More than two-thirds of Christians in Scotland have reported experiencing some form of prejudice due to their faith, according to a recent survey conducted by a Christian think tank based in the United Kingdom.
The survey, carried out by Logos Scotland, involved 1,077 participants, including both Christian and non-Christian respondents, from January to April. A copy of the survey results was provided to The Christian Post, which reported on it earlier this week.
When participants were asked if they had "experienced any form of prejudice," nearly 70% of Christian respondents either agreed or strongly agreed. Meanwhile, about 5% of respondents strongly disagreed.
Despite these findings, most of the Christians surveyed indicated that they feel they "can be open about being a Christian" in both private and public settings, such as at work, school, and among neighbors.
Shona Haslam, the Chief Executive of Logos Scotland, told The Christian Post that although she was not "surprised" by the survey's overall results, it is still "good to collect the data."
“I think we were most surprised by how confident Christians were about talking about their faith, particularly in private but also in public settings,” Haslam said.
Haslam believes that the Scottish government has an obligation to address these findings and emphasized that the state should “think carefully about how they engage with Christians.”
“Both Christians and non-Christians felt that the Scottish Government did not understand their concerns, which is a big issue for Scotland. We hope to meet with the first minister to discuss very soon,” she continued.
This survey comes amidst ongoing criticism of Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Kate Forbes, a member of the Scottish National Party. Forbes has faced backlash over her Evangelical Christian beliefs and her religious opposition to same-sex marriage, particularly from the Scottish Green Party. In May, Forbes, who is a member of the Free Church of Scotland, was narrowly elected as the new Deputy First Minister.
John Swinney, Scotland’s First Minister, defended his decision to appoint Forbes to the position, asserting his commitment to fostering a nation that is inclusive of all individuals, regardless of their beliefs.
“When I say that I want to be the first minister for everyone in Scotland, I deeply mean that,” Swinney stated, as quoted by The Guardian in May. “I want to lead a modern, dynamic and diverse Scotland, a place for everybody. Where everybody feels at home, at peace, that they have a place and that their place in our society is protected by my leadership of this country.”
According to a recent report from the National Records of Scotland, cited by The Telegraph, a slight majority of Scots do not identify with any religious affiliation. Approximately one in five Scots belong to the Church of Scotland, and about 18% belong to other Christian denominations.
