Ending class wars, ending religious wars
The 2006 CSM Tawney Lecture was given by former CSM Director, Graham Dale, and included a challenge to politicians and churchpeople to listen to each other and help each other transform our society and world for the better.
‘Too often churches complain about being ignored’, Graham said, ‘however, despite trying to understand the world around them for evangelistic reasons, they make little effort to understand politics. Rather than engage with the whole political process, they often prefer to shout from the sidelines late in the day on single issues.’
Yet many politicians welcome the vibrancy and activism of faith communities, Graham said. ‘Some are people of faith themselves. Both sides need to help each other to transform our society and our world for the better. Faith communities can be part of a progressive consensus. Faith benefits business life, social welfare and community cohesion.’
Graham’s lecture, entitled ‘Ending class wars, ending religious wars’, was given at Westminster Central Hall in London and will be available in due course from CSM in print (free to CSM members) and on CD. Graham is currently Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the development agency World Vision UK.
Graham Dale is author of the book God’s Politicians – The Christian contribution to 100 years of Labour, which traces the history of the links between Christianity and the Labour Party. It is the most recent book to have a CSM involvement and was written to mark the centenary of the foundation of the Labour Party. Prime Minister Tony Blair wrote the Foreword and CSM member Stephen Timms MP contribution the Introduction. To order your copy please send a cash/cheque payable to CSM for the specially-reduced rate of £10 including p&p to CSM, Westminster Central Hall, London, SW1H 9NH, UK.
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