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Faith Debates in the Media

Since the Westminster Faith Debates (WFD) were launched to the media on Monday 23 January 2012, public debate about faith in Britain has exploded…

• Linda Woodhead, ‘Thought for the Day’, BBC Radio 4, broadcast 26 December 2012: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0138bn9
• Cole Moreton ‘What has the Church of England ever done for us?’, The Telegraph 23 December, featuring WFD & WFI organiser Linda Woodhead: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9762642/What-has-the-Church-of-England-ever-done-for-us.html
• ‘Pro-Fait Atheist’ Quizzes Writer on Religion’, The War Cry, 22 December 2012, p2, write up of the 5 December WFI.
• Delia Smith & Alastair Campbell do God’, blog post about the 5 December WFI, 8 December: http://bloomsburybytes.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/delia-smith-alastair-campbell-do-god/
• ‘Campbell does God and bothers about honesty’, The Evening Standard coverage of the 5 December WFI, 6 December 2012: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/campbell-does-god-and-bothers-about-honesty-8389700.html
• ‘Baroness has faith in Jesus’ attitude to women’, The War Cry coverage of the 21 November WFI, 1 December 2012 p2.
• Linda Woodhead ‘It’s believing in the common good…’, Modern Believing piece on the 20 November General Syod vote on women bishops also discussed at the 21 November WFI, 25 November: http://modernchurch.org.uk/resources/woodhead/index.htm
• Linda Woodhead ‘Why the Roman Catholic Church is a better home for women than the Church of England’ Tablet blog piece by WFI organiser 21 November, following on from 2nd Faith Interview with Baroness Shirley Williams & Clifford Longley http://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/411/17
• Caspar Melville ‘Redrawing the lines’, interview with WFD and WFI organiser Linda Woodhead, New Humanist, vol. 127, no 6, December: http://newhumanist.org.uk/2907/redrawing-the-lines
• Andrew Brown ‘The dictionary is wrong – science can be a religion too’, Guardian Comment is Free blog piece about his interview with John Sulston for WFI1, 15 November, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2012/nov/15/dictionary-wrong-religion
• ‘Sir John Sulston @ Westminster Faith Interview’, blog piece about the 7 November WFI1: http://londonbytes.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/sir-john-sulston-westminster-faith-interview/
• Linda Woodhead ‘Religious freedom in Europe – when both sides go too far’, Guardian Comment is Free Belief piece by WFD and WFI organiser, 7 November: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/nov/07/court-judgments-religious-freedom?CMP=twt_fd
• Matthew Taylor ‘Catholic teaching: The new zeitgeist for Britain’s left’, BBC News Politics article featuring WFD & WFI organiser Linda Woodhead, 5 November: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20154986
• Linda Woodhead ‘Why isn’t the Church capitalising on the new-found interest in Catholic Social Teaching?’ The Tablet blog piece 2 November: http://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/401/17
• Andrew Brown ‘Humanism is an impossible dream’ Guardian blog piece 25 October featuring advert for 7 November Westminster Faith Interview in which Andrew is interviewing John Sulston: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2012/oct/25/humanism-impossible-dream
• Bjarne Nørum ‘Kvinderne er ved at omdefinere religion’, Kristeligt Dagblad 29 August, interview in Danish newsaper with WFD organiser Professor Linda Woodhead: http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/476013:–Kvinderne-er-ved-at-omdefinere-religion
• ‘Blair puts faith in ‘religion-freindly democracy’, The War Cry 4 August p2, write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life including a photo of a young Tony Blair with the Salvation Army member who had interviewed him and invited him to pray DOWNLOAD THE PDF AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.
• Sunday 29 July 2012, BBC Radio 4, featuring sections from the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life (about 10 mins in): http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01l5pfm#synopsis
• ‘For God’s sake’ The Tablet 28 July p16, description of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life.
• Sebastian Borger, ‘Der tolerante Religionskrieger’, Basler Zeitung, 27 July p6, Swiss write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life.
• Sebastian Borger, ‘Gott und die Welt under der Vermittler Tony Blair’, Der Standard, 27 July p6, Austrian write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life.
