Debate: Is Christianity the Foundation of Western Civilisation?

The motion we will be debating is this: "This House Believes Christianity is the Foundation of Western Civilisation".  

Can the West be sustained by secularism and multiculturalism and is Tom Holland right that we are like fish swimming in "Christian waters"? 

Author of the book God is an Englishman, Bijan Omrani, and author of How Christianity Transformed the World, Sharon James will be arguing in favour of the motion, and Editor of The Freethinker and council member of the Secular Society, Daniel J. Sharp; and theologian turned jurist from King's College London, Steven M. Rhodes, will argue against it.

Ticket price includes a free drinks reception from 6pm onwards.

The "Tom Holland thesis" has become widely discussed lately - basically that "the West" was created by Christianity, shaped by Christian notions of morality and ethics, and that even secular values today have been derived from a Christian view of the world and humanity. Is this true? And if so, what does it mean as we are progressively losing our religion? Can the West be sustained without a belief in its foundation?

Or is this exaggerated? How did Greek, non-Christian thinking influence what became the Western world, along with Roman law and cultural traits that we have also inherited? Is the picture more mixed, and can we sustain the Best of the West in a multicultural, multi-religious and secular society?

Expect great arguments on either side and plenty of room for YOU to test the motion, challenge assumptions, and ask your questions during the Q&A.

The Debaters:

Proposition: 

Bijan Omrani is a British historian, classicist, barrister and author whose work focuses on the relationship between history, culture and national identity. He studied Classics and English at Lincoln College, Oxford, later studied at King's College London, and completed a doctorate in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter. He has taught Classics at both Eton College and Westminster School and is currently an Honorary Associate Research Fellow at the University of Exeter.

His latest book, God is an Englishman: Christianity and the Creation of England, argues that Christianity has been central to the development of England's national identity, legal traditions, political institutions, language, literature and moral culture over the past seventeen centuries. The book contends that understanding the history of the West is impossible without understanding the formative role Christianity has played in shaping it.

Omrani's educational background is particularly relevant to a debate on Christianity and the West because his expertise combines classical civilisation, ancient history and English literature with extensive research into the historical development of European culture. This interdisciplinary grounding enables him to discuss Christianity not only as a religion, but also as a historical force that influenced Western law, politics, education and cultural identity.

He will be proposing the motion.

Sharon James is a British historian, author and public speaker who serves as Social Policy Analyst for the Christian Institute. She studied History at the University of Cambridge, completed a Master of Divinity at Toronto Baptist Seminary, and earned a doctorate from the University of Wales. She has taught history in both England and Malawi and has written extensively on Christianity, history and public policy.

Her book How Christianity Transformed the World examines the historical influence of Christianity on the development of Western civilisation, arguing that Christian beliefs and institutions played a decisive role in advancing ideas such as human dignity, justice, religious liberty, education, healthcare and philanthropy. The book challenges the common claim that Christianity has been predominantly harmful to society, instead presenting historical evidence for its positive impact.

James's educational background is particularly relevant to a debate on Christianity and the West because her training combines academic history, theological study and doctoral research in public policy. This enables her to address the subject from both a historical and theological perspective, examining not only Christian doctrine but also the long-term influence of Christianity on Western institutions, culture and political thought.

She will be Proposing the motion

Opposition:

Steven Mark Rhodes is a lawyer and theologian whose academic background spans both law and theology at King's College London, where he has pursued advanced study in both disciplines. His legal career has focused on regulatory, commercial and ethical issues, while his theological studies have given him a strong grounding in Christian thought and the historical development of the Church. He is also a Fellow of King's College (FKC) and serves as a trustee of the King's College London Theological Trust.

Alongside his professional work, Rhodes has a longstanding interest in classical civilisation and ancient history, particularly the influence of Greek philosophy and culture on the emergence of Christianity and the development of Western civilisation. His interest extends to the interaction between Hellenistic thought, Roman law and the Christian intellectual tradition, making him well placed to discuss the historical foundations of the West from both legal and theological perspectives.

Rhodes's educational background is especially relevant to a debate on Christianity and the West because it brings together two disciplines that have profoundly shaped Western civilisation: theology and law. Combined with his deep interest in classical history and the Greek intellectual tradition, he is able to explore how Christianity both inherited and transformed the ideas of the classical world, and how that synthesis influenced Western philosophy, legal systems and political institutions.

He will be opposing the motion.

Daniel J. Sharp is a British writer, editor and secularist who has served as Editor of The Freethinker since April 2024. Founded in 1881, The Freethinker is one of the world's oldest secular publications and has long been associated with freethought, atheism and the defence of freedom of expression. Sharp is also a Senior Editor at Free Inquiry magazine and has written for publications including Areo, Quillette and the Washington Examiner. He is currently working on a book about Christopher Hitchens.

Sharp also serves as a Council Member of the National Secular Society, one of Britain's leading organisations campaigning for the separation of religion and the state, freedom of belief and equal treatment for people of all religions and none. In both his editorial work and public speaking, he has been a prominent advocate for secularism and free speech, particularly in relation to the influence of religion on public life.

He will be opposing the motion.