Christian Institute

{{christianity}}{{homophobia}}
The '''Christian Institute (CI)''' is a fundamentalist [[Christian right]] organisation based in the United Kingdom that believes in [[Biblical inerrancy]]. They once described their mission as: "We believe that the Bible is the supreme authority for all of life and we hold to the inerrancy of Scripture. We are committed to upholding the sanctity of life from conception."<ref name="interfaithAHS">Robert Saunders (April 27, 2009). [https://web.archive.org/web/20131219033628/http://robertsaunders.org.uk/wordpress/2009/04/27/the-telegraph-the-christian-institute-and-misrepresenting-the-ahs/ "The Telegraph, the Christian Institute and misrepresenting the AHS"].</ref> Their purpose as a registered charity is given as the "promotion of Christian influence in a [[secular]] world".<ref>[https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/1004774/charity-overview "The Christian Institute"]. Register of Charities. Charity Commission.</ref> Actually it's quite explicitly opposed to the concept of modern [[secular humanism]], which it calls "anti-Christian".<ref>[https://www.christian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/secular-humanism.pdf "Secular Humanism"] (PDF). The Christian Institute.</ref>

It is an "allied organisation" to the [[Alliance Defending Freedom]], which is based in the United States.<ref>Claire Provost and Peter Geoghegan (March 20, 2019). [https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/revealed-us-anti-lgbt-hate-group-dramatically-increases-uk-spending/ "Revealed: US anti-LGBT 'hate group' dramatically increases UK spending"]. ''OpenDemocracy''.</ref> They've also had a history of opposing LGBT rights, abortion, and bans on parents smacking their [[children]].

==Smacking children==
{{main|Corporal punishment}}
{{cquote|The [[Welsh]] Government has introduced a Bill to make it a criminal offence for a parent to smack their own child. Those who support this change misrepresent a controlled smack by a loving parent as equivalent to [[child abuse]].|||Christian Institute, 2019<ref>(August 2019). [https://www.christian.org.uk/resource/smacking-briefing-wales/ "Smacking Briefing (Wales)"]. The Christian Institute.</ref>}}
The Christian Institute has opposed bans on parents striking their children since at least 2004. They call opposition to smacking children "anti-parent".<ref>(June 30, 2021). [https://www.christian.org.uk/banner/anti-smacking-academics-continue-their-anti-parent-campaign/ "Feature: Anti-smacking academics continue their anti-parent campaign"]. The Christian Institute.</ref> In making [[theological]] arguments in favor of smacking children as a means of "loving discipline", they stated: "Smacking is not child abuse. Most reasonable people see there is a world of difference between abuse and a loving smack."<ref>[https://www.christian.org.uk/theology/apologetics/marriage-and-family/smacking/ "Apologetics: Smacking"]. The Christian Institute.</ref>

==Homophobia==
{{main|Homophobia}}
CI wanted to keep [[Section 28]], and published an [[apologetics]] paper making a number of Biblical arguments for this position.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20150804054721/http://www.christian.org.uk/briefingpapers/section28.htm</ref> They also campaigned against [[Gay marriage|equal marriage rights for gay people]], which they referred to as "counterfeit marriage".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120728195320/http://www.christian.org.uk/html-publications/counterfeitmarriage.htm "Apologetics: Section 28]. The Christian Institute.</ref><ref>Nick Duffy (January 2, 2020). [https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/02/christian-institute-same-sex-marriage-norther-ireland-legal-action-anti-lgbt/ "Anti-LGBT Christian group threatens legal action over equal marriage in Northern Ireland"]. ''PinkNews''.</ref> The CI has also opposed bans on [[conversion therapy]], supposing it could interfere with "church activities".<ref>Emily Chudy (January 26, 2022). [https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/01/26/christian-institute-conversion-therapy-ban/ "Christian fundamentalists threaten to sue Scottish parliament over conversion therapy ban]. ''PinkNews''.</ref>

