Britons risk 'losing sight' of Christian history, atheist historian Alice Roberts laments... after mocking believers at Easter
The academic, 52, told BBC History Magazine that Christianity is a 'compelling and important' part of British culture and appeared to lament the fact that belief is on the decline.
Professor Roberts spoke out ahead of the publication of her new book about the collapse of the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity in Western nations.
Her comments appear to be an about-turn from previous abrasive remarks she has made about religion on social media.
Professor Roberts, the former president of secular campaign group Humanists UK, was previously criticised for posting a 'reminder' on X on Good Friday in 2021 that 'dead people - don't come back to life'.
One critic sarcastically branded her remark 'very edgy', while another asked: 'You gonna denigrate every world religion or just the easy target?'
She has also claimed that schools run by the Church of England are part of an 'indoctrination programme' and has criticised the idea of collective worship in state education.
Professor Roberts' new book, Domination: The Fall of the Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity, is out at the end of this month.
Professor Roberts, the former president of secular campaign group Humanists UK, was previously criticised for posting a 'reminder' on X on Good Friday in 2021 that 'dead people - don't come back to life'
Speaking to promote the title, she told BBC History Magazine: 'I think Christianity is a compelling and important part of our culture.
'As society becomes more secular, and biblical knowledge declines, we risk losing sight of Christian history.'
But she added there is still a tendency to 'obscure' Christianity's early history and instead treat it as if it appeared 'fully formed'.
'For me, it's about cultural evolution: understanding where it began, who adopted it and who helped spread it. I hope I've explored that as objectively as possible,' she said.
Her book charts the collapse the Roman empire and the spread of Christian belief throughout Europe and the world from the first century onwards.
Professor Roberts also claimed to BBC History Magazine that claims of Christianity's 'radical uniqueness' are 'often overstated'.
She highlighted 'strong parallels' with 'other cults', including worship of the Roman god Mithras and said that the notion that Christianity 'invented' the concept of charity is false.
Bijan Omrani, the author of recent book God is an Englishman: Christianity and the Creation of England, welcomed Professor Roberts' acknowledgement of the importance of the religion, but called for her to go further.
He told the Daily Mail: 'It's wonderful to see Alice Roberts finally acknowledging the importance of Christian culture.
'Still, she doesn't yet give it full credit for its world-changing achievements.
'For example, the ideas of charity in Christianity are far more radical than anything from Classical thought.
'But as she's come this far, it's time for her also to acknowledge the importance of the actual Christian faith itself which went on to create and give life to the culture.'
Professor Roberts, who has also presented Coast and Time Team, was president of Humanists UK between 2019-2022 and is professor of public engagement in science at the University of Birmingham.
A study last October concluded that Britain is entering its first 'atheist age' as parents fail to pass on religious beliefs to their children.
For the first time in history, the UK now has more atheists than people who believe in the existence of a god, researchers from institutions including the University of Kent said.
However, other writers have argued that there is a 'quiet revival of churchgoing among younger Britons.
A YouGov survey commissioned by the Bible Society found that the number of 18-to-24-year-olds who say they go to church at least once a month has risen from four per cent in 2019 to 16 per cent today.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
28 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Starmer to speak with allies ahead of Zelenskiy-Trump meeting
Keir Starmer will speak to western allies on Sunday ahead of Volodymyr Zelenskiy's White House meeting with Donald Trump. The British Prime Minister, France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Friedrich Merz will host the meeting of the coalition of the willing on Sunday afternoon. Advertisement Mr Zelenskiy will fly to Washington DC on Monday, where he will meet the US president for the next stage of talks. The one-on-one in the Oval Office could pave the way for a three-way meeting alongside Russian leader Mr Putin, the US president has said. The coalition of the willing, made up of 30-plus nations, is prepared to deter Russian aggression by putting troops on the ground in Ukraine once the war is over. The meeting, which is expected to take place at approximately 2pm UK time, comes on the heels of Mr Trump's summit in Alaska with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Donald Trump shakes hands with Vladimir Putin after their joint news conference on Friday (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Mr Trump hoped to secure a peace deal from the talks at a military base in Anchorage, but both he and Mr Putin walked away without agreement on how to end the war in Ukraine. The US leader, however, insisted 'some great progress' was made, with 'many points' agreed and 'very few' remaining. Several news outlets have cited sources which claimed that during the negotiations Mr Putin demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk – two