BBC'S "Waterloo Road" and the Missing Voice of Christian Inclusivity.
Why progressive storytelling must give Christians the same depth and dignity as every other group.
The new series of BBC, Waterloo Road has landed on iPlayer, and as always it is full of drama, heartache and big social themes. The school setting has long been a stage for questions about identity, justice and belonging. Yet one group often feels strangely absent or underrepresented in this conversation. That group is Christians.
In modern British drama, inclusivity is a celebrated value. Audiences are invited to see the world through many lenses of difference and diversity. But when it comes to Christianity, characters are too often portrayed in narrow or negative ways. The Christian voice is reduced to a stereotype of judgement or irrelevance. For a faith that still shapes the lives of millions across the UK, this is a serious omission.
Once, Christianity was seen as the cultural default. Now, many practising Christians find themselves pushed to the edge of public life, treated as if their convictions disqualify them from belonging in modern stories. This sense of marginalisation is rarely acknowledged on screen. Inclusivity, however, is not complete if it stops short of giving Christian representation the dignity it deserves.
Bible Scripture offers wisdom for navigating this. Romans 12 verse 18 reminds believers that “as long as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” That is a call to live with kindness and understanding. At the same time, Jesus described his followers as “the salt of the earth.” Salt on its own is sharp and not pleasant, but when added to food it brings out richness and depth. In the same way, Christians are not meant to blend into blandness but to bring something distinctive and good into the mix of society.
This does not mean Christians must dominate the narrative. It means they should be shown in their full humanity, with complexity and dignity. A Christian student in Waterloo Road could be depicted as someone who struggles, grows and loves deeply while holding fast to faith. A Christian teacher could embody strength, patience and wisdom, not simply be cast as the voice of judgement.
Selective inclusivity risks undermining itself. If the principle is to reflect the breadth of human experience, then Christian inclusivity must be part of that vision. A show like Waterloo Road has the potential to do this well, to let people of faith be part of the story in a way that enriches rather than divides.
True inclusivity should not mean erasing or sidelining Christianity. It should mean acknowledging that faith is still a living, shaping force in many lives. Only then will our dramas truly reflect the society they claim to mirror.
A Way Forward.
As Christmas approaches, it is worth remembering the words of Romans 12 verse 18, “as long as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” That call is not a retreat from conviction but a vision of peaceful coexistence. It reminds Christians and all people of faith that inclusion must be pursued with patience, kindness and a willingness to live side by side even when beliefs differ.
The wider society faces the same challenge. We stand on the threshold of profound change, not only in culture but also in technology. Artificial intelligence now shapes much of what we see and hear. It suggests to us what to read, what to watch and even what to think. The debate over digital IDs is one example of how technology and governance are reshaping the boundaries of freedom and identity. In this shifting landscape, the temptation will always be towards control and dominance. Yet, the deeper task is to ensure that inclusion does not turn into suppression, and that diversity of thought and belief is safeguarded.
For Christians, being salt of the earth means contributing distinctively without seeking to overpower. For society, true progress lies in making space for many voices to blend into something richer than any single note could achieve. Peaceful coexistence does not mean uniformity. It means the deliberate choice to let others live, speak and believe without fear of being silenced.
This is the way forward: not domination, not erasure, but the shared work of creating communities where faith, identity and conscience can all find their place.
About the Creator
Cathy (Christine Acheini) Ben-Ameh.
https://linktr.ee/cathybenameh
Passionate blogger sharing insights on lifestyle, music and personal growth.
⭐Shortlisted on The Creative Future Writers Awards 2025.
Keep reading
More stories from Cathy (Christine Acheini) Ben-Ameh. and writers in Humans and other communities.
Lost and Alone in the French Alps
Looking back, I can trace some of my life’s biggest adventures to a simple action from my sister. She’d introduced me to Tommy (a very long time ago), a colleague of hers, who had overshared his penchant for Italian-looking women, and I ticked that box.
By Chantal Christie Weiss20 days ago in Humans
Comments (1)
Cathy, you are so good at this. You write about your faith so eloquently and with so much bravery. Whether you convince anyone else to be more inclusive, you at least succeed in making me feel not so alone. I, too, long to see a character who just goes to church on Sundays, reads her Bible in search of inspiration, and kneels in prayer when she struggles with growing up in such a contentious world. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the only time I see a character of my faith represented, it's a cliched, and often inaccurate, punchline. It's hard to raise children to believe in God in a world that only uses His name as an expletive and mocks people of faith.