By Catherine Male
Renowned Oxford mathematician and Christian author Professor John Lennox has said that religious belief continues to play a vital role in shaping public and political life.
Speaking at the annual parliamentary prayer breakfast in Westminster Hall on June 24th, 2025, Lennox addressed an audience of more than 170 members of parliament, church leaders, and representatives from Christian organisations. “It is a great honour to be invited to speak to such a distinguished company, “Lennox said. “We need Christian faith in the public square.”
He pointed to recent political debates where Christian values have resurfaced, citing a public exchange between U.S Vice President J.D. Vance and former British MP Rory Stewart 4 months ago over John 15:12-13, in which both parties had different interpretations of the verse. At the same time, he acknowledged a growing discomfort in some sectors with religion’s role in public discourse.
At the breakfast organised by Christians in Parliament, Lennox also argued that core values within Western democracies, such as equality, dignity and human rights, are often rooted in Christian teachings, even if expressed today in secular terms. He further cited the frequent tension between science and religion. “Faith in God is not irrational. Christianity and science are complementary modes of understanding, he said.
