UK Equality and Human Rights Commission Finds: Christians Often Scared to Admit Their Beliefs
Of those who responded to the commission’s survey, 1,030 said they were Christian. The next largest group, only –188– were atheist. The remaining participants were people of other faiths.
The commission’s report states:
‘A recurring theme among some employees was the pressure they felt they were under to keep their religion hidden at work and feeling discriminated against when it came to wearing religious symbols or expressing their beliefs. This was particularly felt by Christians'.
‘People reported being mocked for their beliefs, including Christians, who said their colleagues assumed they were bigoted. Some Christian-run services or businesses said they felt in turmoil about behaving in ways that they feared might breach the Equality Act 2010, which protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in access to goods and services.’
The study shows that Christians are often frightened to reveal their religious beliefs to their colleagues at work. In the situations where they declared their Christianity, whether in the office or on the shop floor, they were often mocked or treated like bigots, also their children were even ridiculed at school. According to a major study conducted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Christians also think that their faith is being pushed out of its role as a cornerstone of life in Britain. Morover, many feel they are being persecuted by the same anti-discrimination and equality laws supported by the equality watchdog. A series of high-profile court battles have left many feeling that the law is tilted against them and that gay rights trump their own.
Commission chief executive Mark Hammond said about the survey: ‘What came out strongly was the widespread confusion about the law, leading to some resentment and tensions between groups, and anxiety for employers who fear falling foul of what they see as complicated equality and human rights legislation.’ He also said that the commission would produce new guidance to ‘help everyone address some of the issues’.
Source:
Coverage in the Daily Mail (March 11, 2015): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2990678/Christians-scared-admit-beliefs-fear-mocked-treated-like-bigots-say-equality-chiefs.html
The commission’s report states:
‘A recurring theme among some employees was the pressure they felt they were under to keep their religion hidden at work and feeling discriminated against when it came to wearing religious symbols or expressing their beliefs. This was particularly felt by Christians'.
‘People reported being mocked for their beliefs, including Christians, who said their colleagues assumed they were bigoted. Some Christian-run services or businesses said they felt in turmoil about behaving in ways that they feared might breach the Equality Act 2010, which protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in access to goods and services.’
The study shows that Christians are often frightened to reveal their religious beliefs to their colleagues at work. In the situations where they declared their Christianity, whether in the office or on the shop floor, they were often mocked or treated like bigots, also their children were even ridiculed at school. According to a major study conducted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Christians also think that their faith is being pushed out of its role as a cornerstone of life in Britain. Morover, many feel they are being persecuted by the same anti-discrimination and equality laws supported by the equality watchdog. A series of high-profile court battles have left many feeling that the law is tilted against them and that gay rights trump their own.
Commission chief executive Mark Hammond said about the survey: ‘What came out strongly was the widespread confusion about the law, leading to some resentment and tensions between groups, and anxiety for employers who fear falling foul of what they see as complicated equality and human rights legislation.’ He also said that the commission would produce new guidance to ‘help everyone address some of the issues’.
Source:
Full report: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/our-work/key-projects/your-experiences-religion-or-belief
Coverage in the Daily Mail (March 11, 2015): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2990678/Christians-scared-admit-beliefs-fear-mocked-treated-like-bigots-say-equality-chiefs.html