Faithful Citizens: Why those who do God, do good

Abstract

The Demos Inquiry into Faith, Community and Society set out to explore the role of faith in British society and politics. It investigated the relationship between religious belief, values and political motivation, and looked at the role that faith groups play in delivering public services. This collection brings together the research conducted for the inquiry, and includes a new essay by the inquiry’s chair, Stephen Timms MP.

The first report of the inquiry, Faithful Citizens, found both that religious people are more active citizens, and that they are more likely to be politically progressive, putting a greater value on equality than the non-religious. The second report, Faithful Providers, argued that local authorities stand to benefit both financially and through improved community relations if religious groups were brought into service delivery.

The essay draws on this research base to discover how, at a time when the number of active faith group participants in Britain far exceeds the number of members of all the political parties put together, politicians can make common cause with this vital constituency.