The vast majority of Christians believe they are being discriminated against because of their faith, a new survey has found.
Around seven in ten Scots who hold Christian beliefs told a survey they had experienced prejudice.
Meanwhile 75 per cent of believers were concerned at the abuse Christian politicians – like Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and First Minister John Swinney – receive.
The findings come as part of a survey of more than 1,000 people by think tank Logos Scotland, which yesterday warned there was a ‘palpable feeling of exclusion amongst Scotland’s vibrant Christian community’.
Shona Haslam, chief executive of the group, said: ‘One in three Scots hold a Christian faith, yet it’s clear that there is much more work to be done to increase tolerance towards this faith group.’
The survey revealed growing concern among Christians about abuse directed at politicians such as Kate Forbes, who is a member of the Free Church of Scotland
According to the think tank, more than 70 per cent of Christians in Scotland feel the Scottish Government does not support them.
Almost three quarters of Christian respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed to the question asking if the Scottish Government had been ‘supportive of Christian principals in its recent legislative programme’.
And almost 70 per cent of Christians have experienced prejudice through negative comments or attitudes towards them, the survey said.
It also found two in three Scots surveyed said Christians faced opposition, including facing negative social attitudes, prejudice, exclusion and discrimination.
The think tank said the findings showed while Christians were confident in speaking out, they were concerned about the abuse Christian politicians experienced in the media and have suffered negative comments or attitudes.
But non-Christian respondents did not share those views, the think tank said, with the majority having said Christians do not face any discrimination and they are not concerned by the criticism Christian politicians receive.
Ms Haslam said she hoped her organisation’s findings would ‘help guide leaders to listen to the views of all Scots in the decision-making process of our country including Christians’.
The chief executive added: ‘There is an opportunity now for the First Minister to set a new tone for Scotland – one that doesn’t attempt to “cancel” Christian views, but rather includes all perspectives in the public conversation.
‘We hope that John Swinney and his cabinet do all they can to create a more inclusive, free and fair Scotland for us all.’
Latest census data revealed that, for the first time, the majority of people in Scotland had no religion.
In 2022 some 51.1 per cent of people had no faith, up from 36.7 per cent in 2011.
Scotland’s two most senior politicians have spoken of their Christian beliefs.
Mr Swinney, a member of the Church of Scotland, has described himself as a man of ‘deep Christian faith’.
Meanwhile Ms Forbes is a member of the Free Church of Scotland, and last year came under fire for her views during the SNP leadership contest.
In one campaign interview she said she personally believed ‘sex is for marriage’ and that having children outside of marriage ‘would be wrong according to my faith’.
But, she said it was entirely up to other people what they did, and added: ‘In a free society you can do what you want.’
