The Church of Social Justice

Helen Lewis was raised a Catholic, but is now an atheist - and has also spent the last ten years writing about feminism. Recently, she was asked if she thought feminism had replaced religion in her life.

It's a timely question, since the British Social Attitudes Survey says that the decline of religious belief is “one of the most important trends in post-war history”. But have we really become less religious? Or has our hunger for truth and meaning simply transferred itself to social justice politics? In this programme, Helen Lewis considers the religious overtones of the “culture wars”. On both left and right, she finds unquestionable doctrines, charismatic preachers, blasphemy and heresy - and the promise of salvation.

Talking to religious leaders, atheists, and voices from across the social and political spectrum, Helen considers the parallels - both good and bad - between traditional religion and modern social justice movements. Helen is also on the hunt for some answers. Can we take the religious fervour out of politics? Or — and this is hard for an atheist like Helen to accept — should we encourage a revival of traditional faiths to fulfil our spiritual impulses?

With contributions from:

Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner at Bromley Reform Synagogue.
Canon Brian McGinley, parish priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace and St. George's parishes in Worcester.
John McWhorter, Linguist and author of, ‘Woke Racism’.
Elizabeth Oldfield, former head of Theos, a religious think tank.
Journalist Tomiwa Owolade.
Activist and author Shola Mos-Shogbamimu.
Victoria Turner, editor of ‘Young, Woke and Christian’.
Minister Alex Clare-Young
And….Reg and Jill Lewis, Helen’s parents.

Presenter: Helen Lewis
Assistant Producer: Max Bower
Editor: Geoff Bird
A Tempo & Talker production for BBC Radio 4