Are Christians (in the UK) Being Persecuted?

A friend noticed this documentary on the BBC iplayer while I was in the UK last week, and I downloaded it to be able to watch at my leisure. That, I have just done.

I noted down a few things that were said that I thought were interesting, but I'm not going to comment on them because I will just go off on one and I figure you can probably guess what I think anyway:

• Christian RE teachers often feel like it would be unprofessional for them to share their beliefs in the classroom, and would fear the repercussions of such actions. On the other hand agnostics and atheists feel like sharing their opinions can be a "positive contribution".
• Conversation with a Muslim academic:
  
  "Morality is something that evolves."
  "What if it is against the doctrine in your Holy book?"
  "It has to be reinterpreted."
• [The problem we have to solve is] "... how can people of strongly conflicting religious beliefs live peaceably together?" - UKs chief Rabbi
• According to a recent poll of 1000 people in the UK, 44% think that Britain is becoming less tolerant.
• "Any belief will often trump Christianity."
• Presenter, in summary: "We just want to be able to live our lives as we see fit."
• Presenter, in conclusion: "Are Christians being persecuted? No. They are not being killed and tortured like they are in countries like Pakistan, but they are being marginalised, which can feel like persecution."

It's important to get some perspective on what persecution really is, and just how much freedom we do enjoy in the UK. However, like he says, I do agree that Christians are being marginalised more and more for which there is plenty of evidence in the programme, and every day in the papers.

The programme is no longer available on iplayer, but is on youtube and part one is here.

I may have posted this before, and there was some debate a while ago about whether the footage shown is actually that of Christians being persecuted. I don't know whether or not that has been resolved, but whether the footage is authentic or not, this is happening to Christians all over the world. This is persecution.


Persecution in India: Francis' Response from Cornerstone Church on Vimeo.