Union and division

“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” John 18.36

On Monday David Olusoga concluded his series for the BBC, exploring the union of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Covering over 400 years of British history, Olusoga had to be selective rather than comprehensive. Yet he manages to present a compelling story, which introduces the question with which he leaves us: can the union survive?

In fact, with the partition of Ireland in 1921, the question has already been answered in the negative. So the real issue is whether the union will continue to disintegrate? Not, to my knowledge in direct response, but because it is a relevant issue for all of us, theologians Doug Gay and Heather Walton have teamed up to launch the Faith in Scotland's Constitutional Future project at Glasgow University.

I assume the double entendre is deliberate: Which constitutional future do we believe in and should religious belief have a place in that future?