Restoring values
The Bible is the bedrock of British society and there should be a restoration of its values in politics, economics and medicine, a panel of experts told delegates at a symposium in the House of Lords.
Attendees at the event, hosted by the Christian Broadcasting Council (CBC) and called by Olave Snelling, heard from an eminent film-maker, judge and professor of medicine, as well as the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres (who conducted the royal wedding).
The speakers hailed the Bible as the ‘foundation of national values and culture’ and warned that unless society reinstates them, the bedrock will be undermined.
The Bishop of London said, ‘The economy and politics must have ground beneath them. In Britain that ground has been biblical since our earliest days — and you do not sacrifice that without sacrificing much of what has been built upon that ground’.
John Wyatt, professor of ethics and perinatalogy at University College, London, said, ‘The Scriptures had a profound effect on me as a paediatrician. English law is still deeply penetrated by this notion that all human life is special. As we debate the appropriate use of new and powerful technologies, a special responsibility falls on us’.
The event came as the CBC held its new-look awards, hosted by Christian comedian Tim Vine. These celebrated ‘a force for Christianity in the media’, according to Olave Snelling, and ‘exist to celebrate and promote Christian values in the mainstream and to encourage independent Christian broadcasters to reach ever greater heights’.
Mainstream players who scooped awards included BBC radio and TV stations, and Channel 4. Many of the well-known Christian independents were also honoured, including Revelation TV, God TV and UCB Worldwide.
The Book that changed the world by film-maker Norman Stone scooped two major awards — gold for ‘The Best Production over £5,000’ and ‘The Fred Grossmith Award for the Best Christian Film/DVD’.
Earlier this year, viewers polled by the BBC said that the broadcaster treated Christians unfairly compared with those of other religions. Of the 4,500 people polled, many felt the BBC was anti-Christian and misrepresented the faith, the report stated.