• Terry Sanderson ‘Religious differences are reinforced by misguided enthusiasts like Tony Blair’ comment piece on the National Secular Society website 27 July about the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://www.secularism.org.uk/blog/2012/07/religious-differences-are-reinforced-by-misguided-enthusiasts-like-tony-blair
• Bjarne Nørum ‘Der er plads til religionen i det offentlige rum’ Kristeligt Dagblad 27 July, Danish write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/471776:–Der-er-plads-til-religionen-i-det-offentlige-rum
• Madeleine Davies ‘God can look after himself’, Church Times 26 July, write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2012/27-july/news/uk/‘god-can-look-after-himself
• Ruth Gledhill ‘Blair and Williams in confessional mood for debate on faith’, The Times 25 July, write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life.
• John Bingham ‘Tony Blair says Christians should “speak up and speak out”, The Daily Telegraph 25 July, write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tony-blair/9424859/Tony-Blair-says-Christians-should-speak-up-and-speak-out.html
• Andrew Brown ‘Tony Blair denies praying with George Bush’, The Guardian 25 July,  write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jul/25/tony-blair-denies-praying-george-bush?CMP=twt_gu
• ‘No comeback, Tony promises party faithful’, London Evening Standard 25 July, referencing the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life and the Telegraph interview between speakers Charles Moore and Tony Blair: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/no-comeback-tony-promises-party-faithful-7976095.html?origin=internalSearch
• Press Association ‘Blair in staff prayer admission’ 25 July, write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gTAtZVeWZvji6dQMbzr7_t-yhOBA?docId=N0394181343157402805A and Burton Mail http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/National-News/Blair-in-staff-prayer-admission-1-751608.xnf
• Richard Goodwin ‘Blair and a curious case of morality’ Evening Standard 25 July, about the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life (scroll down page): http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/the-spirit-of-the-games-is-in-the-volunteers-7976018.html?origin=internalSearch
• Jonathan Barr ‘Westminster Faith Debate: Religion in Public Life’, The Baptist Times 25 July, write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/index.php/national-news/408-westminster-faith-debate-religion-in-public-life
• ‘Archbishop Cranmer’ ‘Westminster Faith Debate – religion in public life’ blog post 25 July, about the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/westminster-faith-debate-religion-in.html
• ‘Tony Blair: People shouldn’t be embarrassed about faith’, Christian Today 25 July, write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/tony.blair.people.shouldnt.be.embarrassed.about.faith/30339.htm
• ‘Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister, Did Order Number 10 Staff To Pray’ Huffington Post 24 July, write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/07/24/tony-blairm-former-prime-prayer_n_1699362.html
• Charles Moore ‘Tony Blair: ‘The West is asleep on the issue of Islamist extremism’, The Daily Telegraph 24 July, front page feature about the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life featuring Tony Blair and Charles Moore: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tony-blair/9420909/Tony-Blair-The-West-is-asleep-on-the-issue-of-Islamist-extremism.html
• ‘Blair in staff prayer admission’, The Belfast Telegraph 24 July, write up of the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life:http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/blair-in-staff-prayer-admission-16189200.html
• John Rentoul ‘The Return of Tony Blair’ blog post for The Independent 24 July, referencing the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life and the Telegraph interview between speakers Charles Moore and Tony Blair: http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/07/24/the-return-of-tony-blair/
• Kuwait News Agency ‘Blair to join debate on religion’ 24 July, about the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2254404&language=en
• The Open House, Australia, 23 July, radio interview with Linda Woodhead about the 24 July WFD Religion in Public Life: http://www.openhousecommunity.com.au/search-podcasts.php?q=woodhead
• Graham Goldsmith ‘Westminster Faith Debate: What Limits to Religious Freedom?’ blog post about the 18 April WFD on religious freedom, God and Politics in the UK 14 May: http://godandpoliticsuk.org/2012/05/14/westminster-faith-debate-what-limits-to-religious-freedom/
• Lois Lee ‘This path-breaking religious research – can we have no more like it?’, discussing the Westminster Faith Debates and Religion and Society Programme (note: this does not finish until December 2012), The Guardian Comment is Free Belief 12 May: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/may/12/religious-research-marginal-secular
• Stephen Evans ‘The need for secularism in a superdiverse society’, National Secular Society blog post about the 2 May WFD 10 May: http://www.secularism.org.uk/blog/2012/05/the-need-for-secularism-in-a-superdiverse-society
