Is militant secularisation a bad thing?

[Gromit]

// Britain is under threat from a rising tide of "militant secularisation", a cabinet minister has warned.

Religion is being "sidelined, marginalised and downgraded in the public sphere", Conservative co-chairwoman Baroness Warsi wrote in an article for the Daily Telegraph. //

I believe that your religion, be you christian, muslim or jew is a private matter. The state should not promote, encourage or discriminate in favour of any religion. I see increased secularism as a triumph not a loss. I totally disagree with Baroness Warsi.

[sith123]

everyone is equal. simple answer.

[Gromit]

Sith123

Equal to pay taxes to send children to schools where they are indoctrinated with the Koran or Bible. I say less of that, not more.

[sith123]

ok

[jackthehat]

I agree with you, Gromit.

[naomi24]

Me too.

[emmie]

separate religion from schools, it's wrong to have the two together, if you have a faith then take your child to a church, mosque, synagogue.
That isn't going to happen i am sure, and the more faith schools we have the greater the divide in our society.
I dislike the term militant anything, that should not be part of our society.

[sith123]

same.

[Gromit]

Em10: I dislike the term Militant anything.

- that is precisely why she used that word.

It is not just schools. Religion is everywhere it shouldn't be. It is a private matter not a public one.

[sith123]

i agree with you although this may come as a suprise to people. I dont admire these people who preach in the streets in public places and all that. Keep it at home, the mosque or places like here lol

[sith123]

when i said mosque i meant any religious building.

[jackthehat]

'Secularisation' sounds quite a sensible thing.
'Militant Secularisation' sounds far more dangerous. Which is why Baroness Warsi used the word.

[rowanwitch]

I agree... there should be no special allowance for faith in the workplace, access to public services no 'church of England' no arguing the right to wear religious symbols if they breach an agreed dress code or affect health and safety... no hiding of faces in the streets but balance this with respect and acceptance of the practice of religion in the home....protection of churches, temples and mosques from attack

[emmie]

rowan agreed,

[Quizmonster]

"More than 4 in 10 in England regard themselves as belonging"...to the Church of England.
That quote is from the Church of England's own web-site and I think we all know what it actually MEANS...the vast bulk of them will make use of it for christenings, marriages and funerals as well as Christmas Eve but otherwise stay away!
So, fewer than half of England's population and much less than that in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have anything to do with the organisation.
Why, then, do we still have 26 bishops of this minority sect in our UK - not just English - legislature, the House of Lords? It's the "Established Church" only in England.
The sooner we get total secularisation in British society the better, in my view, and we should start by (a) dismissing the bishops from government and (b) forbidding religious schools. Northern Ireland's problems, for example, would long since have been sorted out if all its children had gone to the NEAREST primary school rather than the nearest SECTARIAN school.

[Brenden]

Cannot see that working in the workplace rowan, when I worked for a council muslims took their prayer mats three times a day to a designated area - I cannot see that changing as I think this is a part of the Koran.

[sith123]

i dont think there is anything wrong with praying at work whatever your religion. Of course it has to be practical, there are some wrok and areas you cannot pray and you should also do it in a private place, not in front of everyone.

[rowanwitch]

In a secular society they would probably need to use their designated break times as they would not be allowed additional time for this... those in charge would not be obliged to provide a place for them to use... as that would be treating them preferentially to other workers

[sith123]

thats why i said only if its practical

[China Doll]

I agree with everyone who agreed with Gromit who agreed with Baroness Warsi.

[sith123]

lol china doll, i was gonna say nice pic until i realised it was a mans face :)