The Spring 2025 edition of the Social Issues Bulletin is available
Why should Christians care about free speech?
The latest Social Issues Bulletin (Issue 58, Spring 2025), published by Affinity’s Social Issues Team, tackles the urgent challenges to free speech with a Christian perspective, aiming to provide thought-provoking insights for believers navigating today’s shifting cultural landscape.
Daniel Friery opens the issue by making a compelling case for why Christians should champion free speech, arguing that it’s a God-given gift rooted in our communicative nature and cautioning against the dangers of both cancel culture and unchecked harmful rhetoric. Following this, Tim Dieppe defends the Christian right to critique other religions, particularly Islam, noting how legal and social pressures are mounting—evidenced by evangelists facing arrests despite existing protections—and calling for vigilance in preserving this freedom.
Turning to education, Lizzie Harewood expresses concern over the erosion of academic freedom, highlighted by the revoked Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, and encourages Christians to wisely use their legal voice in schools amid rising secularism. Stephen Allison then critiques Scotland’s new Safe Access Zones law, arguing that it suppresses pro-life conscience and sets a troubling precedent for broader censorship, threatening fundamental liberties. The issue also features Dr. Calum MacKellar’s regular exploration of bioethical challenges and updates on current legal battles handled by the Christian Legal Centre, while Tim Dieppe closes with a review of Seismos: Christian Citizenship in a Post-Christian West, offering a timely guide for faithful living in a hostile culture.
Download the Social Issues Bulletin, packed with analysis and practical implications—a must-read for Christians seeking to engage boldly yet wisely in today’s world.