• Linda Woodhead ‘Mind, body and spirit: it’s the de-reformation of religion’ based upon her 2 May WFD paper, The Guardian Comment is Free Belief 7 May: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/may/07/mind-body-spirit-dereformation-religion
• Nelson Jones ‘Face to faiths’ New Statesman blog about the Westminster Faith Debates, 2 May: http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/religion/2012/05/face-faiths
• Charles Clarke discussing the final WFD on the Today Programme, 2 May, 8.50am: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01gvqnd#synopsis
• Bjarne Nørum ”Lovgivning er ikke vejen til religionsfrihed” Danish article about the 18 April WFD on religious freedom, Kristeligt Dagblad 1 May: http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/460386:Udland—Lovgivning-er-ikke-vejen-til-religionsfrihed?all=1
• Jonathan Rayner ‘Stating the obvious’, blog post referencing the 18 April WFD on religious freedom, Law Society Gazette 20 April: http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/blogs/blogs/news-blogs/stating-obvious
• Maria Exall ‘Christianity does not sit in opposition to progressive equality legislation’ The Guardian Comment is Free Belief posted on Saturday 21 April following the 18 April WFD on religious freedom: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/apr/21/equality-legislation-christianity?CMP=twt_fd
• Yasmin Alibhai-Brown ‘I’m a believer, but I don’t want a state run by God’ The Independent 9 April: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/yasmin-alibhai-brown/yasmin-alibhaibrown-im-a-believer-but-i-dont-want-a-state-run-by-god-7627543.html
• Jamie Doward ‘Religious people are more likely to be leftwing, says thinktank Demos’, The Observer 8 April: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/religious-people-more-likely-leftwing-demos
• Charles Moore ‘A society that persecutes Christ is heading for terrible trouble’ The Telegraph 6 April: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9190483/A-society-that-persecutes-Christ-is-heading-for-terrible-trouble.html
• Madeleine Davies ‘Our Father: half 6-12s can’t say it’ quoting Linda Woodhead on Sunday, Church Times 5 April: http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=126608
• Linda Woodhead invited to debate new Newsround survey findings about British children’s religion and Religious Education on Sunday broadcast on BBC Radio 4 7.10 am Sunday 1 April (available to listen again to until May arppoximately 30 minutes into the programme from here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnbd).
• ‘Blunkett says amen to faith groups’, report of the 21 March WFD in The War Cry 31 March.
• Mark Sedgwick ‘Comment: The ‘Big Lunch’ will not save Britain from disintegration and terrorism’ following on from his presentation at the 7 March WFD, The Muslim News 30 March: http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article=5761
• Sarah Newton MP ‘Westminster Faith Debates Pt. 3’ blog post recommending the 21 March WFD, 27 March: http://sarahnewtonmp.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/westminster-faith-debates-pt-3.html
• The Christian Institute ‘Secular bias hits funding for faith groups’ about the 21 March WFD 26 March: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/secular-bias-hits-funding-for-faith-groups/
• Al Pessin ‘Analysts Assess Motives in French Shootings’ feat. comment from 7 March WFD speaker Marat Shterin, Voice of America 22 March: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Analysts-Assess-Motives-in-French-Shootings-143876076.html
• ‘Religion and welfare’ discussion on Iain Dale’s show on LBC with 21 March WFD speakers Archbishop of Southwark Peter Smith and Dr Adam Dinham, 21 March 8pm.
• Peter Mullen ‘Aggressive secularists don’t want to know this, but the roots of charity lie in Christian doctrine’ comment prompted by 21 March WFD, The Telegraph 21 March: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/petermullen/100145658/aggressive-secularists-dont-want-to-know-this-but-the-roots-of-charity-lie-in-christian-doctrine/
• National Secular Society ‘You can trust us to run welfare services, say religious groups — but for how long?’ comment on Adam Dinham and Sarah Johnsen’s research findings presented at the 21 March WFD, 21 March: http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2012/03/you-can-trust-religious-groups-to-run-welfare-services-they-say—but-for-how-long
• Hannah Furness ‘Faith groups ‘prevented from doing vital community work by anti-religious prejudice’ about Adam Dinham and Sarah Johnsen’s research findings presented at the 21 March WFD, front page of The Daily Telegraph 21 March: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9156381/Faith-groups-prevented-from-doing-vital-community-work-by-anti-religious-prejudice.html
• Carol Pearson ‘Disagreements within the church have to be faced’ Eastern Daily Press 20 March, p19.
• Bjarne Nørum ‘Sæt ikke lighedstegn mellem religion og radikalisering’ in a Danish newspaper about the 7 March WFD debate on radicalisation, Kristeligt Dagblad 17 March: http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/455170:Udland—Saet-ikke-lighedstegn-mellem-religion-og-radikalisering?all=1
• Sarah Johnsen ‘No strings attached’ about the research she’s presenting at the 21 March WFD on religion and welfare, The Tablet 17 March, 6-7.