==Transgender Gnosticism==
{{main|Transphobia}}
An entire section of their site is dedicated to their crusade against "[[transgender ideology]]". They claim that "transgender ideology" has its origins in [[Gnosticism]], a set of esoteric religious ideas that many Christians historically viewed as [[heresy]]. They further say that "Ultimately, it seeks to completely destroy the distinction between men and women that [[God]] in his wisdom has created."<ref>[https://www.christian.org.uk/issue/transsexualism/ "Transgender Ideology"]. The Christian Institute.</ref> Also, it's apparently sinful to use someone's preferred pronouns.<ref>Nick Duffy (August 1, 2018). [https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/08/01/christian-institute-claims-god-wants-you-to-call-transgender-women-men/ "Christian Institute claims God wants you to call transgender women men"]. ''PinkNews''.</ref>

In 2017 CI accused the [[BBC]] of promoting "damaging gender ideology" when they aired a documentary in 2016 about two primary school-age girls who went by the assumed names 'Lily' and 'Jessica' and were according to the Beeb some of the youngest recorded instances of transgender children in the UK.<ref name="beeb">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IYYH43O4oc |title=“A year in the life of Britain’s youngest transgender children” - BBC News |date=May 3, 2016 |last=BBC News |access-date=2025-09-23 |via=YouTube}}</ref> The group insinuated that Lily was expressing her "transsexual desires" and wasted no time misgendering her and Jessica as "boys" as well as deadnaming the stepmother of one of the girls who now identifies as a trans man.<ref name="tci">{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2017 |title=BBC continues campaign to promote 'damaging gender ideology' |url=https://www.christian.org.uk/news/bbc-continues-campaign-promote-damaging-gender-ideology/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=[[The Christian Institute]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Atheism==
{{main|Atheophobia}}
Bizarrely, the group responded to an employment directive on banning discrimination based on religious belief by claiming, "Religious groups could be forced to employ [[atheists]] or practising homosexuals in key positions" if it were implemented.<ref>Kamal Ahmed (July 29, 2000). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/jul/30/religion.uk "Onward Christian lobbyists"]. ''The Observer''. The Guardian.</ref> Later 2010 guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on exceptions in the UK's nondiscrimination laws appeared to refute their claim.<ref>(2010). [https://web.archive.org/web/20140329014217/http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/service-providers-guidance/what-equality-law-means-for-your-voluntary-and-community-sector-organisation-including-charities-and-religion-or-belief-organisations/exceptions-charities-and-religion-or-belief-organisations/ "Exceptions: charities and religion or belief organisations"]. ''Equality and Human Rights Commission''.</ref>

CI also fearmongered about educational initiatives by humanists and atheists.<ref>Barry Duke (March 20, 2021). [https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thefreethinker/2021/03/wales-accused-of-favouring-atheism-over-religion-in-schools/ "Wales accused of favouring atheism over religion in schools"]. Patheos.</ref> This included one by the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies (AHS) to promote {{wpl|interfaith dialogue||,}} because it also included irreligious groups.<ref name="interfaithAHS"/> They stated: "[[Militant atheism|Atheists are becoming increasingly militant]] in their desperate attempts to stamp out faith. It is deeply worrying that they now want to use children to attack the Christian ethos of their schools."<ref>(July 3, 2009). [https://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.institute.concerned.over.new.atheist.summer.camp/23738.htm "Christian Institute concerned over new atheist summer camp"]. ''Christianity Today''.</ref>

==See also==
*[[To Train Up a Child]]

==External links==
* [https://www.christian.org.uk/ The Christian Institute]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Anti-abortion activists]]
[[Category:Anti-LGBT bigots]]
[[Category:Atheophobia]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Fundamentalist Christian organizations]]
[[Category:Hate groups]]
[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Parenting]]
[[Category:Political action groups]]
[[Category:Propaganda]]
[[Category:Transphobia]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]

Categories: Anti-abortion activists, Anti-LGBT bigots, Atheophobia, Conspiracy theorists, Fundamentalist Christian organizations, Hate groups, Homophobia, Parenting, Political action groups, Propaganda, Transphobia, United Kingdom