A CONVENTION is meeting in Europe under the chairmanship of Valery Giscard d'Estang in an attempt to work out a constitution for the new EU.

One tricky question is should God get a mention or not.

Some are saying that European history has been indelibly shaped by Christianity and so God should have a mention. The argument is that many of our ordinary everyday beliefs about honour and respect for human life, for example, have their origins in a God fearing society.

The Pope himself has stepped into the debate calling for a clear reference to God and to the Christian faith.

It is undeniable that Christianity has shaped our European history. But many of those who are against mentioning God point out that Christianity has often been the cause of conflicts that we ought not to be proud of. Many of the wars of Europe have seen nations all claiming that God is on their side.

Socialists at the convention are also pointing out that Christianity has often been reactionary. They claim that belief in God has been used as a weapon against the liberation of disadvantaged groups such as women.

One other consideration is that the new Europe will also include many faith groups which are not Christian. There are many Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs and so on. Surely it would be unfair to mention Christianity and leave them out. And so the debate rages. The likely outcome is that with the lack of any agreement God will simply be left out.

I am partly amused by this and partly saddened.

I'm amused because I guess God himself is amused. One of the most amazing things about God is that he often chooses to be anonymous. He often prefers to remain hidden.

Jesus said that when we give alms we shouldn't even let our right hand know what our left is doing. God is the same. When he is present, when he is at work in bringing peace and healing, he doesn't blow a trumpet he gets on with things quietly. I wonder if those who are drawing up this new constitution have ever thought that God would be embarrassed if his name was mentioned?

But I'm also saddened. Many of our deep values, not only in Europe but across the world, do come from faith in God. For human beings to believe in something, someone, beyond themselves is very important. Without this dimension to our lives we are prone to put ourselves in God's place. There is nothing worse than a human being or a nation that thinks it can play God.

Michael Williams, Vicar of Bolton Parish Church