One of the main tactics used by evangelicals is to challenge the boundaries of secularism in the courts.

On Tuesday 15 January the European Court of Human Rights will rule on four cases involving discrimination and human rights.

The applicants, Nadia Eweida, Shirley Chaplin, Lillian Ladele and Gary McFarlane, are British nationals. Relying on Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination), they complain that UK law does not sufficiently protect their rights to freedom of religion and freedom from discrimination at work.

All four applicants are practising Christians. Ms Eweida, a British Airways employee, and Ms Chaplin, a geriatrics nurse, complain that their employers placed restrictions on their visibly wearing Christian crosses around their necks while at work.

Ms Ladele, a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and Mr McFarlane, a counsellor, complain about their dismissal for refusing to carry out certain of their duties which they considered would condone homosexuality.

The Court held a hearing in this case on 4 September 2012. You can watch the entire hearing here.