What Do You Think?

[iloveher]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/suncolumnists/6790197/Toby-Young-says-if-you-dont-like-Britain-being-Christian-then-leave.html

[jim360]

Alternatively, if you don't like Britain being Christian, then work to change it through democratic means along with attempts to effect change at a societal level which is how things normally work when you aren't happy with the way things are and would like to see a different approach.

Although that's a less snappy headline, I'll give you that.

[Peter Pedant]

everyone is entitled to their opinion

I dont regard the UK as particularly Christian to be honest
The problem ( yup problem ) is that we have a state religion - Church of England - in case you havent noticed snf \i think there should be separation fo Church and State....

like in France - it is a catholic gondree but the ROman Church has no part in government - the principle is called laicite

see https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La%C3%AFcit%C3%A9

and the nearest word we have to it is secularism but that doesnt really cover it

[Peter Pedant]

the problem with the word secular is that it has two meaning one of which is opposite to the other ( whaaaaat ? )

it can mean religious or not religious depending on context - confusing

you can have secular clergy for example

[jno]

I can't see why atheists should have to leave. Where are they going to go, Dawkinstan?

[ichkeria]

"I can't see why atheists should have to leave. Where are they going to go, Dawkinstan? "


lol - let's just call Christianity a "religion of convenience"

[Old_Geezer]

I think this "then leave" catchphrase is more abused than used properly. There are times when it is appropriate such as when someone is belly-aching about something they have no justification for expecting everyone else to change for them, in which case it is good advice. But most of the time it is used as a throw away line meaning, "You don't agree with me so clear off". So it loses it's power.

It Toby doesn't like society become a secular one then maybe he'd like to leave and find a country more to his liking ?

[TheChair]

The guy's a dick-brain.
You could have applied that to any movement for change.
"If you don't like Britain burning witches then leave"
"If you don't like Britain being a slave trading nation then leave"
"If you don't like Britain persecuting homosexuals then leave"
"If you don't like Britain using child chimney sweeps then leave"

[naomi24]

He’s right. The recommendations are, as he says, profoundly wrong-headed. Whether they’re church-goers or not, people in this country do, on the whole, cleave to Christian tradition – and frankly the alternative we are faced with is unthinkable. (The introduction of atheism into this muddies the waters and is just silly. That isn’t what it’s about).

//As Christian poet GK Chesterton said, when people cease to believe in the God of the New Testament, they don’t believe in nothing. They believe in everything.//

That is often quoted, but I have no idea why. It’s the daftest thing I’ve ever read.

[Gromit]

Toby did indeed leave for a new life in the USA and spent most of his 5 years there off his head on cocaine.

[Zacs-Master]

What do I think? I think that any country who affiliates themselves with the worship of an unproven entity is inherently barking mad but that's the scenario we seem to accept each and every day. Book me a place on the ISS :-)

[naomi24]

^Why is that relevant?

[naomi24]

^That was to Gromit.

[ichkeria]

Q: It Toby doesn't like society become a secular one then maybe he'd like to leave and find a country more to his liking ?

A: Toby did indeed leave for a new life in the USA and spent most of his 5 years there off his head on cocaine.

Well, I thought it was funny :-)

[Baldric]

/// a retired BBC executive and the general secretary of the Muslim Council of Great Britain///

Well, they would say that, wouldn't they?

[Togo]

The' Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life' was paid for by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust which never met a Left-Liberal pressure group it didn't like. Lady Butler -Sloss, a member of the said Commsision, and her secular Muslim alliance have a grand plan to de-Christianise Britain. As G.K. Chesterton said, 'when people cease to believe in the God of the New Testament, they don't believe in nothing, they believe in everything. Lady Butler-Sloss wants that everything to include what she and her cronies are saying.

[tamborine]

Christian catholicism is increasing with Polish filling our churches. I dont see any Romanians in mosques.

Many non christians are born here so where should they go. Think again Toby Young.

[jim360]

Not that I necessarily agree with the proposals to increase the religious representation in the House of Lords, for example. The commission is right -- the Lords Spiritual are an anomaly. So get rid of them altogether.

[ChillDoubt]

Toby Jones: invariably telling it like it ought to be since forever.

[youngmafbog]

Should be more 'if you dont like British culture and way of life then leave'

I'm not sure the Christian bit brings anything to the table.

[ChillDoubt]

Jones? I meant Young, obviously! No idea where Jones came from, unless I've subconsciously been thinking about the new Dad's Army film!