Why Are Politicians Urged To Hide Their Atheism?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30848534
I would have thought not believeing any of the brands of fairy tales would be a good thing for an MP.

[jim360]

God only knows.

[ToraToraTora]

PMSL jim you can have BA for now!

[Buenchico]

Politicians are automatically obliged to publicly express their belief in some fairy tales anyway. (They're known as 'election manifestos').

[anotheoldgit]

Perhaps it is because this is a Christian country and all our pageantry hinges on this, so when they are called upon to attend Westminster Abbey or St Paul's Cathedral for example, they would show themselves up to be hypocrites?

Just the same as those devout atheists who choose to marry in church.

[Gromit]

That Conservative MP, EdwRd Leigh sounds like right twerp.

// a little religion actually stops outrageous intolerance //
- Quite the opposite.

Sir Edward, who was a private secretary to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, claimed Britain's whole foundation was built on Christian values - which should be recognised in local government.

// it's the families where there is absolutely no religion that people are led astray sometimes into following bizarre sects and the rest." //
- Poppycock. It is people who think that God is on their side that do despicable acts.

// a deracinated population would be much easier to manipulate whether it's a Hitler or Stalin or some other modern day tyrant whose dominion you fear. //
- The man is a nutcase.

[naomi24]

Perhaps it's because people of the church are assumed to be pillars of society and hence, trustworthy.

[gangesboy]

Perhaps this quote is appropriate
"Religion is regarded by common people as true, by wise men as false, and
by rulers as useful"

[ToraToraTora]

AOG, Athiests tend to go along with things like weddings/funerals/christenings etc in order to respect those occasions and friends and family who do have those beliefs. I do not think that means they are hypocrites. I have been to many of these occasions and I would not dream of refusing to go or making a fuss because of my own beliefs. It's no different to going out to dinner with a veggy, I know several and have been to many restuarants serving carion, I do not consider them hypocrites and I don't expect them to wave a "meat is murder" banner during dinner either.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Mrs May said the same sentiment was also true of the UK. 'Without its Jews, Britain would not be Britain, just as without its Muslims, Britain would not be Britain - without its Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and people of other faiths, Britain would not be Britain.' ///

Well that about says it all, according to Mrs May atheists wouldn't be missed in Britain.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// That Conservative MP, EdwRd Leigh sounds like right twerp. ///

/// The man is a nutcase. ///

Now then Gromit practice what you preach, don't be rude to people.

[Old_Geezer]

It's more of a US than UK issue isn't it ?

Maybe it's a Tory party policy or something. Still; he's out of the closet now.

[ToraToraTora]

AOG, you illustrate perfectly why I'm and asthiest, you can barely hide your disgust that I do not believe your brand of BS.

[anotheoldgit]

ToraToraTora

/// AOG, Athiests tend to go along with things like weddings/funerals/christenings etc in order to respect those occasions and friends and family who do have those beliefs. I do not think that means they are hypocrites. I have been to many of these occasions and I would not dream of refusing to go or making a fuss because of my own beliefs. ///

I was referring to those who choose to get married in church, not attending other's.

*** Just the same as those devout atheists who choose to marry in
church. ***

Whereas dignities who are in the limelight would be open to critism if they were known to be atheist.

[anotheoldgit]

ToraToraTora

/// AOG, you illustrate perfectly why I'm and asthiest, you can barely hide your disgust that I do not believe your brand of BS. ///

That's a little harsh TTT, where have I said that I am disgusted, and what is my brand of BS (whatever that means) I have said nothing that supports religion or atheism.

If I have please be good enough to point it out, so that I can address that particular point.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - "Perhaps it is because this is a Christian country and all our pageantry hinges on this, so when they are called upon to attend Westminster Abbey or St Paul's Cathedral for example, they would show themselves up to be hypocrites?

Just the same as those devout atheists who choose to marry in church."

I would suggest that the phrase 'devout atheist' is an oxymoron.

The term 'devout' indicates a deep-seated religious feeling, whereas atheism is the absence of such belief.

I am an atheist - I cannot be a 'devout' atheist since my position is the absence of a belief rather than a belief in itself.

I married in church - a Catholic church with a full con-celebration (two priests) and a full nuptial mass, which was important to my wife, who is a Catholic.

Normally, divorcees which she was, are not allowed to marry in church, but my wife's first marriage was annulled - that means that the Pope himself signed off on the belief that her first marriage was not valid.

I do not see myself as a hypocrite in any way, I am perfectly happy to allow my view to accommodate those of my wife in order to make her happy, I am not in any way precious about my absence of belief, indeed why would I be?

The world consists of compromises, some great some small.

This compromise was a very small one for me, I cannot speak of any politicians who must deal with their own consciences behind closed doors, but I think they would agree with me that small compromises make the world go round.

[dannyk13]

Maybe because MPs have to swear an oath of allegiance which includes the words 'I swear by almighty God'

[ToraToraTora]

All of your posts here support religion, ok answer one question, do you beleive in any deity?.

Yes I also got married in a church, should I have trashed the whole event, rather than go through what I see as much as a tradition than a religious event? I've sung hymms, said the lords prayer but I'm not being hypocritical I'm playing along because I know so many hold these strange beliefs and as a society we sort of see them as normal and yes I suppose we are a "christian" country but I take that to mean the whole gammut of moral value rather than adherance to a mythical set of rules. Yes I belted out our favourite hymms in assembly at school but I don't believe in god. I do accept some of the moral parallels in relgion but I don't worship any "god".

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, just out of interest, did you tell the church you were an atheist before your wedding?

(Apologies for deviating for a moment, TTT).

[ToraToraTora]

I can tell I did not naomi, but they like a challenge anyway.

[Old_Geezer]

Oaths sworn under duress (which includes whenever you are told you have to or will not be allowed to progress) are meaningless ritual and have no validity. I'm sure everyone realizes this and don't take them seriously. I came across this when I joined the scouts many decades ago, and had to pretend I was a royalist doing some "duty" to a monarch. Utter nonsense.