Writing in the Telegraph, he said: "Now, more than ever, we need Christian people to speak up for their faith, to articulate their beliefs in sensible and courteous ways. Our society needs a reminder of our foundational beliefs in honesty, faithfulness, right and wrong.

"Don't be intimidated by a hostile workplace, challenge the hostility with good humour."

The report revealed a law firm which renamed its Christmas party the "End of Year Party" for fear of being sued and a teacher who told a class people who believed in God were "religious nutters".

He added: "I have never found one single Muslim, Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist who was the least bit offended by someone wishing them a "Happy Christmas"."

The examples emerge from the biggest public consultation ever held by the EHRC as part of plans to issue official guidance on resolving disputes over religious issues in the workplace of services such as shops or hospitals.

In over 200 pages it lists scores of examples of followers of most of the main religions, including atheists and humanists, who said they suffered discrimination or ridicule, or were passed over for jobs because of their beliefs or banned from discussing the subject at work.

Examples include a school dinner lady who allegedly told an eight-year-old boy he did not "deserve" any Christmas presents because he did not believe in God and a Muslim nursing student who ended up in tears after having to remove her headscarf in an operating theatre.

A humanist teacher working at a Roman Catholic school said she had been advised to wear a fake wedding ring when she was pregnant, because she was unmarried, and told not to talk to the pupils about her "condition".

Meanwhile a Muslim employee felt discriminated against when time slots for job interviews were only held during Eid and during Friday prayers while an elderly Jewish woman being treated in hospital was allegedly fed non-kosher meatballs by the staff because "she didn't refuse".

But out of almost 2,500 people who responded by far the largest group were Christians.

The report notes that the apparent sidelining of Christianity in the workplace as a "prominent theme".

Others said there was a constant assumption that Christian views in the workplace would be "opposed" by employees who were gay, Muslim, Hindu or atheists.