is to operate in those countries “where Churches are present of ancient foundation” but which “are going through a progressive secularization of society and a sort of ‘eclipse of the sense of God.’” Its task is to find “the appropriate means to propose again the perennial truth of the Gospel of Christ.” Is this 'mission to Europe' necessary? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_Britain_ban_the_Burka.aspx?ArticleID=4175&PageID=47 Feminists hate burkas. Governments who believe in freedom must, they say, prosecute women who wear the burka and, much more severely, the men who force them to. The French Government is in process of enacting a law to do just that, but should Britain follow suit? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_more_news_good_news.aspx?ArticleID=4164&PageID=47 During the summer of 2005 the BBC broadcast Broken News, a satire on 24-hour news channels. In one episode, the newsreader talks to a correspondent outside a hospital in Athens during an outbreak of 'Tomato Flu' (a disease originating 'from a turkey farm in Turkey'). So relentless is the push of news, that it has long since stopped being a matter of reportage and description. Increasingly, news media has a powerful role in shaping events. What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Does_the_'Big_Society'_include_Bishops_in_the_Lords.aspx?ArticleID=4153&PageID=47 Is time running out for the Lords Spiritual? The evidence of recent weeks has been confusing. In arguments about political reform, it is perfectly possible to take a position on either side of the church-state debate with theological integrity, but the idea of the Big Society, and the Bishops' initiation of the Lords' debate on the subject, could be understood to support their continued presence in the second chamber. What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Are_we_all_progressives_now.aspx?ArticleID=4144&PageID=47 One the more interesting things about George Osborne’s emergency budget this week was his use of the word “progressive”. Whether or not the budget itself was progressive is debatable, but is it now the case that all politics must claim progressive colours, to be morally legitimate? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Will_the_Pope’s_visit_to_the_UK_have_any_relevance_for_non-Christians.aspx?ArticleID=4129&PageID=47 The Catholic Church in England and Wales has recently published a thirty-one paged booklet aimed at the “many gaps in public knowledge”. It comes in preparation for the Pope Benedict XVI’s four day visit to the UK in September. Apart from increasing traffic in London, Birmingham and Glasgow and taking £15 million from the taxpayer’s pocket, what will be the significance of the Pope’s visit? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/How_should_religious_groups_engage_in_political_debate.aspx?ArticleID=4118&PageID=47 The recent British election campaign was marked by a noticeable step change in religious, and especially Christian, political engagement. Statements and initiatives cascaded forth from many quarters: from Anglican dioceses and other denominational bodies, including the Roman Catholic Church; from ecumenical or interdenominational groupings; from faith-based organisations and think-tanks; and from ad hoc networks springing into action for the occasion, like that producing the Westminster Declaration. How can these groups best engage in political debate? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_faith_schools_be_just_for_the_faithful.aspx?ArticleID=4100&PageID=47 Should faith schools be made to accept the children of families who do not support the school’s religious ethos? Surely this would just make them like other state schools. Or do they need to become more inclusive to stop discrimination on religious grounds taking place in schools? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Do_we_really_face_US_style_culture-wars_in_the_UK.aspx?ArticleID=4081&PageID=47 Two articles recently appeared in the British press arguing that there was an alignment between the Conservative Party and ‘fundamentalist’ or ‘evangelical’ Christians with their socially conservative ‘moral’ agenda. Are we seeing the beginning of a culture war? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 28 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Do_we_need_electoral_reform_(Part_2).aspx?ArticleID=4077&PageID=47 In last week’s Current Debate, Jonathan Chaplin (whose writing I like, respect and usually agree with) argued that the defining purpose of elections is to represent the people’s views. Chaplin is half right, but fundamentally wrong. In a sense, politicians are elected to a priestly role, representing their constituents to parliament and parliament to their constituents. What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 21 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Do_we_need_electoral_reform.aspx?ArticleID=4065&PageID=47 The new government’s commitment to a referendum on the Alternative Vote system means that the question of electoral reform may be about to receive the kind of sustained national attention it has not enjoyed since the early 1980s. But before we sink without trace into the technical details of AV or other systems, it’s worth standing back and asking a prior question about the very point of elections. We may think we all agree on that but on closer inspection we don’t. What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 14 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Does_inequality_matter.aspx?ArticleID=4048&PageID=47 The UK ranks as 4th most unequal when the annual income of the richest tenth of their population is compared to that of the poorest tenth. London is now the most unequal city in the developed world, with the richest tenth of the population amassing an average wealth of £933,563 compared to £3,420 among the poorest 10% – a multiple of 273. We don't do anything about inequality because we believe that it is a social necessity. What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Does_political_substance_matter.aspx?ArticleID=4037&PageID=47 After a week of ‘Clegg-mania’, The Guardian revealed that Nick Clegg thought he had done badly in the first televised election debate. Only as the instant poll results began to come in did he discover that the substance of his engagement was of far less significance to the audience than the style of it. In a highly visual, celebrity-driven world, politicians have to play the perception game if they want any chance of being heard. But shouldn’t politics be more about policy than personality? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_governments_socially_engineer.aspx?ArticleID=4022&PageID=47 One of the early skirmishes of the general election campaign has centred on the Conservative proposals to introduce tax breaks for married couples and gay couples in civil partnerships. It's possible to criticise the Conservative tax plans for all sorts of reasons but not on the basis that they amount to 'social engineering'. The question facing voters on 6 May is not whether governments should or should not socially engineer but whether the specific social engineering being advocated by the different parties will help create a good and just society. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/What_do_Christians_want.aspx?ArticleID=4012&PageID=47 In anticipation of the coming General Election, and a month after the release of the Catholic Bishops Conference’s Choosing the Common Good, a second significant Christian intervention into the campaign was launched, namely the ‘Westminster 2010 Declaration of Christian Conscience’. What is it arguing for? