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.

[emmie]

Perhaps they should make it illegal to practice your faith in the workplace, as others have said it's a private matter, so why have it on display.
The fact that Islam in Britain is fast taking over as the dominant faith should be a wake up call, Christianity in Britain has been dying out for years. Many people may attend a church for the obligatory wedding, funeral, christening, but how many go apart from that. I love to visit churches as architectural monuments, but for no other reason.

[sith123]

than as many people do here, they blame it on islam. maybe christians should be more involved in practicing their faith.

[emmie]

sith why? There was a picture in the paper the other day of thousands of muslims praying in the street, i believe it was around spitalfields, though i only saw the picture briefly, because the mosque cannot hold that many, and now the faithful are coming from far and wide to join in, sorry why?

[naomi24]

em, I think if you ask people, you'll find a lot do not go to church, but who nevertheless claim to hold Christian beliefs.

[emmie]

may not be thousands, but can't see this as right at all

http://www.dailymail....mosque-overflows.html

[sith123]

naomi, are you for once agreeing with one of my points?

[emmie]

naomi as i would have done once upon a time, but the family were not committed christians, the old man was catholic, but not sure apart from getting married he ever went to church.

[jackthehat]

I'm not sure that Islam is becoming the 'dominant' faith. I would agree, however, that it is the most 'obvious' and high-profile faith.

[naomi24]

Wouldn't want to try to get my car out!

[naomi24]

^^ That referred to em's link.

[jno]

I am not bovvered if life is beoming more secular; that is the public's choice. But like em I also think militant anything is a bad idea, and I think the noble lady chose the word correctly.

[sp1814]

Actually - the 'dominant faith' issue is now skewed because of the large number of East Europeans working temporarily in the UK. They are largely Catholic, which has resulted in a 'bump' in Catholic church attendances!

I think the major difference between those who follow the Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Jewish faiths in this country, is that non-Christians really identify themselves with their faith. It's very central to their self-image.

However, 'Christians' fall into two distinct groups - those that read Bible passages to their kids, regularly go to church, activitely support church activities in the community, know the scriptures, pray etc...

And then there are people who will fill in 'Church of England' on forms - because they know they are not Catholic (or Jewish, Hindu etc). I don't think they are saying that they are Christian in a proper 'Cliff Richard kind of way'

[sp1814]

Wow...the only famous Christian (outside the established church) I could think of is Cliff Richard.

That's not good.

[jackthehat]

There's Anne Widdecombe, too.....:o)

[sp1814]

JTH

Ah yes - Anne!

And Tony Blair.

<ahem>.

[Gromit]

// may not be thousands, but can't see this as right at all //

You'll be supporting the building of a supermosque in London then?

[modeller]

Why does Cameron support faith schools ? If you divide children up as children you have divided them for life. If theists want religion to be a part of their children's lives then let it be out of normal school hours. When I was training to be a teacher I visited RC schools and I was amazed at the amount of indoctrination that went on. I live near a multicultural town and we have about 12 faith schools . This combined with several Ghetto like areas has divided up the town. We dont have much racist problems but I fear for the future and it starts with the schools and the children.

[jomifl]

I guess Baroness Warsi sees secularists as more of an opposition to the spread if islam than the christian church.

[ludwig]

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

Under threat how exactly? What's the danger Britain's facing there?

// Religion is being "sidelined, marginalised and downgraded in the public sphere" //

..once again, that's bad how exactly?

[Zeuhl]

What marks secularists as 'Militant'?

Do they wear uniforms? Hold Parades? March about?



Like The Salvation Army or The Boys Brigade do?