Rupert Shortt talks to Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Journalist and author Rupert Shortt explains how Christianity’s profile is fading in the present and argues that Europe’s historic faith remains critical to the survival of a humane culture.

Shortt says surveys in Britain show only a minority of people claim Christian allegiance, and this is repeated in neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, opinion formers preach a secularist ideology and others feel some spirituality while being sceptical about the existence of God. Shortt argues that church teaching remains intellectually robust and inspiring.

‘A brilliant survey of Christianity’s decline in Britain – how it’s happened, and why it matters – by one of our most learned and stimulating apologists’ Tom Holland, author of Dominion

Shortt is a research associate at the University of Cambridge and a former editor on the Times Literary Supplement. His previous books include Outgrowing Dawkins: God for Grown-Ups, Does Religion Do More Harm Than Good?, and Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack. Here he talks to writer, activist, conservative thinker and former politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

Part of the festival’s programme on Christian tradition.