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Shall_the_religious_inherit_the_earth.aspx?ArticleID=3990&PageID=47 Of all the blows dealt the secularisation thesis – the idea that nations get more secular as they get more modern – over recent decades, the demographic one is the most brutal. Wherever you go in the world, the religious outbreed the non-religious. Worse, the seriously religious outbreed the mildly religious. The earth is set to be inherited by fundamentalists. So runs the argument of Eric Kaufmann, whose book, Shall the religious inherit the earth? is published this week. Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_pharmacists_be_allowed_to_choose_who_they_serve.aspx?ArticleID=3974&PageID=47 The General Pharmaceutical Council, shortly to take over the regulation of pharmacists, has issued a revised code of conduct that permits pharmacists to refuse the sale of the contraceptive and morning-after pills to customers. What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_human_rights_be_neutral.aspx?ArticleID=3944&PageID=47 The central argument of the latest Theos report is simple enough: human beings have a powerful prima facie natural right to the 'free exercise' of their religion. This is not simply to be equated with freedom of speech. In European society, there is a tendency to view religious belief as optional and private. In reality, it can't be consigned to the private sphere. It takes public communal form. Religious people don't – as a rule – see their religious belief as an optional add-on to the rest of their lives but, rather, as part of their fundamental identity. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/How_should_Catholics_vote.aspx?ArticleID=3904&PageID=47 There are around 4.2 million Roman Catholics in England and Wales, just over 800,000 in Scotland and nearly 680,000 in Northern Ireland. It would be a very significant thing if the Catholic Church were to swing this considerable weight behind the Conservative Party in the coming General Election. That is exactly how some commentators have spun the publication of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference’s pre-election document, "Choosing the Common Good". What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_Labour_the_natural_home_for_British_Muslims.aspx?ArticleID=3850&PageID=47 Received wisdom over recent years has seen the Iraq war as having irreparably damaged relations between the Labour government and British Muslims. Yet according to a new Theos/ComRes poll, if there were a General Election tomorrow, 35% of voting Muslims would vote Labour. What do you think? Join the debate! Sun, 21 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_the_BBC_marginalising_religion.aspx?ArticleID=3814&PageID=47 On Wednesday the Church of England Synod voted to express 'deep concern' about a drop in religious programmes on British television. Is the BBC living up to its 'public service' remit? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Will_a_change_to_the_electoral_system_restore_trust.aspx?ArticleID=3787&PageID=47 According to Gordon Brown, “it’s clear that people want to change the way that politics is done in this country... the public have been rightly outraged by the expenses crisis, so trust needs to be restored”. But does the proposed solution fit the problem? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/What_are_your_social_attitudes.aspx?ArticleID=3758&PageID=47 There are two sides to every story. The recent publication of the 26th British Social Attitudes survey is classic example. Britain, it reveals, is a more tolerant society than ever before. Or does it show Britain as a more selfish society than ever before? What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/How_much_is_a_banker_worth.aspx?ArticleID=3736&PageID=47 The New Economics Foundation (NEF) recently published a report entitled A Bit Rich. Prompted by the controversial bonuses paid out to top bankers, it examines the relationship between pay and value. But how do we assess the subjective value of work, not just its objective value? What do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/What_is_character_for.aspx?ArticleID=3715&PageID=47 The think tank Demos recently launched another eye-catching project. The Character Inquiry will commission new research into character development in early years and parenting, and will revisit one of the most fundamental questions of political thought: what makes a good citizen? Will they be able to answer it? What do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Who_will_win_in_2010.aspx?ArticleID=3689&PageID=47 The turkey has been picked clean, the New Year hangover cured and everyone is back at work. And the phoney war has begun. David Cameron recently observed that “the next general election is no more than 153 days away.” It promises to be a long 153 days. What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Why_have_politicians_avoided_religious_Christmas_cards.aspx?ArticleID=3664&PageID=47 The Christmas cards of the nation’s politicians have been the subject of endless discussion and analysis. All three main party leaders have avoided religious references, though their rhetoric through the year has shown that they are by no means anti-faith. So why the Christ-less Christmas cards? What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Copenhagen_and_climate_action_do_we_need_to_turn_to_the_religions.aspx?ArticleID=3631&PageID=47 The challenge posed by man-made climate change is often said to be the most complex problem ever to confront humankind. The climate challenge starts with science but action to deal with it depends on politics, and progress so far with climate policy has been completely inadequate. If political leadership is necessary but far from sufficient, what other sources of pressure, exemplary action and social and technical innovation are available? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Have_we_misunderstood_Creationism.aspx?ArticleID=3599&PageID=47 24 November is the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s seminal work, On the Origin of Species. But as we draw to the close of 2009, one has to wonder if the extended celebrations of the great naturalist’s birth and work have had much of an impact on public consciousness. What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/What_should_we_make_of_the_Atheist_(non-bus)_campaign.aspx?ArticleID=3582&PageID=47 The Atheist 'Bus Campaign' is now back on our streets, although this time it's not actually taking place on buses, or particularly atheistic. The poster is superficially appealing, but largely on an emotional level. On a more rational level, it is based on some seriously flawed ideas. What do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_MPs_be_better_paid.aspx?ArticleID=3543&PageID=47 Sir Christopher Kelly, the Chairman of the Committee for Standards in Public life, has now reported. The Committee recommends that mortgage claims should be stopped and employing relatives should be phased out within five years. If expenses go without an increase in salary, problems are likely to emerge. Should MPs be better paid? What do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_neurotheology_explain_faith.aspx?ArticleID=3529&PageID=47 Faith is a concept with which we are all familiar. Neurotheology, the study of the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie human religious behaviour, belief and experience, is rather less well-known. Yet, great hopes are held out for it, with people sometimes writing as if it will explain (or explain away) faith. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_Christians_do_anything_to_tackle_the_BNP.aspx?ArticleID=3502&PageID=47 Despite an ongoing crusade by many Church groups against the far right, the BNP has sought to engage religious symbols and language in an effort to win support from amongst the Christian community. The tools used to counter these efforts, such as protest and polemic, don’t seem to be particularly effective. Is there a more effective response for churches and other faith groups to make? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_it_compassionate_to_help_someone_die.aspx?ArticleID=3474&PageID=47 The recent review of the guidelines for public prosecutors in cases of assisted dying has put a number of cats among the pigeons. One of these concerns the nature and role of compassion in the working of political society. What role should compassion have in such cases, and how should it relate to mercy? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Why_should_children_study_religion.aspx?ArticleID=3453&PageID=47 According to figures published at the end of August 2009, there was a 1.8% on the 2008 statistics in the number of students taking full course Religious Education at GCSE. It was the eleventh annual rise in entrants. The fact that more and more children are studying religion itself points to a growing interest in – and awareness of – religion in the world today. But what are the benefits of studying the subject? What do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Does_The_Sun_matter_.aspx?ArticleID=3438&PageID=47 Alastair Campbell has claimed that The Sun's decision to back the Tories in the next General Election is "far from devastating" to Labour. Is he right? Does The Sun actually matter? How many of its readers will vote differently because of its new editorial line? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Who_could_we_trust_to_reform_our_public_institutions.aspx?ArticleID=3427&PageID=47 Conference season begins in earnest this week, with the Liberal Democrats gathering in Bournemouth. It will proceed with much handwringing about the diminished levels of public trust and engagement. But who can we trust to lead the way in restoring the threadbare public institutions, and on what principles could they proceed? What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_Nations_be_“Christian”_.aspx?ArticleID=3408&PageID=47 Is England a Christian nation? Was it ever one? Should it remain so? Plenty of influential Christian leaders in the UK seem to think so. What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_the_British_Government_re-introduce_anti-usury_laws.aspx?ArticleID=3394&PageID=47 In July 2009 religious leaders representing the three major Abrahamic faiths sought to present the chairman of RBS, Sir Phillip Hampton, with copies of the Torah, the Qur’an and the Bible. This marked the beginning of a campaign lobbying for the re-introduction of laws that would prohibit the practice of usury within the UK financial industry. Critics assert that this sort of moralising has no place in the harsh world of economics, but does their argument hold water? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_al-Megrahi_have_been_released.aspx?ArticleID=3375&PageID=47 The man convicted of killing 270 people on Pan Am Flight 103 has returned home to die. He appealed against his conviction, lost in 2002, but continued to appeal, insisting on his innocence. In 2008 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was released “on compassionate grounds.” Should he have been? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_we_live_without_myths.aspx?ArticleID=3360&PageID=47 We all have myths through which we explain the world. Whatever the mythology of the time is, though, those inside it don’t recognise it as such. They think they are just noticing facts. What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Does_Facebook_enrich_relationships.aspx?ArticleID=3330&PageID=47 In a recent interview with The Sunday Telegraph, the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, expressed concern about the damaging effects of social networking sites and other forms of electronic communication. Undoubtedly, this can be problematic and dehumanising. But is there a more positive side? What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_the_National_Lottery_helping_Britain's_poor.aspx?ArticleID=3287&PageID=47 Sir John Major, the principal architect of the National Lottery, recently said: "I saw a huge opportunity to upgrade the national infrastructure that supported our favourite leisure pursuits. And, above all, I wished to provide grass-root facilities throughout the UK to encourage active involvement in Sport, the Arts or charitable endeavour... we can see the National Lottery has become the most potent force for regeneration and change that this country has seen in well over a century." In the week that a new Theos report on the Lottery is published, Paul Bickley asks "Is the National Lottery helping Britain's poor?". What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/How_important_is_employment_for_integration.aspx?ArticleID=3265&PageID=47 The counter-extremism think tank, The Quilliam Foundation, this week published a new report entitled Immigrant, Muslim, Female: Triple Paralysis? It reports the results of a poll carried out among unemployed South Asian Muslim women earlier this year. The Quilliam Foundation's focus is counter-extremism among a group that has the highest rate of unemployment both in terms of religion and ethnicity in the UK. What is the link between lack of employment and extremism? Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/How_should_we_be_governed.aspx?ArticleID=3229&PageID=47 The current crises of both the state and the market have a common root – a failure of corporate governance – and they share a single sin: using public goods for private ends. This failure resulted from insufficient accountability both on the boards of the banks and in the Parliamentary system, a failure to ensure appropriate and just decisions were made. How should we ensure that this doesn't happen again? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Would_you_trust_the_court_of_public_opinion.aspx?ArticleID=3211&PageID=47 100 years ago, suicide was illegal. Homosexuality was illegal. Casting a vote as a woman was illegal. Today, these things are not merely allowed, but considered to be rights. A significant factor in the decision to legalise them was public pressure. Enough people considered them to be oppressive or absurd that the lawmakers came to agree, and the laws were changed. So should we refer other tricky moral issues to the court of public opinion? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Why_do_we_not_say_thank_you.aspx?ArticleID=3192&PageID=47 The Joseph Rowntree Foundation recently reported a perceived loss of values. In the same week Michael Sandel’s Reith Lecture postulated that we feel no obligation to be grateful when life is simply a market mechanism. What values are we lacking when we forget even the basic courtesy of saying ‘thank you’? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/How_should_faith_groups_work_together.aspx?ArticleID=3184&PageID=47 A major issue in debates about religion and public life is how to encourage different religions to relate constructively. Anxieties about religious intolerance, aggressive proselytism, and inter-religious conflict abound. In recent years anxieties about Islam have been a catalyst for these fears. So how, in a multi-faith society, should different religions relate to each other? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_tension_between_religion_and_state_inevitable.aspx?ArticleID=3158&PageID=47 Religion and state are frequently unhappy bedfellows. Each blames the other or points the finger at individual religious systems. Before policy-makers and religious believers each retreat into fearful bunkers and start shouting demands at each other, we need all to pause and think about a way forward. What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_technology_improve_democracy.aspx?ArticleID=3146&PageID=47 The debate about whether Britain is becoming a ‘surveillance society’ continues to rise up the media and political agenda, and there are many areas of concern. But the under-explored corollary of this is the positive impact technology can have – for our public services and indeed our sense of community. What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Fri, 29 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_tolerance_enough.aspx?ArticleID=3124&PageID=47 During the US presidential election campaign, Barack Obama played what seemed to be a clever game when it came to his platform on so-called life issues. His rhetoric was soft and conciliatory, his policy uncompromisingly pro-choice. He knows his mind on the issue, and will not change it, but he can’t avoid the problem of how utterly irreconcilable views can be held within a single society. What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Fri, 22 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Are_MPs_corrupt.aspx?ArticleID=3109&PageID=47 The British public are, apparently, “united in revulsion over the disclosures on MPs' expenses”. 86 per cent of people agree that “all the parties are as bad as each other” in abusing the system of expenses and allowances, and the British public’s trust in their politicians has been scraping along the floor for well over a decade. But have we got unrealistic expectations? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Thu, 14 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Could_faith_be_the_saviour_of_(Labour)_politics.aspx?ArticleID=3080&PageID=47 Politics is dead. People just don’t care any more. Voter turnout is at record lows, with more young people voting in X-Factor than in General Elections. Could faith be the answer to this apathy? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Thu, 07 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_conscience_be_silenced.aspx?ArticleID=3069&PageID=47 On 27 March 2009, David Booker was suspended from work for expressing his beliefs. There was no abuse of authority, no impact on the discharging of Mr Booker’s duties, and no intent of imposing his beliefs on anyone. Should matters of conscience be kept entirely private? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/(How)_should_we_celebrate_JG_Ballard.aspx?ArticleID=3058&PageID=47 A great British writer died on Sunday 19th April: JG Ballard, the author of a vast body of short stories, novels, essays, reviews and a superb memoir, 'Miracles of Life'. But should he be celebrated in a Theos Current Debate? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Do_we_need_a_ten_commandments_of_blogging.aspx?ArticleID=3050&PageID=47 New research indicates that today's fast-paced media culture is damaging moral decision making. The University of Southern California study raises important questions about the emotional cost of relying on online feeds or social networks such as Twitter. The existence of blogs didn't make Damian McBride act as he did, but they can appeal to the worst human instincts and encourage an atmosphere where it is easy to slip across the line of what is either reasonable or ethical. Do we need a ten commandments of blogging? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, or offensive postings will be deleted. Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Why_do_we_believe_in_ghosts.aspx?ArticleID=3037&PageID=47 In a recent Theos commissioned poll, 39% of respondents indicated a belief in ghosts, compared to 10% of participants in a 1950 Gallup poll. How do we account for this? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, will be removed. Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Does_it_all_come_down_to_rights.aspx?ArticleID=3014&PageID=47 Modern society's increasing tendency to arbitrate moral issues through the framework of rights makes even questioning the notion of rights seem blasphemous, as if it were the questioning of morality itself. But is this the best approach? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries, will be removed. Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Do_world_leaders_understand_their_citizens.aspx?ArticleID=2989&PageID=47 The Times recently reported that an open letter had been written by religious leaders urging the heads of the G20 countries to honour commitments made to the world’s poorest people. But do world leaders really understand and govern on behalf of all their citizens? What do you think? Join the debate! PLEASE NOTE: Postings are limited to 200 words per post. Entries exceeding this limit, or consecutive entries will be removed. Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Where_is_Islam_today.aspx?ArticleID=2966&PageID=47 Babar Ahmed, the 34-year-old terrorist suspect released from Guantanamo Bay, testifies to being beaten by the Metropolitan police, forced to kneel and asked ‘Where is your God now?’ The question is loaded, not only with echoes of first-century Judea, but with contemporary concerns: Where is Islam today? What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_the_Cardinal_get_a_peerage.aspx?ArticleID=2939&PageID=47 Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, could be offered a seat in the House of Lords upon his retirement. If nothing else, this is shrewd: the government knows that it needs to reconnect with the traditional Labour Catholic vote. In addition, the Cardinal could make a valuable contribution to our political life. What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/What_is_Darwin's_legacy.aspx?ArticleID=2908&PageID=47 Theos has published the findings of the biggest and most comprehensive research project ever carried out into UK public opinion on evolution and human origins. The findings of the research are predictable, surprising and confusing – all at the same time. What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_we_all_get_what_we_deserve.aspx?ArticleID=2898&PageID=47 After decades steeped in all-pervasive consumerism, have we become ingrained with an unrealistic and unhealthy vision of what we deserve from life? What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_the_left_rediscovering_faith.aspx?ArticleID=2882&PageID=47 It is time to build a politics based firmly on hope – the sort of hope that imagines a better world and works tirelessly to make it a reality. Churches and other faith-based organisations are ideal allies for this work. What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/'Progressive_Conservatism'_How_far_can_states_nudge_citizens.aspx?ArticleID=2865&PageID=47 The think-tank Demos recently held a fascinating event in Whitehall to herald the launch of its 'progressive conservatism' project. In conversation with the philosopher Phillip Blond (pictured), the Tory leader David Cameron spoke glowingly of the need for conservatism to align itself with progressive goals by strengthening non-state institutions and supporting localism to usher in a new age of civic responsibility. What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Does_Darwinism_need_rescuing.aspx?ArticleID=2851&PageID=47 According to initial research published by Theos today, around half of the UK population is sceptical about Darwinism. Why is this? More precisely, how is it that the scientific consensus is about as squarely behind evolution as it is behind heliocentrism but popular opinion is so much more sceptical? What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_the_future_African.aspx?ArticleID=2841&PageID=47 The lack of attention given to the Africa Union summit stands in marked contrast to that being generated by the World Economic Forum in Davos. In both economics and religion, it is time to end our outdated pre-occupation with European and European-derived