For all the short term celebratory integration of French society after their win in the world cup, the iintercultural strains still inevitably bedevil their fiercely secular politics, a problem that I see as intrinsic to that nominally cross-cultural secularity. Just as inevitable as death and taxes, in fact, though not many people would see it that way.

Today, after the year long Comprehensive Spending Review, the Chancellor will be telling us how we’re going to spend our taxes. Politics and Economics, OK, but not usually thought of as much to do with religion.

Why not? Associations have often been made between the skills of Politicians, Actors and Preachers (all three jobs need a talent for moving a crowd), and the minister and the Chancellor each deal with one of the two great inevitables, death and taxes. For while we live, most of us expect to be taxed, and the money redistributed in a way that sustains the community. And those given the privilege of wealth and power must satisfy the comparatively impecunious and powerless that their situation doesn’t warrant revolution.

So politicians traditionally offer the people not just bread but circuses, with their acrobats and entertainers (and the success of a multifaith and multicultural football team in Sunday’s circus could do more to integrate French society than a score of innovative taxes). And in football as in movies and pop music, the poor don’t begrudge the stars their fortunes, as long as they remember from where it came.

There is an oft-told story of the Prophet in which someone brought a gift of meat for his family’s evening meal. The Prophet suggested that as they knew of another family who were poor and hungry, the gift should be passed along to them. But it so happened that those who received the gift also felt that they knew someone more deserving of the food, and to cut a long story short, after several more changing of hands the meat ended up back with the Prophet. Everyone was given the opportunity to partake of the feast, and each offered it to another. It was a society focused on charity to others, with voluntary giving being the heart of its taxation system.

Muhammad said: “Riches are pleasant and sweet for him who acquires them along the way. They are a source of blessing. But they are not blessed for him who seeks them out of greed. He is like the one who eats but is not filled.”