Nick Spencer discusses the role of Christianity in Britain today.

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It argues that, despite Christianity’s historic “theocratic temptation”, today’s mainstream Christian traditions advocate a far more nuanced approach to “public witness”. The report examines what this “witness” should look like in practice: should it occur within, without or even against the governing authorities?

The answer to this question will differ according to the “moral orientations” of the state in which the church operates, thus suggesting that the role of Christianity should be adjudicated on a case–by–case basis rather than dictated from on high.

Ultimately, however, underpinning this case by–case approach, the report insists that the role of Christianity in the public square should depend on the extent to which, by doing what it must do, it can persuade the public that it is “doing good”.