civilisations. It's time, instead, to focus on Africa. What do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Are_we_expecting_too_much_of_Barack_Obama.aspx?ArticleID=2826&PageID=47 So, what’s your best guess? January 2010? Earlier perhaps? Perhaps summer this year, when the number of unemployed is still growing? When will we see the first headline which reads, “Where did the Obama dream go wrong?” What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Do_we_have_a_moral_duty_to_spend.aspx?ArticleID=2788&PageID=47 The economic downturn rolls on: the 200 year old firm Wedgwood has gone into administration, Woolworths has finally shut up shop with the loss of 27,000 jobs, and 1,000 staff are apparently to be shed by Marks and Spencer. The UK Government's recent fiscal stimulus package, including a 2.5% cut to VAT, is an attempt to encourage consumers to spend more where otherwise they might be cutting back. Is this the right course of action? What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/What's_Christmas_for.aspx?ArticleID=2763&PageID=47 Oliver Cromwell didn't like Christmas. In fact, he wanted to ban it. This included legislating against the ubiquitous mince pie, now on sale at a supermarket near you. Why would the carbuncled Lord Protector want to trample on innocent yuletide celebrations? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_the_birth_of_Christ_relevant.aspx?ArticleID=2735&PageID=47 In the spirit of Advent, Theos has published research revealing that 52% of Britons believe that the birth of Christ is significant to them personally and 72% of people think that it remains significant culturally. It's hardly a picture of a determinedly secular society, is it? The question is, what exactly does this snapshot reveal about the state of the nation's religious commitment? What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_the_Church_advertise.aspx?ArticleID=2692&PageID=47 This week radio advertisements, devised by the Churches' Advertising Network (CAN), will start playing all over the UK on commercial radio stations, delivering the Christmas story in an unusual way. What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Does_Darwin_matter.aspx?ArticleID=2691&PageID=47 New Theos research has shown that only 21% of Britons know that 2009 is the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth. Does this matter? What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Has_America_changed.aspx?ArticleID=2671&PageID=47 In his acceptance speech last Tuesday, President Elect Barack Obama said boldly, "It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America." But has America changed? What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Who_will_atheist_buses_benefit.aspx?ArticleID=2620&PageID=47 The 'atheist bus' ad campaign could play an important part in this country's Christian revival. For too long, the British public has been able to dodge the 'God choice' – is there or isn't there? – by scribbling C of E on their hospital admission form. But now atheists are challenging us to make that choice one way or another. What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_a_candidate's_religion_influence_how_we_vote.aspx?ArticleID=2610&PageID=47 Theos has published research revealing that Barack Obama would win the US Presidential election by a landslide of historic proportions if people in Britain made up the electorate. The research also indicates that one in five people would not vote for a Muslim or an atheist. Do a politician's religious views matter? What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_the_BBC_be_a_leader_of_public_morality.aspx?ArticleID=2591&PageID=47 Times have changed since the first BBC Director General banned the playing of jazz on the grounds of taste and morality. Lord Reith's universalism which, along with Received Pronunciation, worked on certain 'Establishment' assumptions has been replaced by a more diverse approach. Despite this, the BBC still promotes a conventional morality that offers society a fundamental cohesion. What do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Why_are_we_afraid_of__supporting_marriage.aspx?ArticleID=2453&PageID=47 It has been claimed that Conservative proposals to support married couples through fiscal incentives are misguided and unfair. More politicians should be bold enough to promote marriage and the family because it's the best way to build a strong society. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Am_I_my_brother’s_banker.aspx?ArticleID=2542&PageID=47 The economic turmoil continues. Inter-bank lending rates hit an all time high in both New York and London yesterday and the markets are dropping, then bouncing, then dropping again. If and when the dust from this global financial crisis settles, and politicians and regulators begin to reflect on how the money markets went so spectacularly wrong, to whom will they look for advice? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/When_is_an_athlete_a_para-athlete.aspx?ArticleID=2509&PageID=47 All too often when we are faced with making decisions relating to human abilities and ethics we look to material answers as ways of deriving definitions. We expect to find a physical characteristic that we can measure, or a capability that we can assess. In reality, they will always fall short of anything definitive because they ignore our key spiritual component, the critical element that makes humans what and who we are. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/How_shall_we_respond_to_Darfur.aspx?ArticleID=2452&PageID=47 The Government flew in over 20 military cargo planes loaded with ammunition. The entire NGO and UN community knew it was going to happen. And then it did. 30,000 people were displaced, over 100 killed, bombs were dropped, villages attacked, houses looted and burned, women raped. Once we know about the crimes they make us passionate and angry. Our passion drives us to action but if that action is not supported by an understanding of the complexity of the issue, we are in danger of advocating measures that will make the situation in Darfur and Sudan worse. So what can we do? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/What_difference_does_technology_and_science_make_in_the_abortion_debate.aspx?ArticleID=2399&PageID=47 The UK recently rejected the argument to reduce the upper limit of abortion for non-disabled children, despite reports that babies have a greater chance of surviving before 24 weeks. Dawn Primarolo, the health minister, essentially argued that there was no evidence that technology had made a difference to the abortion debate. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/What_did_Solzhenitsyn_ever_do_for_us.aspx?ArticleID=2377&PageID=47 A prophet has died. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Soviet dissident, writer and Nobel Prize winner, will be remembered as the man who revealed the horror of Stalin's brutal labour camps, where tens of millions perished, to the world. In acknowledging his courage, we should resist the temptation to ignore either his critique of the west or the importance of his religious faith in directing the analysis he gave. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Creation_or_evolution_Do_we_have_to_choose.aspx?ArticleID=2325&PageID=47 Concerns have been expressed about the teaching of creationism and Intelligent Design in UK 'faith schools'. Commenting about the early reception of Darwinism, the historian James Moore writes: 'With but few exceptions the leading Christian thinkers in Great Britain and America came to terms quite readily with Darwinism and evolution'. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Have_Christian_values_been_marginalised_or_are_they_under-appreciated.aspx?ArticleID=2273&PageID=47 There is a much quoted Census figure from 2001. It says that 72% of the population of England and Wales gave their religion as Christianity. Only one fifth said they had no religion or refused to answer the question. We appear to be living in 'a Christian society'. Odd, then, that only seven years later the media are debating 'the loss' of Christian values and whether their disappearance contributes to social decline. What do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Do_we_need_to_observe_a_Sabbath.aspx?ArticleID=2242&PageID=47 Buildings which are used heavily every day of the week suffer from stress and are unlikely to last. Those that have just one 24-hour period of "refreshment" each week have time to recover and last longer. If a building requires regular rest, how much more those who work in it? What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Are_we_sleep-walking_into_a_surveillance_society.aspx?ArticleID=2188&PageID=47 In 2006 Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, warned that Britain was "sleepwalking into a surveillance society". The government has now floated proposals to create massive databases to record every phone call and all e-mail communications, and the UK has 1% of the world's population but 20% of its CCTV cameras. Is this a step towards improved security, or symbolic of the demise of democracy? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_Turkey_join_the_European_Union.aspx?ArticleID=2116&PageID=47 In recent years, there has been a great deal of progress in Christian-Muslim relations. Of course there are significant tensions between the world's two largest faiths in some parts of the world, with the religious freedom of Christian minorities in many Muslim states under the microscope. Nevertheless, since 2006 a series of positive gestures and steps have been taken. However, not everyone is enamoured by the prospect of Turkish membership. The issue has split Europe. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 29 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/What_role_should_Christianity_play_in_today's_Britain.aspx?ArticleID=2108&PageID=47 It used to be so easy. Britain was a Christian country, based on Christian values, populated by Christian people, who had Christian values. The answer to the title question was simple: "The dominant one". Some still respond thus today, but few can deny that things have changed. Britain is no longer (as) Christian as it once was. Some contend that it is no longer Christian at all, that its very deep Christian roots are largely irrelevant today, and that the answer should be: "Preferably none. Faith is private and should remain private." What do you think? Join the debate! Sat, 17 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/How_should_we_tackle_radical_Islamism.aspx?ArticleID=2078&PageID=47 Britain's first counter-extremism think-tank, the Quilliam Foundation, was launched at the British Museum on 22 April. The event was followed by the release of a document, Pulling Together to Defeat Terror, which called for, among other things, the establishment of 'de-radicalisation' centres (to help Muslims escape Islamism) and formal links between Muslim, Christian and Jewish seminaries (to lead to "a better understanding of other religions among imams, and vice versa"). What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 08 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Are_hybrids_humans.aspx?ArticleID=2038&PageID=47 The UK Parliament will shortly debate the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. It has a number of controversial elements related to embryo research, screening, cloning and family structures. Underpinning the debate is the question of whether or not hybrids are humans. The simple answer is that we just don't know. Not being able to decide definitively should not stop us asking the question, though. Our answer, however tentative, has too many ethical and policy implications. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_climate_change_rhetoric_helpful.aspx?ArticleID=1983&PageID=47 In his autobiographical Confessions, St Augustine relates how hard it was for him as a young man to live up to his strenuous Christian ideals: "Give me chastity, O Lord, but not yet". UK Ministers seem to suffer from a similar problem, only in their case it is, "Give us the courage for urgent action on climate change – but not yet." There is pathos in this, and it could yet turn into something tragic. What do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Do_we_need_'institutional'_religion.aspx?ArticleID=1895&PageID=47 For all that 'spirituality' is in vogue today, 'institutional religion' is rather less fashionable. The recent furore over sharia law was just the latest story to lay bare our most popular stereotypes: institutional religion is either dangerous or ludicrous (or both). The truth, as ever, is not so simple. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/UK_Christian_or_secular.aspx?ArticleID=1931&PageID=47 "This is the most secular country in the world." So claimed the Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee in a public debate in 2005. Was she right or is this just some strange secular fantasy? New Theos research makes uncomfortable reading for those who would claim Britain is, in any meaningful sense, secular. According to the survey, 57% of people believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, with over half of these believing in a bodily resurrection and the rest that his "spirit" rose from the dead. What do you think? Join the debate! Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Are_we_naturally_religious.aspx?ArticleID=1744&PageID=47 Atheists have, of late, had great fun demolishing the argument from biological design. Best known through William Paley's 19th century treatise on Natural Theology, this argues that the adaptations to their environment that we see in animals and plants necessarily imply the existence of a divine designer. Charles Darwin, who had read and admired Paley as an undergraduate, subsequently explained these adaptations in terms of natural selection. The argument from biological design became untenable, as certain well-known biologists have recently reminded us. The paradox is that this undoing may yet turn out to be good news for religious believers. What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_Britain_make_accommodation_for_sharia_law.aspx?ArticleID=1780&PageID=47 The clamour following Rowan Williams' proposals regarding Islamic law at the Royal Courts of Justice last week was supremely unedifying. Williams did himself no favours, planting a few horror words - "sharia", "unavoidable" - in a forest of impenetrably dense academese. But that fails to excuse the hysterical, ill-informed and frankly Islamophobic response to his interview and speech. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_we_ban_marketing_to_children.aspx?ArticleID=1603&PageID=47 Students in Seminole County, Florida, brought home their first report cards of term last November. There were, undoubtedly, some surprises inside these cards for hopeful parents, but the biggest surprise was on the outside: Ronald McDonald and the Golden Arches. The school board of Seminole County had reached an agreement with local McDonald’s franchises to print these advertising icons on the envelopes containing the report cards of all children, from Kindergarten to the start of secondary school, in the district. Children with good grades, behaviour or attendance could take their report cards to their local McDonald's and receive a free Happy Meal in return. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Has_Christianity_been_a_force_for_good.aspx?ArticleID=1554&PageID=47 As recently as 50 years ago, the general consensus in Britain - as it had been for over a millennium - was that Christianity was self-evidently on the side of the angels. One might not actually believe in it, but it urged people, with its celestial incentive scheme, to be decent, honest and kind. Today that consensus is dead. Talk of Christian morality is as likely to bring to mind the Crusades and paedophile priests as it is decency, honesty and kindness. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Are_we_really_turning_away_from_a_belief_in_God.aspx?ArticleID=1458&PageID=47 The recent flurry of books on atheism, including Richard Dawkins The God Delusion and Christopher Hitchens' God is not Great, plus books by Daniel Dennett, Michael Onfray and Sam Harris, has fired speculation that atheism may be on the rise. Titles such as Nick Gisburne's The Atheists are Revolting! Taking Back the Planet: Saying No to Religion suggest a new militancy. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Does_it_matter_if_we_don't_know_the_Christmas_story_.aspx?ArticleID=1391&PageID=47 Tinsel, snowmen and the sound of piped carols: it's December. There is no escape from Christmas. As the shopping season moves into full swing and shelves are stacked with all of the latest "must have" toys, we face (again) the uncomfortable question: what is it all about? Do any of us actually know the Christmas story any more and, if not, does it matter? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_we_abolish_or_support_inheritance_tax.aspx?ArticleID=1330&PageID=47 When death comes, as it inevitably does, inheritance tax can make the grieving process even more painful. Death duties, as they are often known, have been around since 1796 but there have, over recent years, been growing calls to scrap them. Should we? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_you_have_science_without_ethics.aspx?ArticleID=1263&PageID=47 The House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology has, this year, been charged with re-examining the 24-week upper time limit for abortions. Written evidence was received over the summer and oral evidence in October 2007. However, none of those providing evidence were permitted to address the ethical issues involved. The terms of reference for the inquiry explicitly stated that "the Committee will not be looking at the ethical or moral issues associated with abortion time limits." What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/What_is_education_for.aspx?ArticleID=937&PageID=47 What is the purpose of our education system? What is the purpose of education per se? Is it to pass exams, get qualifications, get a job, make money? Or is there something more to which we should aspire? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Has_science_buried_God.aspx?ArticleID=1109&PageID=47 In spite of the pioneering work of Colin Russell, John Hedley Brooke and others there is still a widespread impression that science has squeezed God into a corner, killed and then buried him with its all-embracing explanations. Atheism, we are told, is the only intellectually respectable position and any attempt to re-introduce God is likely to impede the progress of science. What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_public_money_should_be_used_to_fund_NHS_chaplaincy.aspx?ArticleID=1068&PageID=47 Radio 4's 'Sunday' programme recently discussed new Theos research into hospital chaplaincy. The research found that there have been significant cuts to the amount of chaplaincy available in 1 in 4 trusts in England, cumulatively mounting to a loss of over 54,000 hours (p/a) since 2005. In one NHS Trust, chaplaincy provision had been cut by over half in the last two years. What do you think? Join the debate! Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_you_call_religion_a_virus.aspx?ArticleID=989&PageID=47 Is faith a virus? Richard Dawkins is well-known for - among other things - arguing that it is. Yet, the historical precedent for such an analogy is not a happy one. Author John Cornwell, who recently challenged Dawkins about this on Radio 4's Today programme, asks whether it can ever be right to call religion a virus. What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/What_role_should_religion_play_in_the_public_sphere.aspx?ArticleID=886&PageID=47 The debate about religion and politics in this country often seems to focus on whether religion should be a public or a private matter. One side of the debate will contend that the solution to problems of religious extremism lies in taking religion out of the public picture. A popular counter-argument is to insist that, although we do need the divine in the public debate, it would be best for all concerned if the divine didn't speak too loudly and, wherever possible, reflect the 'moderate' (read uncontroversial, un-extreme and possibly a bit feeble) interpretation. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_there_be_a_‘wall_of_separation’_between_Church_and_State.aspx?ArticleID=783&PageID=47 The civic catechisms and canticles of our day still celebrate Thomas Jefferson's experiment in religious liberty. To end a millennium of repressive religious establishments, we are taught, Jefferson sought liberty in the twin formulas of privatizing religion and secularizing politics. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_pupils_be_allowed_to_wear_religious_jewellery_in_school.aspx?ArticleID=683&PageID=47 Two months ago, Lydia Playfoot, a teenager from West Sussex, took her school to the High Court over her right to wear a chastity ring. Last month she lost. Deputy High Court Judge Michael Supperstone QC rejected Miss Playfoot's case that she had been discriminated against, finding that Governors at Millais School in Horsham were entitled to insist she removed the ring. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Do_good_patriots_make_good_citizens.aspx?ArticleID=684&PageID=47 Modern Britain is a country made up of many people groups. Built by a variety of Celtic, Anglo and Saxon national cultures, it is now host to a multitude more from all corners of the earth. Truly, we live in a diverse society. Granted that this is the social reality of our country today, an important question arises. When it comes to building a healthy, flourishing civic society, is it necessary to be a good patriot in order to be a good citizen? What do you think? Join the debate! Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/How_do_we_counter_terrorism.aspx?ArticleID=649&PageID=47 The terrorists responsible for the failed attacks in London and Glasgow may not have claimed any lives, but they did claim reputations. Theos' recent research into the attempts' effects on public perception shows that their actions were not without negative consequences. 71% of those questioned thought the events to have given Islam a bad name, while 54% felt the standing of religion in general to have suffered. How should we respond? Join the debate! Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_secularism_learn_to_love_pluralism.aspx?ArticleID=603&PageID=47 Luckily I managed to intercept the 144-page document as early as page 15. I was printing an article from the Guardian's website and hadn't bothered to scroll down first to check how long the responses ran. The article was by Jackie Ashley (pictured), whose columns I frequently find well-judged and illuminating ... In this Current Debate Dr Jonathan Chaplin looks at the previous discussion from another angle and explores the challenge it presents to secularism. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 28 Jun 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_religious_leaders_attempt_to_influence_elected_politicians.aspx?ArticleID=540&PageID=47 Religion, it would seem, has a place in British society, according to most who have pronounced on the issue, but that place does not include religious leaders instructing politicians how to vote, or making threats against politicians who vote in certain ways. