On 21st November 2005, Faithworks hosted a debate with Faithworks Founder Rev Steve Chalke MBE, social commentator Elaine Storkey, Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee and National Secular Society Director Keith Porteous Wood.

The debate centred around the question: "Is faith in public life good for Britain?" and was organised as a direct response to Polly Toynbee's article in the Guardian on July 22, in which she aruged for religion to be relegated to the 'private sphere'.

Below is a selection of some of the key points made by the speakers during the debate. For a more complete summary, download the 'key themes' document by clicking on the link in the right-hand panel.

On the contribution of faith groups to Britain’s public services

PT: Britain’s thriving voluntary sector does a vast amount of good, and some religious organisations, of course, do too. But on the other hand, I do think that some of the organisations that faiths run are quite sinister.

ES: There are so many sacrificial, loving groups in the UK today who are pouring themselves out and giving to other people and whose motivation is entirely from their Christian and other faith.

On whether atheism or secular humanism be considered a ‘faith’

SC: I believe that the secular humanist movement is a faith community just as much as the Christian community or any other faith community.

PT: This idea that if you’re not a believer you are really a believer, the idea that atheism is actually a form of belief in itself is such a logical nonsense!

On whether Britain is a secular country

PT: This is the most secular country in the world! The BBC’s poll that week showed that amongst young people there are more declared non-believers than there are Christians.

SC: In a report from the BBC - the research that, Polly, you quoted from - simply says that most people describe themselves as Christians, some 67% of those questioned described themselves as Christians; the next largest group was Muslims at 3%.

On whether Christianity or secularism bring freedom to society

KPW: I think religion is one of the biggest sources of oppression and discrimination and particularly against women and gays. And I don’t think there is any doubt about that!

SC: It’s actually Christianity that has brought freedom to our state and allowed a thousand flowers to bloom. Christianity, when held truly, brings freedom to people!

On the impact of faith in British politics

SC: Christians are disproportionately represented in the caring professions, they are nurses, doctors, teachers, they serve on Sure Starts, they serve on local councils. There are many MPs in Parliament because of their religious faith and convictions.

KPW: Religious MPs and Councillors are very much higher proportioned than the population as a whole. Why do they do it? They do it to get influence!

To read a more comprehensive summary of the key points, which appear below, download the document in the right hand panel.

- On whether personal faith produces better, more involved citizensOn the involvement of faith groups in delivering public services
- On whether atheism or secular humanism be considered a ‘faith’ in the same way as Christianity
- On whether Britain can be considered a secular country
- On whether Christianity or secularism bring freedom to society
- On whether religion has unwarranted privilege within public life in Britain
- On whether faith schools are beneficial or detrimental to education and community life in Britain
- On the impact of faith on British politics