In today's Independent on Sunday, Joan Smith writes that the absence of references to God at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the EU in Berlin is the ‘high point of a fantastic week for secularism.’ This situation actually reflects a failure on the part of Europe’s politicians to understand the history of Europe or its people.

Not only did Christianity provide the foundation for many of the 'liberal' and 'secular' assumptions that underpinned the ideals of the European Union but, contrary to the confident predictions of enlightenment prophets, religion never died. If anything, the reverse happened: the utopia confidently predicted by enlightenment sages never arrived whilst religion, in various guises, is back at the heart of the public agenda. The rise of political Islam, the growing role of faith-based welfare provision, and the new politics of identity are set to ensure that this trend continues.

God might not be on Joan Smith's guest list but he is still at the party.