Boris Johnson blames the Church for UK obesity - is he wrong?

Advent is finally upon us. In just a few weeks we will celebrate Christmas, with all the fun and feasting that entails. 

But before any of us get too enthusiastic about menu-planning for the big day or the hospitality we hope to extend following carols or crib services, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson would apparently like us all to know that the church is to blame for the obesity crisis.

His comments come in a new report from author Henry Dimbleby and public health expert Dolly Van Tulleken, where he stated that people 'gorge themselves' due to lack of 'spiritual sustenance.'

Slightly surreal doesn't cover it

Has Boris been at one too many overflowing bring-and-share lunches? Suffered from a surfeit of quiche? Witnessed an overindulgence in biscuits with post-service cuppas? Headlines referred to his words as 'peak' Boris Johnson and noted that his comments had caused ‘bewilderment’. Social media pointed out the irony of someone who has used weight loss drugs in the past berating the nation over rising rates of obesity. 

Slightly surreal doesn’t really cover it. But going beyond the headlines, the point Boris was attempting to make, in his own indomitable way, did have a tad more depth than one might have anticipated. 

'An aching spiritual void'

In the transcript for his interview for the Nourishing Britain report, he was asked what the government could do in policy terms to address the issue of obesity. His response was initially to suggest that people are ‘eating their feelings’ and propose that as a society we look at why so many of us are over-eating and under-exercising. He talked about how risk averse we are now when it comes to children, and goes on to encourage religious leaders to ‘try to fill what is obviously an aching spiritual void in people’s lives’ because to fill that void people are ‘seeking solace in something that they know is self-destructive.' 

Being Boris, of course, he cannot resist a pop at the Archbishop of Canterbury going on about slavery reparations and Brexit, and he criticised the story of the rich man in Matthew 19 as being ‘pot’ that doesn’t really address spiritual needs. Instead, he claims, ‘the living bread is being provided by Tesco's.' Hence, presumably, his off-beat perception that is something people feel that they are missing.

What you miss out on when you dismiss Christianity

Our culture seems to be trying to cast off Christianity more and more. In the recent assisted dying debate, arguments based on faith and the sanctity of life felt harder to find than ever before. But as it tries to move far away from faith, some are seeing how much they are missing out on by doing so.

Former Muslim and New Atheist Ayaan Hirsi Ali has come to faith after discovering she was ‘spiritually bankrupt’, Russell Brand has been baptised and tech entrepreneur Jordan Hall has spoken about his personal relationship with God. Earlier this year podcasters Justin Brierley, Elizabeth Oldfield and ‘Cosmic Skeptic’ Alex O’Connor discussed if the Christian Revival is fantasy or reality in an event at the UnHerd Club. It isn’t light viewing, but rich and complex - and has been watched on YouTube by 120,000 people. Even those working in the secular world, like psychologist Jonathan Haidt, have written about the value that faith offers as the West experiences a massive ‘meaning crisis.' 

Boris Johnson’s odd comments about obesity shouldn’t stop anyone reaching for the mince pies this December. But we do seem to have been given a surprising mandate from Boris to preach the gospel especially loud and clear this Christmas – the only thing that can fill the aching void that he has identified is God. Because there is no true living bread that we can buy from Tesco's, only the living bread whose coming we celebrate at Christmas. And if we eat of this bread, we will live forever (John 6). However surreal Boris’ take, this is news worth sharing – over tea, coffee or even cake!