Dr Peter Saunders
At the beginning of the twenty-first century we are facing unprecedented ethical challenges. One would expect that Christians who accept the Bible as their sole and sufficient authority would be bold and clear in responding to these challenges, but all too often there is a reluctance to speak out. Dr Peter Saunders explains why. He discusses the heresies which compromise the biblical call to obedience.
Transsexualism – wanting to change physical sex because you feel you are ‘in the wrong body’ – has become an increasingly high-profile issue. People in the public eye have ‘changed their sex’, and the media normalises transsexualism. There has been a corresponding push for greater transsexual rights. This briefing introduces some of the issues at stake.
The Westminster Government is proposing that Ofsted inspect church youth work in England to see if it complies with the vague ‘British values’ test. The Welsh Government is proposing to inspect church youth work in Wales to ensure children are learning “tolerance of different faiths and beliefs” and being protected from “undesirable teaching”.
This briefing seeks to set out the biblical principles at stake and consider some of the potential consequences of the Named Person scheme.
Philip Vander Elst
The profoundly anti-Christian nature of Marxism has been well understood and well exposed in Christian writing. In comparison very little has been written about the powerful new political ideology of Libertarianism. This has emerged from the political right, but its influence extends across the poilitical spectrum. In this publication Philip Vander Elst traces the roots of Libertarianism and considers its influence on politics today.
Magna Carta is “the greatest constitutional document of all times – the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot”. So said Lord Denning, a leading English judge of the 20th century. The charter establishes the principle that no one, not even the king, is above the law. This year we celebrate 800 years since it was agreed in 1215. Over that period it has been used to protect life, liberty and property, and as the basis for constitutional rights and liberties around the world. That is something for which Christians can thank God.
John Bowers QC
Education standards which may politicise the curriculum pave the way for schools being sued over what they teach, according to a senior QC.
The UK Government wants to legalise the creation of genetically modified (GM) babies. The genetic changes will then be passed on to future generations. This is risky science. There are very real safety fears – for the mothers and children involved, and for their descendants.
Same-sex marriage is now legal in England and Wales. Under the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act, the first same-sex marriages took place on 29 March 2014.
On 19 February 2014, the Scottish Parliament decided that every child in Scotland should have a ‘named person’ – a state official tasked with looking after their “wellbeing”.