Of immediate concern is the published intention of the government to review and consolidate all matters relating to discrimination in the forthcoming Discrimination Law Review when all types of discrimination will be forced into an all-embracing legal framework. Religious bodies will need to be fully participative in this review to ensure their particular perspectives are taken on board, along with others.
This proposed re-consideration of anti-discriminatory legal regulation will be designed to bring various equality and diversity models more into keeping with the all-embracing concept of human rights. Whilst at first sight it looks as if there is now sweeping protection, there is in fact complexity, and partial coverage depending on the area of discrimination into which a matter falls. For example, sex, race and disability discrimination currently covers employment, education, housing and the provision of services, whilst religious discrimination and sexual orientation regulations are confined to employment. The Race Relations Act did not extend to Christians or Muslims, but did cover Jews and Sikhs, so that, for example, Yarmulke-wearing Jews, and Turban-wearing Sikhs enjoyed protection not afforded to Muslims wearing the hijab. To claim discrimination, Muslims needed to show they were attacked on grounds of race or ethnicity, which was difficult. Discrimination against Muslims, Sikhs and Jews had to be addressed through anti-racism legislation as there was no religious protection until limited protection within the workplace became enshrined in 2003. Yet religious discrimination should not be left politically reliant on squeezing into the constructed category of race, and this area is currently being addressed through the Racial and Religious Hatred Act and the Equalities Act. Sexual orientation discrimination is also being addressed through the Equalities Bill. However, detailed legal discrimination issues have been remitted to the Discrimination Law Review due for public consultations beginning in Spring 2006, with the eventual consequential prospect of a new, single Equality Act by the end of the present Parliament.
This represents a good example of the context within which the Christian faith has to find a way of disengaging from purely nationalist or racial and cultural affiliations. Christianity has its cultural variants, which are a mix of history, developments in particular nation states, and doctrinal differences and preferences. But the Christian message is not tied to one culture. Whilst Christians are called to be good citizens, they also retain their ultimate responsibility to God. As religion in the 21st century seems in danger of becoming inevitably linked to nationalism, culture, and particular political ideologies, there is a need for wisdom among Christian leaders and people as to how they live in, and engage with, the state. Christianity in the UK may be culturally different to Christianity in other nation states. In addition, many groups of Christians who have immigrated to the UK will seek to keep alive their own cultural variants of religion which may engage differently with the state.