• ‘Britain fights Christians’ right to wear cross, infuriating activists’ by Richard Allen Greene, featuring comment from WFD partner Elizabeth Hunter informed by Linda Woodhead & Rebecca Catto’s EHRC report finding, CNN Belief Blog 12 March: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/12/britain-fights-christians-right-to-wear-cross-infuriating-activists/
• James Conroy ‘The whole world in their hands’ mentioning his disagreement with Richard Dawkins about indoctrination at the 22 Feb WFD, The Tablet 10 March.
• The Big Questions BBC 1 10 am Sunday 11 March ‘Is fundamentalism undermining faith?’ featuring WFD organiser Professor Linda Woodead (available to watch until 17 March here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01dhb7t, or on YouTube: Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkFyr8GwzeY, Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvu6ALe6V9E&feature=related, Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J764MYqkNto&feature=related).
• ‘Religion and radicalisation’ discussion on Iain Dale’s show on LBC with 7 March WFD speakers Mehdi Hasan and Ed Hussain, 7 March. Listen here: http://lbc.audioagain.com/player_popup.php?channel_id=361&user_id=0&sec_id=nosubscription&guid=2012-03/07/ddee9b64c139f3f0c44de53522b8a86d
• Marat Shterin ‘The lesson of the New Muslims’ on his research presented at the 7 March WFD, guardian.co.uk 7 March: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/mar/07/new-muslims-lesson?newsfeed=true
• Mark Sedgwick ‘First find the finger on the trigger’ on his research presented at the 7 March WFD, The Tablet 3 March.
• Marat Shterin ‘What makes radicals turn violent?’ on his research presented at the 7 March WFD, The Tablet 3 March.
• Professor Linda Woodead (WFD organiser) Lent Talk on BBC Radio 4, first broadcast 7 March 8.45pm: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01cws2d
• ‘God Delusion’ Author and Churchman Debate Faith, Dawkins and Bishop: Children need good RE’, report of the 22 Feb WFD in The War Cry 3 March.
• Kate Morris ‘Ex-Norwich MP defends role of faith in society’ featuring details of the WFD on Network Norwich & Norfolk: http://www.networknorwich.co.uk/Articles/302363/Network_Norwich_and_Norfolk/People/Ex_Norwich_MP_Clarke_defends_role_of.aspx
• ‘Charles Clarke: Thanks to religion, I’ve found life after politics’ on Church News Ireland with reference to the WFD & Religion and Society Programme, 29 Feb: http://www.churchnewsireland.org/news/irish-uk-news/charles-clarke-thanks-to-religion-ive-found-life-after-politics/
• ‘Labour’s care is failing, warns Charles Clarke’ on HackerMuslim.com mentioning the WFD: http://hackermuslim.com/2012/02/26/labours-leadership-is-failing-warns-charles-clarke.html
• Bryan Appleyard ‘The God Wars’ referencing 22 Feb WFD speaker Richard Dawkins, New Statesman 28 Feb: http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2012/02/neo-atheism-atheists-dawkins
• ‘Former Norwich South MP Charles Clarke warns Labour’s leadership is failing’, mentioning Lancaster University and the Faith Debates, EDP 24, 27 Feb: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/former_norwich_south_mp_charles_clarke_warns_labour_s_leadership_is_failing_1_1220474
• BBC Radio 4 Start the Week on ‘Faith and Doubt’ with Richard Holloway, Karen Armstrong, Jonathan Safran Foer and Helen Edmundson debating what religion is, militant atheism and current conflicts, broadcast 9am 27 Feb: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01cjm4c#synopsis
• ‘Life after politics: Charles Clarke, non-believer, is a new defender of faith’ on The Freethinker with reference to the WFD, Lancaster Uni & Religion and Society Programme, 26 Feb: http://freethinker.co.uk/2012/02/26/life-after-politics-charles-clarke-non-believer-is-a-new-defender-of-faith/
• Cole Moreton ‘Charles Clarke: ‘Thanks to religion, I’ve found life after politics’, interview in which WFD co-organiser Charles Clarke discusses the debates and Religion and Society Programmme, The Sunday Telegraph 26 Feb: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/9105663/Charles-Clarke-Thanks-to-religion-Ive-found-life-after-politics.html
• Professor Conroy was interviewed about his Religion & Society-funded RE research & the WFD mentioned on Sunday broadcast on BBC Radio 4 26 Feb 7am (available to listen 28 mins in until 3 March): http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnbd
