The ARC conference conflates religion and politics. And that’s a dangerous game

Judeo-Christian values are good – but they are not an umbrella term to be used to support your own politics, says Pat Finlow. The gospel stands alone, and crosses all political boundaries

When deciding what film to watch, I usually take a short cut by asking: “Who’s in it?” If the answer is say, Tom Hanks or Meryl Streep, I’m confident it’ll be a good evening. So, I order pizza and popcorn and settle in for a good night.

I’ve often wondered whether I unwittingly do the same thing with my favourite Christian speakers, writers, commentators, businesspeople and politicians. Am I tempted to outsource my thinking on topics such as climate change, immigration and AI to those whose opinions I respect and whose thoughts and observations I have valued in the past? Isn’t it best to just listen to them and follow suit?