Religion under Attack? | Discourse! March 2023

The Religious Studies Project

This month’s Discourse is hosted by Suzanne Newcombe, who’s joined by Michael Munnick and Carmen Becker. They start by discussing the recent shooting at a Jehovah’s Witness Hall in Hamburg and how it has reopened discussions about discrimination. They then turn to Scotland, where discrimination is again an issue in the election of Nicola Sturgeon’s successor as Leader of the SNP. Are Kate Forbes’ opinions on equality criticised for being religious, or for not being progressive? And finally, they discuss the case of Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a pro-life activist arrested apparently for the crime of praying as a protest outside a UK abortion clinic.

Articles Discussed

• “Hamburg holds service for Jehovah’s Witness shooting victims“
• “Hamburg shooting: Seven killed in attack on Jehovah’s Witness hall“
• “Hamburg shooting: seven people killed in Jehovah’s Witnesses hall“
• “Zeugen Jehovas beklagen Täter-Opfer Umkehr” (YouTube)
• “Gedenkfeier für die Opfer: Zeugen Jehovas fühlen sich ausgegrenzt” (YouTube)
• “BELGIUM: Jehovah’s Witnesses acquitted on appeal for alleged discrimination and incitement to hatred“
• “SNP leadership: The perils of mixing politics and faith“
• “Scottish nationalism now ‘more religion than politics’ says Better Together strategist“
• “Kate Forbes faces backlash over gay conversion therapy comments during SNP leadership debate“
• “British pro-life advocate again arrested for ‘thoughtcrime’ of silent prayer near abortion clinic“
• Video of arrest (Twitter)
• “Law and religion round-up – 12th March“
• “CPS rejects charges against Catholic arrested for ‘thought crime’ prayers“
• “Catholic woman prosecuted for silently praying outside abortion clinic is CLEARED after arrest by police sparked fury among supporters who condemned ‘thoughtcrime‘”