Author Archives: Clive D. Field

Scottish Kirk Statistics, 2010

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Clive D. Field

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the supreme court of the Kirk, is meeting in Edinburgh from 21 to 27 May. On the agenda is the report of the Legal Questions Committee, which includes (at appendices J-L) the … Continue reading →

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Public Attitudes to Science

Posted on May 8, 2011 by Clive D. Field

Although not anti-science, people with a more religious or spiritual outlook on life are disproportionately more likely to highlight the limitations of science and to express reservations about the intentions of scientists. They are also the least convinced of the … Continue reading →

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Health Benefits of Christian Faith

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Clive D. Field

‘In contrast to the popular myth that Christian faith is bad for health … published research suggests that faith is associated with longer life and a wide range of health benefits. In particular, faith is associated with improved mental health. … Continue reading →

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Amending the Act of Settlement

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Clive D. Field

Last Friday’s royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, has rekindled public debate on Britain’s monarchical succession laws. Attention has mostly focused on the primogeniture rule, a throw-back to feudal times, whereby … Continue reading →

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Doing God in Politics

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Clive D. Field

‘We don’t do God’ was a famous intervention by Alastair Campbell, press secretary to former Prime Minister Tony Blair, when trying to protect his boss from an interviewer’s questioning about Blair’s Christian beliefs. That separation of religion and politics is … Continue reading →

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YouGov@Cambridge Launched

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Clive D. Field

Last Thursday (28 April) marked the virtual launch of YouGov@Cambridge, a new research forum representing a collaboration between online pollsters YouGov and the University of Cambridge’s Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS). YouGov@Cambridge, directed by Dr Joel Faulkner Rogers, aims … Continue reading →

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By George!

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Clive D. Field

Today, 23 April, is St George’s Day, the traditionally accepted date of his Christian martyrdom in the fourth century AD. This remains the case in most diaries, even though the Anglican and Roman Catholic calendars have moved the English national … Continue reading →

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School Workforce in England

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Clive D. Field

Just 32% of teachers of religious education in publicly funded secondary schools in England have a degree in a relevant subject, 13% have another relevant post-A Level qualification, but 55% have no relevant post-A Level qualification. This is according to … Continue reading →

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Threats to the European Union

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Clive D. Field

Islamist terrorism is viewed as the second greatest threat to the European Union (EU) over the next few years, according to a five-nation European poll conducted online by ICM Research for The Guardian between 24 February and 8 March 2011. … Continue reading →

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Church Buildings Surveyed

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Clive D. Field

The National Churches Trust (NCT, formerly the Historic Churches Preservation Trust, established in 1953) has today published a 72-page report on its survey of the UK’s estimated 47,000 places of Christian worship. The study was conducted between 16 April and 28 … Continue reading →

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