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_social_housing_be_decided_on_need_or_length_of_residence.aspx?ArticleID=527&PageID=47 If there is one thing guaranteed to animate people more than a debate about religion, it is a debate about housing and immigration. Margaret Hodge's comments in the Observer on May 20th did just that. Nick Spencer argues that the choice at its starkest is between the unjust and the immoral. What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Does_community_come_only_at_the_cost_of_limiting_freedom.aspx?ArticleID=480&PageID=47 Does community come only at the cost of limiting freedom? The instinctive reply is so obviously "yes" that it hardly seems worth debating at all. If we live with other people (partner, parents, offspring, friends or strangers) we inevitably have to compromise and establish rules. Those rules restrict both you and me. What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 17 May 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_religious_people_have_a_privileged_position_in_society.aspx?ArticleID=441&PageID=47 Should religious people have a privileged position in society? What constitutes privilege anyway? Such questions inevitably raise the issue of rights. Who (if anyone) has a right to be heard? Is it only 'democracy' - exercised through the ballot, cash register or TV remote control - that affords true legitimacy? Or are there other, more compelling if more controversial, sources? What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 04 May 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Does_humanism_have_a_place_in_religious_education.aspx?ArticleID=398&PageID=47 For many years the British Humanist Association (BHA) has been knocking on SACREs' (Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education) doors seeking representation on the grounds that RE that is true to the nature of modern Britain should cover humanism as the main alternative to religion. So far they have been refused and do not have a clear legal right to representation. Their lack of success is probably down to minimal enthusiasm for their cause from the religions. Operating according to the 'market share', religious groups doubt the wisdom of making concessions to humanists. But is this model the best way to manage interfaith relationships, even given that they are competing for peoples loyalty to their understanding of the truth? What do you think? Join the debate! Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_fashion_a_force_for_good_or_ill.aspx?ArticleID=347&PageID=47 Why do we feel the need to cover up with images distilled from the pages of Vogue and Grazia? Why are so many people, men and women, enslaved to this pursuit? The perils of fashion are well charted. But perhaps there are possibilities too. Perhaps there are opportunities beyond the insecurity and enslavement. Perhaps fashion can liberate. What do you think? Join the debate! Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_schools_be_allowed_to_ban_religious_clothing_.aspx?ArticleID=320&PageID=47 The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) recently announced that schools can ban pupils from wearing full-face veils on the grounds of security, safety or effective learning. The guidance states that efforts should be made to accommodate religious clothing, but that teachers are to judge whether the ability to see a child's face is necessary for them to teach effectively and safely. What do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 21 Mar 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Can_you_cure_affluenza.aspx?ArticleID=295&PageID=47 Do you think your life would be better if you lived in a bigger house or drove a more expensive car? Would you like to see your name in the press? Do you see friends as a way of getting ahead in life? If the answer to these questions is 'yes', you have probably contracted the affluenza virus. You are likely to be suffering from some, perhaps still mild, form depression and anxiety. Do not be lulled into believing everything is OK and that this is the way the world just is. You should consult a clinical psychologist, Oliver James for example, as soon as possible. What do you think? Join the Debate! Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Should_there_be_bishops_in_the_House_of_Lords.aspx?ArticleID=243&PageID=47 On Wednesday Jack Straw, the Leader of the House of Commons, summarised his latest proposals for reform of the House of Lords. The Government has recommended a hybrid House (50% appointed, 50% elected) but will present the Commons with a range of options nonetheless. In passing, he said that the Bishops of the Church of England will continue to be represented. “Why?” shouted someone. Indeed. What do you think? Join the debate! Sat, 10 Feb 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_religion_the_cause_of_war.aspx?ArticleID=231&PageID=47 Secularist Western consumer society has generally sought to portray itself as peace-loving. Yet the view that secular Western populations are essentially peaceful, and peaceful because secular, correlates not at all with the view from the non-West. There, Western secularism is perceived as both threatening and aggressive. Indeed, by its incessant and relentless expansionism, it is the cultural, moral and philosophical nihilism of Western consumerism that is generating warfare all around the globe. What do you think? Join the debate! Tue, 30 Jan 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Is_the_nuclear_deterrent_immoral.aspx?ArticleID=208&PageID=47 On 29 December 2006, the Archbishop of Canterbury accepted an invitation to guest edit an edition of Radio 4's Today programme. Dr Williams asked the programme's producers to look into a number of issues, including the morality of possessing Trident missiles. As the government prepares us for nuclear energy we reopen the nuclear debate, what do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Spirit_of_Christmas.aspx?ArticleID=194&PageID=47 So why is it that the Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph, amongst other papers, have seized on the fact that cathedrals will be full this Christmas? In a virtual world, getting up out of your sofa and going to church is an act of resistance, argues Lucy Winkett. What do you think? Join the debate! Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Christmas_is_cancelled.aspx?ArticleID=132&PageID=47 George Pitcher considers the value of Christmas. What do you think? Join the debate! I was invited on BBC radio recently to offer my view on the collapse of Swindon-based Farepak, a Christmas-hamper operation that had gone down the pan along with the Christmas aspirations of some 150,000 savers. Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) was being fingered as the Scrooge of this scenario, having foreclosed on the wretched Farepak, while the likes of Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and Morrisons were the Spirits of Christmas Yet To Come After All by piling in with cash to rescue otherwise spoilt Christmases, to the tune of many hundreds of thousands of pounds. Thu, 23 Nov 2006 12:00:00 GMT http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/The_Dawkins_Delusion.aspx?ArticleID=50&PageID=47 Alister E. McGrath critiques "The God Delusion": Join the Debate! Richard Dawkins' latest book "The God Delusion" fires off a series of salvoes against religion. It is perhaps his weakest book to date, marred by its excessive reliance on bold assertion and rhetorical flourish, where the issues so clearly demand careful reflection and painstaking analysis, based on the best evidence available. Fri, 03 Nov 2006 12:00:00 GMT