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This has been a remarkable year of change in politics across the world, yet there are few examples of positive change that have impressed more people around the world than the formation of this unlikely political double-act. Northern Ireland's First Minister, Ian Paisley, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, have been co-leaders of the new Stormont Executive since devolution returned on May 8th this year. The idea of a power-sharing government headed by Sinn Fein and the DUP was once regarded as practically impossible -- or even a political doomsday scenario. It would be an understatement of biblical proportions to say that this partnership was historically unlikely, but it has worked to the astonishment of most people in Britain and Ireland. Of course, not everyone is happy about it; and none are more surprised (and disappointed) than some of Ian Paisley's erstwhile religious allies. Northern Ireland has, nevertheless, felt like a new place this year, with an unexpected entrance of confidence and optimism. We name Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness as our Person of the Year for 2007 (or should that be Person and Deputy Person of the Year?):

For looking like they have truly embraced change rather than merely touching shoulders with it.
For laughing together. Often.
For transforming the atmosphere of Northern Ireland.
For lifting the gavel together at the New York Stock Exchange, making Sinn Fein and the DUP joint accolytes in the cathedral of global capitalism.
For surprising everyone and showing that it is possible to overcome the past.
For enhancing the reputation of the original .
For redefining the word "Deputy", which now means "Joint".
For quoting the Bible very appropriately (for a change): "We know not what a day may bring forth".
For leaving hundreds of thousands of people wondering, "What was all that about?"
For proving that political miracles are possible.
For becoming the poster-boys of teetotalism, thus joining George W Bush in the exclusive club of non-drinking heads of government.
For demonstrating the wisdom of the poet Seamus Heaney, who once said that we speak too often of "the others" or "the other side" when what we need to do is to get to a place of "through-otherness".

Last year, this blog named the scientist and culture warrior Richard Dawkins as its Person of the Year. Who should be the choice this year?

Which man, woman or child has most inspired us, challenged us, impressed, infuriated, or simply pre-occupied us in the past twelve months? The person, in short, who will be forever associated with this year. Who gets your nomination? Will it be a politician, a scientist, a religious leader, an entertainer, a military leader, a human rights campaigner, or an idea whose time has come? I'm accepting nominations for my blog's Person of the Year 2007 award. I'll announce the winner on December 31st.

Will it be Al Gore? Possibly the Buddhist monks of Burma? Or Muhammad the teddy bear? I'll be revealing the identity of the Will & Testament Person of the Year on New Year's Eve. And on Sunday 30 December, a panel of commentators will make their recommendations on Sunday Sequence from 9.00am. You can add your suggestions here.

Nick Clegg, the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, is an atheist. Or perhaps an agnostic. It's difficult to say. But on Simon Mayo's programme yesterday, he gave a single-word answer to the question, "Do you believe in God?" And the answer was "No".

Rowan Williams was quick to welcome his honesty and openness; but it wasn't long before Mr Clegg felt the need to elaborate a little on his answer: he has "enormous respect for people who have religious faith", his wife is Catholic and his children are being brought up Catholic. He then used a curious expression -- "I am not an active believer" -- to describe his non-belief, almost implying that he was possibly an "inactive believer" rather than an active non-believer. Such are the awkward moments raised for British politicians when they answer direct questions about religious faith. Tony Blair was advised to keep schtum when asked about religion lest he be seen as a "nutter" (God forbid), and one can see why from a strictly political perspective. Whichever answer one gives to that question, it will alienate some section of the electorate.

There have been, and are, atheists in British politics, and some have been leaders of political parties (Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock to name but two). There are also outspoken atheists in the parliamentary ranks of the Lib Dems (Evan Harris is a member of the National Secular Society). But the politics of personal revelation are extremely unpredictable in the UK.

I suspect, with hindsight, Nick Clegg regrets answering such a deceptively simple question so directly. His political advisers may wish that he had said something like, "I am a politician and a party leader, and I am running for office as Prime Minister, not Archbishop. So I want to keep my focus on what we need to do to change this country for the better, and leave other questions to the theologians and philosophers."

This is a variation on the answer currently being given by Mitt Romney, the Mormon presidential candidate, when asked about the difference betweem Christianity and Mormonism. Governor Romney sidesteps the theological debate by saying, "I am running for Commader-in-Chief, not Pastor-in-Chief". Mind you, even then, he looks shifty and uncertain.

