Religious persecution?

The last few days, weeks, and months have seen the debate on freedom of religious expression given new life. No doubt started by Jack Straw’s inflammatory comments on Muslim women wearing the veil, a plethora of issues have been raised.

TV presenters have been criticised for wearing religious symbols because they might affect the viewers’ perception of balance. Staff in many fields have likewise been told that crosses and other religious items do not comply to uniform regulations. University Christian Unions have been forced out of Guilds because they refuse to allow non-Christians onto their executive committees.

These are not just cases of political correctness gone mad. They demonstrate society’s fundamental disrespect for religion. There is a pernicious aspect of our society that discredits anyone who displays their religious beliefs. We have to be realistic about this. If we make religion a taboo subject, it will encourage extremism. The only way to encourage religious integration and co-operation is to accept those of different beliefs.

Frankly, I don’t understand staunch atheists who want to be elected to the executive committees of Christian Unions. Surely this, not the CUs’ decision to ban them from becoming members, is the aggressive action? Surely the deliberate attempts to undermine religious expression cannot be allowed to portray Christians – or any other religious groups – as exclusive. Religion is bound to be exclusive: we ought to be able to live with each other without trying to undermine each other’s actions.

So, what would I do to stop all of this stupid inter-religious debating? Wearing religious symbols should be a personal choice, and everybody should be able to display their beliefs as they wish. Safeguards should be in place to allow university groups to be governed by those with their own interests at heart, setting parameters as they please. And nobody should ever deny others the right to freedom of religious expression.