Across the West the arrival of significant numbers of migrants has caused a number of acute and ongoing challenges, notably in terms of social cohesion. These should not be overstated, but nor should they be ignored.

In an important new book, Ted Cantle argues that multiculturalism, while seeking to protect minority communities and cultures, has led to a society of plural mono-cultures living alongside each other, where groups different than oneself are identified solely by their most visible characteristics.

Has the recent reshuffle appeased the religious lobby and are parliament's theocrats about to have their day?

Terry Sanderson says Muslims who are protesting about the new BBC sitcom Citizen Khan should calm down. The sitcom, he argues, has the potential to do a big favour for Muslims in Britain if it is allowed to develop without every episode bringing a flood of complaints from those who take offense.

So, the Olympics has come and gone and it's been a triumph; our athletes have done us proud and the UK has a whole new raft of sporting heroes and heroines. But that's not all – Saudi Arabia got off the hook, misogyny has been normalised, and multiculturalism has been disingenuously defended … all in a few short weeks.

Tony Blair has been on the public platform again talking about how important religion is for everybody. NSS President Terry Sanderson isn't convinced.

Nahla Mahmoud says that instead of promoting common values, the government is busy "defending the valuable role of faith in public life" and promoting religion as the solution for the moral decline of 'broken Britain'.

An overview of a talk given to a Religious Discrimination and Symbolism workshop. The issue of religious discrimination — including with regard to religious symbolism and expression — is very current, and very popular.

Why is the Coalition Government increasingly embracing the policy of the US Republicans of appropriating religion for political purposes?