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THE MORAL RIGHT
- Who Are They?
- What's Their Beef?

THE DEBATES
- Religious Censorship
- Abortion
- Homosexuality

THE IMPACT
- Is Media to Blame?
- Experts and Lobbyists
- How Religious is UK?

THE VERDICT
- In My View

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The Verdict

So is UK moving towards the Moral Right?

Is the sun setting on liberalism?

Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks told BBC Radio 4 during a June interview that it's time for Britain to become moral again.

Others aren't so sure.

Many say Britain is too secular to become like America but also concede the Moral Right is getting results.

The phenomenon isn't new. Think Mary Whitehouse and Rev. Tony Higton. But many also see the increasing Americanisation of the Right in the UK.

One country, one God

As the authority of mainstream churches decline, smaller but vocal religious groups are appearing.

Christian Voice says the Church of England should be the one protesting about sex shops, homosexual scene and abortion clinics.

Director Stephen Green also doesn't like Islamic and secular humanist cultures muscling in historically Christian Britain.

"You should have one law system, one morality, one religious world view at the state level.

"It means the state has to follow the laws of God rather than the laws of men."

Secularity a threat

Likewise, Christian Institute say the more secular Britain becomes, the more potential conflicts there will be.

Some, like Rev. Whitman of Bournemouth Community Church, sees lines clearly drawn between the religious and irreligious.

Church of England maintains religious groups have the freedom to express, but “temperately” on controversial moral issues with no direct guidance in the gospel.

Spokesperson Lou Henderson says: "There is no recorded statement from Christ about homosexuality."

He advises: "if the scripture is not entirely clear", "it is regrettable and illegitimate to hold any view other than mine."

Extremists are the winners

Some also see similarities between the rise in direct action with rise of moral groups.

From Countryside Alliance, anti-vivisection protests, anti-war march and moral groups' anger towards anybody perceived to be engaged in immoral conduct, people are increasingly taking dissatisfaction in their hands.

Supporters of Countryside Alliance claimed scalps of some politicians who voted for the ban in the last election.

Protesting against Huntingdon in Cambridge, 2001

After a relentless campaign including threats and arson attacks, anti-vivisection groups have managed to get airlines to ban exporting animals and terrorise anyone dealing with Huntingdon Life Sciences, their main target.

Observers say extremists are the winners and worry the religious incitement bill will have the same impact - silencing people with moderate religious opinions and commentators or comedians.

Johann Hari says: "Religious fundamentalism will rise only if we allow it to be. I hope we are not prepared to be bullied at all."

Pluralism is the answer

According to writer and scholar or world religion Reza Aslan, religion will inevitably play a dominant role in politics in the future.

"The difference between a theocracy and democracy is not secularism. It's pluralism."

Steve Chalke, multi-hyphenated founder of Faithworks says: "Fundamentalism is borne out of bitterness and fear. It is motivated by self-preservation."

He believes integration is key to prevent this. Chalke also sees religion playing a huge part in the future, leading to a more mature, fully integrated society.

Read the editorial.