I spent much of yesterday behind bars. Ahead of next Sunday's Prisons Special, I travelled with Martin O'Brien to near Lisburn to see what life is like in Northern Ireland's largest prison for the staff and inmates who live and work there. You can hear my report at the start of next Sunday's programme. I met prisoners, family workers, a governor, prison officers, chaplains, even the guy who runs the gym -- the most popular space in the prison. Our guide was Dale, who has worked in the prison system for nearly 25 years. William McKeown, an acting governor at the prison, showed me around the cells and facilities in Maghabery. I was extremely impressed by the professionalism and the humanity of the staff. I visited the "Reach Landing", which is a specialist accommodation area for prisoners who are particularly struggling with prison life. Some are dealing with a mental health challenge; some are suidical. William showed us the "listening cells" they have on the landing -- fitted with a live communication link to the Samaritans, alarms in case of self-harm, and facilities for others to stay throughout the night with the prisoner in a kind of suicide-watch. Those others are often other prisoners who have been trained as "listeners", and they accompany their peers through those extremely traumatic hours in prison.

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The first ever religious knowledge poll conducted in Northern Ireland was published today and it "upsets stereotype that NI is more religious than the South". Researchers conclude that "there are low levels of religious knowledge in both communities. However, levels of knowledge among NI Protestants/Evangelicals markedly lower than among NI Catholics." The opinion poll was conducted by Millward Brown Ulster on behalf of The Iona Institute, the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland (EAI) and the Evangelical Alliance (Northern Ireland). The findings in full are available .

Stephen Cave of Evangelical Alliance (Northern Ireland), said:

The results of this poll throw serious doubt on the claim that we are a 'Christian country'.

The Key findings:

* Only 42pc of respondents in the North can say there are four Gospels. (Catholics: 52pc. Protestants 36pc)

* Only 54pc of respondents can name the Holy Trinity. (Catholics: 65pc. Protestants: 45pc).

* Just 60pc of respondents can name the first book of the Bible. (Catholics: 54pc. Protestants: 68pc. This is the one question where Protestants were considerably more likely to know the answer than Catholics).

* Only 31pc of respondents could say the First Commandment. (Catholics: 39pc. Protestants: 26pc).

* Only 31pc of respondents could identify Martin Luther as the man who started the Reformation. (Catholics: 30pc. Protestants: 32pc).

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I wish I followed

Four of the six US televangelist ministries have submitted accounts and other documents. Yesterday was the deadline for compliance set by the committee. The evangelists under investigation include Benny Hinn and Joyce Meyer, who recently brought their crusades to Belfast. I've just recorded an interview with Justin Webb, the 大象传媒's North America Editor, and Ol茅 Anthony, whose Trinity Foundation has provided the Senate investogators with detailed information about the allegedly "opulent" lifestyles of some of America's most famous evangelists.

Ol茅 Anthony claims the evangelists are guilty of one of the oldest "heresies" in the history of the church:

They say 'Write a hot check. God will fill your checkbook. Take out a loan. God will pay your loan. Pay your tithe and offering before the baby is fed -- as a show of faith. That's heresy.

According to Justin Webb, this Senate investigation has been rather buried in the media -- the sub-prime crisis, the presidential election, Iran's nuclear programme, and a host of other domestic political issues have nudged the investiigation off the radar screen. But Ol茅 Anthony, a seasoned investigator himself, is convinced that the net is closing in.

I'm fascinated by the theological justifications offered by some American evangelists to defend what looks to some people like a money-making enterprise. Some quote Deuteronomy 8:18: "But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day." Does this text mean that God has promised to bless his followers with material wealth? This is one of the texts we'll debate on Sunday morning when we examine the alleged "heresy" of US televangelists and their controversial influence in Britain and Ireland.

Incidentally, Benny Hinn (pictured) is on record placing a "curse" from God against anyone "who dares to speak a word against this ministry". Would you be nervous ?

