Leading philosopher Roger Trigg, a Professor at Kellogg College, Oxford, has warned of an increasing tendency in UK courts to prioritise equality above religion, thereby undermining religious freedom. Professor Trigg, who is the founding President of the British Society for the Philosophy of Religion, stated that: ‘Religious freedom and the right to manifest religious belief is a central part of every charter of human rights.’ Yet he believes that the courts are now ‘limiting human freedom itself’. Professor Trigg is launching a new book, ‘Equality, Freedom and Religion’, which cites numerous cases where religious freedom has been denied by the courts. There have been many concerns that, within judicial interpretations of equality law, a hierarchy of rights has developed, with some rights now being seen as more important than others. Recent court decisions have suggested that the freedom to manifest sexual orientation now trumps the freedom to manifest one’s religious beliefs.

Pray: for an understanding that mankind can never place human laws above those of God. (Ro.7:22)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/religious-freedom/philosopher-warns-of-growing-threat-to-religious-freedom

Telegraph journalist Peter Oborne says tax dodgers should be named and shamed. Speaking at a debate at Christ Church Spitalfields, Peter Oborne said: ‘People and companies who don’t pay tax should be shamed. ‘I believe as citizens and as political beings on the left or the right that we have a duty to shame companies that don’t pay their taxes, that don’t fulfill their civic duties.’ The debate was organised by Christian Aid and Church Action on Poverty as part of their nationwide Tax Justice Bus tour. Mr Oborne said he supported the Tax Justice campaign because there was a ‘very strong moral case’ for paying tax. ‘I absolutely believe that we belong to a community.. He continued: ‘We have an interest in the welfare of our fellow citizens. Just from a nakedly capitalist point of view, you want well trained employees that have received a good education, a good transport system and health services.’

Pray: for the Tax justice Bus tour and that it will help raise the profile of of the moral obligation to meet our tax responsibilities in full. (Ro.13:6-7 )

More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/peter.oborne.tax.dodgers.should.be.shamed/30663.htm

Open Doors and Youth for Christ have teamed up to create an exciting new resource for youth groups. My Heart Bleeds looks at the plight of persecuted Christians around the world and the valuable lessons that can be learned about staying in faith through tough times. The resource is broken down into six lifestyle sessions looking at what it means to follow Jesus through the inspiring lens of the persecuted church. The resource, available for a donation of £10, contains teaching material, activity discussion ideas, games and film clips for use with each session theme. National Director of Youth for Christ, Gavin Calver said ‘This is a deeply challenging resource that will have a huge impact on young people throughout Britain.’ Jonny Goodchild, Open Doors youth spokesman, said: ‘My Heart Bleeds is a way of taking seriously our responsibility to stand with the suffering.’

Pray: for the success of this new resource leading to a wider understanding of persecution and its causes. (Job.28:12)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/persecuted.church.inspires.faith.among.young.christians/31447.htm

British people have significantly less integrity than ten years ago, and it risks harming civic mindedness, new research claims. Adultery, lying and underage sex have all become more acceptable, according to the findings published by Professor Paul Whiteley. He blames the bad examples set by footballers cheating on their wives, the phone hacking scandal, and dodgy financial dealing. And, he says, the implications could be profound for society. The findings show that people with high levels of integrity tend to have a strong sense of civic duty. The Essex Centre for the Study of Integrity has been set up to analyse the issue. Professor Paul Whiteley is the centre’s director. He commented: “If social capital is low and people are suspicious and don’t work together, those communities have worse health, worse educational performance, they are less happy and they are less economically developed and entrepreneurial. It really does have a profound effect.”

Pray: for a return to the unchanging Biblical truths of morality and integrity. (Ps.25:21)

 More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/people-have-less-integrity-and-it-is-harming-society/

Christmas and Easter rightly have prominent places in the Church calendar. Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection should be properly celebrated, but the place of Pentecost is equally important. Without that point in time when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus’ followers as they waited patiently after his ascension, they would have remained a group of confused and fearful people. It was the Church’s Big Bang moment. Pentecost is a reminder that the Holy Spirit moves with power and that without the Spirit working through us, individual Christians and the Church will be able to achieve little of substance. Our society desperately needs to see and experience a revolutionary Church filled with the fire of God’s Spirit.

Pray: for the Church to open herself up to the power of the Holy Spirit. (Eph.6:10)

More: http://godandpoliticsuk.org/2013/05/18/pentecost-the-churchs-big-bang-moment/

This year’s Pentecost Festival looks set to be the biggest yet. Organisers are anticipating that as many as 30,000 will be reached in the 10-day Central London event which started last Friday. Now in its fourth year, this is the first time the finale, hosted by Holy Trinity Brompton, Hillsong and Jesus House, will take place at the 17,000 capacity O2 arena. The festival sees more than 100 arts-based events with performances from X-Factor finalist Beverley Trotman and US group Spoken Groove, comedy from Andy Kind, John Maloney and Paul Tonkinson, and theatre which addresses issues of injustice. There will be science debates, seminars on faith and fashion and a political evening looking at the impact of the message of Pentecost hosted by Baptist minister the Revd Steve Chalke. Andy Frost, festival director, said 'Once again it will show people that the church is not just about Sunday mornings. 'It's engaging with what's happening culturally. It's representing God's heartbeat.'

Pray: for those leading this event and for its success in reaching out to those who have not received the Gospel message. (Ps.107:22)

More: http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/news3.htm

A Lib Dem peer in the House of Lords has tabled an amendment to remove the requirement for Christian worship in schools. Currently schools must have a daily act of collective worship. Collective worship must be ‘wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character.’ Parents can withdraw their children and teachers are also permitted to opt out. But now Lord Avebury, a Liberal Democrat peer, has tabled an amendment to end the requirement for collective worship in all schools apart from faith schools. Earlier this year a secularist campaign group said that Christian assemblies should be banned because they breach children’s human rights. The National Secular Society wrote to Education Secretary, Michael Gove, demanding that the law on Christian assemblies be abolished. But a spokesman for the Department for Education said the law on Christian assemblies ‘encourages pupils to reflect on the concept of belief and the role it plays in the traditions and values of this country.’ (See Prayer Alert 36-2011)

Pray: that this further challenge to our faith would be thwarted. (Pr.6:23)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/peer-in-bid-to-dismantle-law-on-christian-assemblies/