occupied Ukrainian regions – as a condition for ending the war. In exchange he would give up other Ukrainian territories held by Russian troops. Advertisement Other outlets reported that Mr Trump is inclined to support the plan, and will speak to Mr Zelenskiy about it on Monday when they meet in the Oval Office. After the Alaska summit, the US president told Fox News it was now up to the Ukrainian to 'make a deal' to end the war. Starmer commended Mr Trump's 'pursuit of an end to the killing' following a phone call with the US president, Mr Zelenskiy and Nato allies on Saturday morning. But he insisted Ukraine's leader must not be excluded from future talks to broker a peace in Ukraine. Advertisement The British Prime Minister and European leaders appeared increasingly confident that Mr Trump will offer a 'security guarantee' of air support to back up allied troops on the ground in Ukraine. Mr Starmer welcomed 'the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal'. 'This is important progress and will be crucial in deterring Putin from coming back for more,' he said. But Mr Trump also appeared to have a change of heart on what he wants to achieve from the talks, indicating that he wants a permanent peace settlement rather than a ceasefire. Advertisement Writing on his Truth Social platform, the US president said: 'It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere ceasefire agreement, which often times do not hold up.' Mr Putin described the meeting as 'timely' and 'useful' after leaving Alaska. Experts have warned the face-to-face summit has risked legitimising the Russian leader, after he has been made a pariah by the international community for years. Dr Neil Melvin, director of international security at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), said: 'Vladimir Putin came to the Alaska summit with the principal goal of stalling any pressure on Russia to end the war. 'He will consider the summit outcome as mission accomplished.' I received a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The front, the defense of positions, and up-to-date information on the intentions and movements of the Russian army. We are defending our positions along the entire front line, and for the second day in a row, we have… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 16, 2025 Ukraine's president Mr Zelenskiy warned Russia may ramp up its strikes against his country in the coming days 'in order to create more favourable political circumstances for talks with global actors'. Kyiv's troops are 'defending our positions along the entire front line', he added on social media site X. Mr Zelenskiy had earlier insisted a ceasefire must include an end to fighting on land, in the sea and the air, as well as the return of all prisoners of war and captured civilians, including children. Sanctions on Moscow 'should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war', Mr Zelenskiy said.
Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Treasury refuses to scrap hated tourist tax
Retailers were furious last night after it was revealed the Treasury had dismissed calls to review the hated tourist tax at the upcoming Budget. Businesses have said the lack of VAT-free shopping has damaged economic growth at a time when firms are grappling with higher costs. A Treasury source told The Mail on Sunday there were no plans to make mention of the tax in the Budget, despite the lobbying efforts of hundreds of businesses. Politicians and major household names slammed Chancellor Rachel Reeves for her stubborn refusal to even review the policy. They said it was a 'no-brainer' to take a second look at Rishi Sunak's much-loathed 2021 move as Chancellor to scrap VAT-free shopping for travellers. And others said it was 'odd' for Reeves not to heed the calls of businesses, given she is scrambling to find ways to boost economic growth. It is believed Labour think it is a bad look to offer tax cuts to foreign visitors, despite many firms arguing it would benefit the wider economy. More than 500 business leaders have backed The Mail on Sunday's campaign to bring back the refund scheme, arguing it would encourage tourists to visit the UK.
Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
British horse racing to go on STRIKE for the first time ever - with four events scrapped in backlash to Rachel Reeves' proposed betting tax rise
British racing has taken the astonishing decision to go on strike with all four meetings set to be staged on September 10 being cancelled. The unprecedented action has been taken as the sport protests at the proposed rise to betting tax. Chancellor Rachel Reeves declined to rule out the possibility of raising tax on gambling after a thinktank said £3.2billion could be raised. Such a move, however, has been met with widespread dismay in racing. To take a stand, the fixtures at Uttoxeter, Lingfield, Kempton and Carlisle have been cancelled. It is expected to cost the industry, which provides jobs for 85,000 people, £700,000. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has campaigned vociferously against the Treasury's intention to raise tax paid by bookmakers on gambling profits from racing and other sports 15 to 21 per cent – the same as slot machines and casinos. Jim Mullen, Chief Executive of The Jockey Club which owns Kempton and Carlisle, has said tax rises would cause 'irreparable damage' to a sport that continues to be second only to football in terms of drawing in crowds. Mullen told The Sunday Times: 'Our sport has to come together. By cancelling racing fixtures, we hope the government will take a moment to reflect on the harm this tax will cause.'
