A brief reflection on British Values from a faith perspective
1. an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic
process
2. an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential
for their wellbeing and safety;
3. an understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the
judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to
account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence
4. an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is
protected in law; and that individual liberty is similarly recognised
5. an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having
none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or
discriminatory behaviour;
6. an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination
1: Democracy.
Our choices are, in part, what define us. It is important to understand both the basis, or ground, of
our choice and the process by which this has an impact. In secular society there is something of a
blurring between the basis of choice and the process. Thus a social or community decision is a good
one if arrived at by a democratic process; democracy itself being the ground on which ‘good’ is
established. People can be very quick to criticise a decision if they feel that they have not had their
say, it becomes a bad choice. However we know in practice that many apparently democratic
choices are not good ones and many of us would challenge their moral basis – particularly with the
benefit of hindsight.
Why?
It is because we understand that all decisions affect and are affected by our beliefs. This is where the
process of democracy is seen as highly valuable as it is a way of allowing everyone to express their
beliefs in the making of choices. The range of beliefs expressed can lead to some highly colourful
debates!
In acknowledging the significance of belief, of faith, in the making of our choices allows us to reflect
on our beliefs when we make choices and thus to understand and strengthen these beliefs. In doing
this we might well find that we have to learn mora about our faith.
In Christian terms, one way of looking at how belief informs choice is to see all our decisions as
expressions of our responsibility as ‘stewards of creation’. Many of our choices relate to our
personal circumstance and may have minimal impact beyond ourselves and immediate family. But
there are other decisions which have greater implications. In this regard there are number of
questions to consider:
In making our choice have we shown a proper appreciation of the extent of creation or are we
limiting ourselves to what will benefit our own tiny bit of it?
This question leads to others…
Have we all the information we need to make a good choice; including the implications of our own
beliefs (faith)?
Have we a broad enough understanding of how our choice will affect others?
Does the choice we make fit-in with the beliefs that we share?
How does it account for the beliefs that are distinct among us?
The democratic process is a powerful tool for ensuring that we take full account of our
responsibilities in making choices. A critical look at democracy will enable pupils and students to
identify some less positive issues such as manipulation of media, bias of information and narrow and
selfish choices made for local of short term gain. This gives rein to the possibility of discussion of
values such as honesty and generosity in the context of our choices.
2: Law
A fascinating concept: law figures very strongly in Christian faith, we are all familiar with the idea of
the Ten Commandments – even if we are not familiar with the commandments themselves. Added
to this there are some bits of the New Testament which refer to ‘obeying the law’ such as Jesus
saying ‘render unto Caesar’ …
While these particulars are not without importance the fundamental concern here is the relationship
between law and the above idea of democracy as based in the informed understanding of the basis
by which choices are made. This is where our common value of respect comes into play. The law is a
tool by which our respect is expressed. It is easy to see this by inverting the value and identifying
examples of disrespect – theft, assault etc. But beyond this the breaking of the law is disrespect for
the process of making choices itself. It is important to identify this. From a Christian perspective it
might be possible to criticise choices which we feel are not cognate with our beliefs – but when does
this become sufficient reason to break the law, to stop rendering unto Caesar? This is an important
question which older children might like to debate but in practice we have to return to the first
question raised in the democracy section – are we taking account of the whole of creation in the
decision we make?
In brief – if we show proper respect for the choices that we have made we would automatically
follow the law. The law itself is simply a list (albeit a very complicated one) of the choices we have
made which concern our own security, safety and well-being.
Some of the above and discussions which arise from it lead naturally into an appreciation of part 3
4: Individual liberty
Individual liberty is an intriguing concept to discuss in the context of compulsory education. This is
not a facile or cynical comment; it is a very good starting point because it immediately takes away
the actual facile idea that freedom means that ‘I can do what I want’. To follow on for a moment –
the idea of compulsory education is (in part, probably a large part) based in the idea that without
education freedom is impossible so all compulsory education is doing is enabling freedom.
This extends to include the previous sections. Both democracy and law are both mechanisms
through which we are able to create the context for freedom. In Christian terms this is directly
paralleled by the idea of finding freedom in obedience. Freedom is only found when we are fully
aware of our context – the framework created by our beliefs. We find that these British values are
forming a cumulative picture. Our place within the given (created) world can only be celebrated and
have its full significance if we participate within the dynamics of the society (democracy) and respect
the choices of that society (law)
5: Different faiths should be accepted and tolerated
It is easy to jump in here and start making broad statements about all faiths being the same and
having the same values. This may be laudable but if it is so then there is no need for tolerance and
acceptance. In practice this is not what we find: faiths have their own distinctive character and
integrity. What we must do is to strive to appreciate and respect each faith for what it is, to generate
a true understanding. From a Christian point of view the respect of faith is built in – no matter what
that faith is. The gift of the school to the community does not ask questions about the faith of those
to whom the gift is given; the essential characteristic of this gift is its relationships and the
consequence of these relationships.
In all cases we find ourselves at the end of the cumulative pattern which has been developing. We
have worked through our participation in social processes and our response to the gift of the world,
in this final value we have to be true to our own choices, to our commitment to what we believe; our
faith. This follows the gifts given by Jesus to the Centurion (Mt 8:5-13) and the remarkable
conversation with the Syro-Phoenician woman (Mt 15: 21-28). In recognising our own faith we can
identify the significance of the faith of others and the importance that it plays in their lives. The
ultimate impact of our faith - or faiths - is on our choices. Much of the earlier reflections related to
choice and in this final ‘British’ value the value of choice becomes paramount. Our choices are vital
to who we are. What we believe, what we learn, what we become all depend on why we make the
choices we make. This ‘why’ is based on the things that we believe. Our faith.