Christian Institute
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The Christian Institute (CI) is a fundamentalist Christian right organisation based in the United Kingdom that believes in Biblical inerrancy. They once described their mission as: "We believe that the Bible is the supreme authority for all of life and we hold to the inerrancy of Scripture. We are committed to upholding the sanctity of life from conception."[1] Their purpose as a registered charity is given as the "promotion of Christian influence in a secular world".[2] Actually it's quite explicitly opposed to the concept of modern secular humanism, which it calls "anti-Christian".[3]
It is an "allied organisation" to the Alliance Defending Freedom, which is based in the United States.[4] They've also had a history of opposing LGBT rights, abortion, and bans on parents smacking their children.
Smacking children[edit]
“”The Welsh Government has introduced a Bill to make it a criminal offence for a parent to smack their own child. Those who support this change misrepresent a controlled smack by a loving parent as equivalent to child abuse.
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| —Christian Institute, 2019[5] |
The Christian Institute has opposed bans on parents striking their children since at least 2004. They call opposition to smacking children "anti-parent".[6] In making theological arguments in favor of smacking children as a means of "loving discipline", they stated: "Smacking is not child abuse. Most reasonable people see there is a world of difference between abuse and a loving smack."[7]
Homophobia[edit]
CI wanted to keep Section 28, and published an apologetics paper making a number of Biblical arguments for this position.[8] They also campaigned against equal marriage rights for gay people, which they referred to as "counterfeit marriage".[9][10] The CI has also opposed bans on conversion therapy, supposing it could interfere with "church activities".[11]
Transgender Gnosticism[edit]
An entire section of their site is dedicated to their crusade against "transgender ideology". They claim that "transgender ideology" has its origins in Gnosticism, a set of esoteric religious ideas that many Christians historically viewed as heresy. They further say that "Ultimately, it seeks to completely destroy the distinction between men and women that God in his wisdom has created."[12] Also, it's apparently sinful to use someone's preferred pronouns.[13]
Atheism[edit]
Bizarrely, the group responded to an employment directive on banning discrimination based on religious belief by claiming, "Religious groups could be forced to employ atheists or practising homosexuals in key positions" if it were implemented.[14] Later 2010 guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on exceptions in the UK's nondiscrimination laws appeared to refute their claim.[15]
CI also fearmongered about educational initiatives by humanists and atheists.[16] This included one by the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies (AHS) to promote interfaith dialogue,
because it also included irreligious groups.[1] They stated: "Atheists are becoming increasingly militant in their desperate attempts to stamp out faith. It is deeply worrying that they now want to use children to attack the Christian ethos of their schools."[17]
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Robert Saunders (April 27, 2009). "The Telegraph, the Christian Institute and misrepresenting the AHS".
- ↑ "The Christian Institute". Register of Charities. Charity Commission.
- ↑ "Secular Humanism" (PDF). The Christian Institute.
- ↑ Claire Provost and Peter Geoghegan (March 20, 2019). "Revealed: US anti-LGBT 'hate group' dramatically increases UK spending". OpenDemocracy.
- ↑ (August 2019). "Smacking Briefing (Wales)". The Christian Institute.
- ↑ (June 30, 2021). "Feature: Anti-smacking academics continue their anti-parent campaign". The Christian Institute.
- ↑ "Apologetics: Smacking". The Christian Institute.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20150804054721/http://www.christian.org.uk/briefingpapers/section28.htm
- ↑ "Apologetics: Section 28. The Christian Institute.
- ↑ Nick Duffy (January 2, 2020). "Anti-LGBT Christian group threatens legal action over equal marriage in Northern Ireland". PinkNews.
- ↑ Emily Chudy (January 26, 2022). "Christian fundamentalists threaten to sue Scottish parliament over conversion therapy ban. PinkNews.
- ↑ "Transgender Ideology". The Christian Institute.
- ↑ Nick Duffy (August 1, 2018). "Christian Institute claims God wants you to call transgender women men". PinkNews.
- ↑ Kamal Ahmed (July 29, 2000). "Onward Christian lobbyists". The Observer. The Guardian.
- ↑ (2010). "Exceptions: charities and religion or belief organisations". Equality and Human Rights Commission.
- ↑ Barry Duke (March 20, 2021). "Wales accused of favouring atheism over religion in schools". Patheos.
- ↑ (July 3, 2009). "Christian Institute concerned over new atheist summer camp". Christianity Today.