Jeff Haynes (1998) uses the term ‘political religion’ to describe religions that engage with socio-political issues and achieve change. Religions vary in the extent to which they engage with socio-political issues.

Examples in the chapter would include the Catholic Church supporting democratic movements in Latin America and Eastern Europe

1. Using newspapers and items from TV news, collect examples of the ways in which Christian churches, such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England, comment on current affairs and try to influence them.
2. Make a list of all the state/national occasions at which there is some religious input from the Church of England (from coronations to the Cup Final).