OPINION:
Last month, when asked whether Britain is a Christian nation, Prime Minister Keir Starmer waffled, citing his Anglican affiliations but reducing Christianity to merely one thread in a multicultural tapestry.
This reluctance to affirm Christian roots isn’t unique to Britain; it’s a European malaise.
Secularism, born from the continent’s bloody religious past, has morphed into a cautious erasure of Christian heritage. Meanwhile, leaders in some Islamic nations unapologetically champion their cultural and religious identities, with some openly advocating for an Islamic future in Europe.
Was this the unintended consequence of atheistic secularism: to hollow out Europe’s foundations, leaving a vacuum for other cultures to fill? True pluralism doesn’t demand amnesia; it thrives when nations honor their roots while embracing diversity.
In a striking contrast, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stands alone among European leaders in addressing the global persecution of Christians. In her recent United Nations address, she decried the instrumental use of religion to justify violence, spotlighting the millions, Christians included, suffering for their faith.
Why the silence from other leaders? The reasons are myriad: economic ties to persecuting regimes, fear of domestic backlash, a lack of reciprocal religious freedom. The list could go on. Although Western democracies welcome religious leaders of all stripes, Christian pastors and workers face visa denials in many nations for merely hinting at their mission.
Reciprocal religious freedom is possible but requires genuine courage. Only it will prompt the necessary global shift toward tying global trade to human rights, amplifying persecuted voices and modeling pluralism by defending all faiths equally.
This contrast between Britain and Italy happened in the weeks since the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. There, we saw a dramatic and profound shift in public discourse, epitomized by Vice President J.D. Vance. Speaking at Kirk’s memorial, Mr. Vance declared that Kirk’s death, a sacrifice for Kirk’s bold Christian witness, had prompted Mr. Vance to embrace his faith in Jesus Christ more publicly than ever before.
This is distinctly atypical in America. For decades, a tense relationship has existed between faith and public life. This has often led to leaders who genuinely follow Jesus being cautious in bringing their faith to bear in the public square. The result? Christianity has, in some spheres, become a taboo topic and something to check at the door rather than an essential part of one’s identity that is allowed to be expressed in and through civic participation.
Unlike leaders of other faiths who openly champion their beliefs, Christians often face cultural pressure to privatize their convictions. Secular scrutiny, fear of alienating diverse audiences and a post-Enlightenment bias toward neutrality have silenced many, creating a chilling effect where Christian expression feels like a liability.
To be clear, though, as a proponent of religious pluralism, I believe religious nationalism is self-defeating. Christianity’s strength lies in its adaptability. The Gospel is believed and followed worldwide and has been for centuries. In each context, the expression of that same belief can and will look different. A Ukrainian Christian will differ from a Nigerian Christian, and both will vary from an Indian Christian. Yet there is unity in that diversity, a unity of Gospel belief and a diversity of Gospel expression.
This tolerance extends to other faiths. That is not to say that Christianity has never been tragically misused or weaponized; it has. Yet it is at its best and most faithful to God’s design when fostering pluralistic societies where all faiths, and none, can thrive. Christian culture, in all its diverse expressions, must be encouraged and defended.
Atheistic secularism cannot counter the rising tide of religious extremism. Only a robust, faith-rooted culture can do that. Western democracies risk decline if they fail to grasp the profound connection between faith and culture, a reality that I believe America is beginning to understand in a new and important way.
Understanding is not where the change ends. Action must follow. That is why it is up to us, the Christian community worldwide, to forge a Christian theology for our times, one that champions pluralism, confronts extremism and defends our shared heritage without apology.
• Archbishop Joseph D’Souza is an internationally renowned human and civil rights activist and founder of Dignity Freedom Network.
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