The United Nations is currently hosting a major climate change conference on the Indonesian island of Bali. Delegates from over 180 nations are joined by representatives from intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to explore the possibility of a new agrement to succeed the Kyoto protocol, which expires in 2012. We'll have a live update from the conference on Sunday morning and debate some of the ethical and political issues on the table in Bali. Bringing some of those issues down to earth for us in this guest post is Declan Allison, a campaigner with Friends of the Earth, who argues that it's time to bin the plastic bag and radically rethink our society's approach to consumption.

Waste is often people鈥檚 entry point into environmentalism. Litter, recycling and landfill are issues that people understand 鈥� or think they understand. I often hear people say, 鈥淚 recycle, so I鈥檓 doing my bit.鈥� The humble plastic bag, probably more than any other item, has become a modern icon 鈥� a symbol of our increasingly wasteful way of life. It hangs, tattered, from trees and hedges; it adorns telegraph wires; and clogs streams.

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Is Christmas becoming a new battlefield for the culture wars? For the past few years, American right-wing talkshow hosts have argued that the insidious forces of secularisation have been targetting Christmas in an effort to remove religion, and Christianity particularly, from public life. The shockingly compelling evidence for this claim includes the increasing popularity of seasonal greeting cards bearing the slogan "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas". Other commentators write off the entire debate as a media-fabricated conspiracy theory. But watch Fox News for the next couple of weeks and you will encounter the now annual reports on the from across the United States.

Whether this war is real or imagined, it looks like the debate is about to cross the Atlantic. The Tory MP championed the cause of Christmas in a debate at Westminster today. He says that 80 per cent of schools will not be holding a nativity play this Christmas, because of fears that they could offend non-Christians. It all adds up to .

Is your experience? Is the traditional meaning of Christmas now under threat from the combined forces of political correctness and religious pluralism? Or is this nothing more than journalistic stuffing?

Tony Blair wouldn't talk about his faith because he was advised that the electorate might write him off as a "nutter". But in the United States, talking about faith is expected of major politicians. Unless, that is, you are Governor Mitt Romney, the first Mormon to run for the presidency. The Republican candidate's evasiveness in this interview on American television may well lose him votes from nervous evangelicals and committed Mormons. Don't ask me what it means to be a Mormon, he says. "There's a website ... what is it ... Mormon.org?"

Lots of debate on the blog today. The spat between culture minister Edwin Poots and Times columnist Matthew Parris, during which Mr Parris expressed amazement that a government minister could be attacking evolution on the radio, has attracted the attention of a lot of comments here and over on . Some controversy (to say the least) is also provoked by the Rev Philip Campbell, convenor of the public morals committee of the Congregational Union of Ireland, who explained on this blog why he refuses to wear an Aids Ribbon. I read his comment out on air on Sunday morning and some commenters here are clearly unhappy with the tone of his intervention. Climate change always stimulates debate and the recent initiative by Friends of the Earth has prompted more disagreement about how churches have responded to the crisis. We also have commenters diagreeing about Jamaican "murder music" and the limits of free speech -- a story linked to the recent visit to the Oxford Union by the convicted holocaust denier David Irving and the BNP's Nick Griffin. Scroll down and add your voice to the continuing debates on Will and Testament.

We had a little spat on Sunday Sequence this morning between the Times columnist Matthew Parris and Northern Ireland's culture minister, after the latter, , made it clear that he is a young earth creationist and an opponent of the theory of evolution. We were talking about Tony Blair's claim that he didn't reveal his personal religious views while in government in case people wrote him off as "a nutter". Here's an edited version of part of the conversation:

William Crawley: (To Edwin Poots) You talk about your faith in public meetings.

Edwin Poots: I would talk about it when I'm asked about it, but I don't generally seek to impose it upon people. And I think where Tony Blair is wrong -- and I personally came through this when I was a lad at school, in that I hid my faith whenever I was in secondary school ... It wasn't until I left school and went to college that I was prepared to stand up and tell people that I was a Christian and I found that I didn't grow in my Christianity until I was able to tell others in a confident way that I was a Christian ...

William Crawley: What about when you become a minister, representing the government? Does your role then change, and the things you can talk openly about then change? Is that a new dynamic you've faced?

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What are your cultural highlights of 2007? The has just posted a selection of the year's best music, books, performances and art, including some of my own picks of the year. You can add your own suggestions on their site or right here.