• Charlotte Simpson ‘My baby’s not a Christian or a Muslim. She’s a Guardian reader’ arising from her comment at the 22 Feb WFD guardian.co.uk 25 Feb: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/feb/25/parental-right-responsibility-child-religious
• Andrew Copson ‘Schools should teach morality for the here and now – not for any life to come’ on guardian.co.uk 25 Feb: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/feb/24/school-teach-morality-here-and-now?CMP=twt_gu
• Bardsley, Fran ‘Lessons in RE are vital, says Bishop’ about Bishop of Oxford John Pritchard’s contribution to the 22 Feb WFD,The Oxford Times 24 Feb: http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/9550871.Lessons_in_RE_are_vital__says_Bishop/
• Elizabeth Hunter ‘Faith: Faith and the Coalition: A new confidence in ‘doing God’?’ about the first WFD in The Muslim News 24 Feb: http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article=5726
• ‘Role of Religion in education discussed in public debate’, write up from Accord of the 22 Feb WFD: http://accordcoalition.org.uk/2012/02/23/role-of-religion-in-education-discussed-in-public-debate/
• Iain Dale show on LBC radio with Linda Woodhead and British Humanist Association Chief Executive Andrew Copson immediately after the 22 Feb WFD (requires sign in):

  Tax, Faith in Schools and LBC Parliament – 22 Feb 12

• BBC Three Counties Radio Three Counties Breakfast ‘Religious Education’ coversation with Religion and Society director & WFD co-chair Professor Linda Woodhead broadcast 7.22am 22 Feb, 6 mins, available until 28 Feb to listen to from here (chapter 6): http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00nlj6z#p00pcyzn
• Professor Conroy debated with British Humanist Association Chief Executive Andrew Copson ahead of the 22 Feb WFD live on Nicky Campbell’s breakfast show on BBC Radio 5 Live, 22 Feb.
• Cathryn Clarke ‘Less than £1 per pupil spent on RE resources’ blog about the 22 Feb WFD on guardian.co.uk 22 Feb: http://www.guardian.co.uk/teacher-network/2012/feb/22/religious-education-re-funding
• Martin Dunlop ‘Ambivalence’ towards RE, but not in Scottish Catholic schools’ about Professor Conroy’s WFD paper Scottish Catholic Observer 22 Feb: http://www.sconews.co.uk/news/16592/crippling-ambivalence-towards-re-in-schools/
• Steve Doughty ‘Schools spend just £1 per pupil on religious lessons as subject falls victim to squeeze on time and money’ article about Prof Conroy’s research & the 22 Feb WFD Daily Mail 22 Feb: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2104605/Schools-spend-just-1-pupil-religious-lessons-subject-falls-victim-squeeze-time-money.html
• BBC Radio 4 Call You and Yours asking what part Christianity plays in British life featuring 22 Feb WFD speaker Professor Conroy alongside Mona Siddiqui & others broadcast 12 noon 21 Feb (1 hr). Listen from here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01c7pqd#synopsis
• BBC News piece ‘State school RE under-resourced and overlooked – study’ about the 22 Feb WFD 21 Feb: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17115597
• Charles Walford ‘We need community cohesion’: Ministers’ pledge to end era of multiculturalism by appealing to sense of British identity’ Mail Online 21 Feb: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2104049/Eric-Pickles-signals-end-multiculturalism-says-Tories-stand-majority.html
• Ross McGuiness’ piece ‘Does Britain really have any faith in religion?’ article in The Metro 20 Feb with quotes from 22 Feb WFD speaker Professor James Conroy: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/newsfocus/890789-does-britain-really-have-any-faith-in-religion
• Mary Ann Sieghart ‘You don’t have to believe in God to cherish the Church’ in The Independent 20 Feb: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mary-ann-sieghart/mary-ann-sieghart-you-dont-have-to-believe-in-god-to-cherish-the-church-7216680.html#.
• WFD speakers Richard Dawkins and Cole Moreton, plus others, debate ‘Is Britain a Christian country’ on The Big Questions on BBC 1 19 Feb (available to watch until 26 Feb): http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01chykw/The_Big_Questions_Series_5_Episode_7/
• Observer editorial ‘Let’s avoid a clash of faith and reason’ 19 Feb: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/feb/19/observer-editorial-religion-christianity-dawkins
• Will Hutton and Richard Dawkins ‘What is the proper place of religion in Britain’s public life?’ The Observer 19 Feb:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/19/religion-secularism-atheism-hutton-dawkins.
• James Conroy ‘Does religious education work?’, The Tablet 18 Feb, about his his Religion & Society-funded RE research presented at the 22 Feb WFD.
• Jonathan Harwood ‘Trevor Phillips Sharia law row: what he really said’ citing Trevor’s WFD contribution 17 Feb: http://www.theweek.co.uk/society/religion/45448/trevor-phillips-sharia-law-row-what-he-really-said
• Janet Daley Telegraph piece with dismissal of Trevor Phillips’ Faith Debate contribution 18 Feb:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9090325/A-good-week-for-the-smiting-of-the-ungodly.html
• Richard Garner’s piece for The Independent about the new RE all-party parliamentary group quoting Trevor Phillips from the first WFD 17 Feb:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/christians-are-not-above-the-law-warns-phillips-6989031.html.
• Charles Moore piece in The Telegraph referencing the Faith Debates, Theos and Charles Clarke 17 Feb:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9089041/To-defend-the-Churchs-role-istodefend-faith-as-a-whole.html
• Ed West’s Telegraph blog referencing Trevor Phillips’ WFD talk 17 Feb: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100138081/trevor-phillips-is-wrong-–-it-is-equality-activists-not-christians-who-are-imposing-their-beliefs-on-others/
• iEngage’s response to The Daily Telegraph front page & Mail 17 Feb: http://www.iengage.org.uk/home/1-news/1704-religion-and-equality-under-the-law
• Daily Mail article also attacking Trevor Phillips’ WFD talk by Daniel Martin 17 Feb: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2102385/Equalities-chief-Trevor-Phillips-accuses-Christians-trying-impose-form-sharia-law.html
• The Daily Telegraph front page on 17 Feb attacking Trevor Phillips’ talk at the first Faith Debate: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9087775/Christians-arent-above-the-law-says-equalities-chief-Trevor-Phillips.html?%5Csdg
• Peter Popham ‘Believe it or not, secularism is not what it used to be’ The Independent 15 Feb: http://www.independent.co.uk/hei-fi/entertainment/believe-it-or-not-secularism-is-not-what-it-used-to-be-6938937.html
• Julian Baggini ‘Is religion really under threat?’ The Guardian 15 Feb: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/14/is-religion-really-under-threat?newsfeed=true
• Giles Fraser ‘Richard Dawkins and Lady Warsi should live and let live’ The Guardian 15 Feb:http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/feb/14/dawkins-warsi-live-and-let-live
• Linda Woodhead wrote a piece for the Guardian Online responding to WFD speaker Richard Dawkins’ new poll of Christians,14 February:http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/feb/14/richard-dawkins-british-christianity?CMP=twt_gu
• Baroness Warsi ‘We stand side by side with the Pope in fighting for faith’ The Daily Telegraph 14 Feb:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9080441/We-stand-side-by-side-with-the-Pope-in-fighting-for-faith.html
• Richard Dawkins, who is speaking at the 22 Feb WFD, and Giles Fraser on The Today Programme BBC Radio 4 12 Feb:http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9696000/9696135.stm
• Cole Moreton, who is speaking at the 2 May WFD, wrote a piece in The Telegraph on Sunday on 12 Feb drawing upon Kim Knott and Therese O’Toole’s WFD presentations: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9076902/Fighting-for-the-right-to-pray.html
• Linda Woodhead wrote a piece for the Church Times entitled ‘The quiet revolution in UK faith’ published 10 Feb.
• Cristina Odone ‘Meet the Pollyanna of ‘superdiversity’, who believes Britain is the happy home of multiculturalism’, blog post for the The Telegraph 7 Feb about the 8 Feb WFD: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100135499/meet-the-pollyanna-of-superdiversity-who-believes-britain-is-the-happy-home-of-multiculturalism/
• WFD speaker Professor Kim Knott wrote an article for The Tablet published on 4 Feb.
• The Tablet  published 28 Jan featured articles by WFD organisers Professor Linda Woodhead and Charles Clarke. Read Linda’s article: http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/162261
• On 27 Jan Charles Clarke spoke about the debates on LBC radio with Iain Dale, who then led a ‘phone-in on religion in people’s everyday life. Access the podcast from here: http://lbc.audioagain.com/index.php?sid=1&player=showchannel&channel_id=361
• The Evening Standard featured a comment piece by Westminster Faith Debate (WFD) chair Charles Clarke on Monday 23 Jan: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24030057-faith-is-the-force-that-binds-communities-together.do

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The War Cry Aug 2012

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