Red Ed doesn't believe in God.

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/25kt58s

/// Each sitting in both Houses begins with prayers that follow the Christian faith. In the Commons the Speaker's Chaplain usually reads the prayers. In the Lords a senior bishop (Lord Spiritual) who sits in the Lords usually reads the prayers.///

If they don't believe in God, or belong to the Christian faith, where do Ed Milliband and others go to while prayers are being read?

[sandyRoe]

They go and have a smoke behind the speakers chair.

[RATTER15]

what a strange thing to say!

So you think that an atheist cannot sit in the same room?

[naomi24]

What a daft question. I go to Christian weddings and funerals, but I don't go outside during prayers. Having said that there are times when I really wish I was a smoker. ;o)

[R1Geezer]

At last someone has somethiing good to say about him.

For atheists there is no need to go anywhere when religion is going on, no more than you have to have a cigarette or leave when you are in the company of smokers. if the beleivers of these fairy tales want to do their thing that's fine, intellegent people just ignore it.

Got to say AOG as a sometime supporter this is a bit of daft thing to ask.

[craft1948]

I would imagine his avowed atheism will win him some votes.....

[anotheoldgit]

naomi24

Not a daft question at all.

Take this scenario you go along to a church wedding and the vicar tells the congregation to stand in prayer, would you remain seated, if asked to kneel would you would refuse or when everyone bowed their heads in prayer, would you lift your head up high?

When I attended Church Parades, the parade officer would announce, "all other denominations fall out, march and face the wall",

This I presumed saved them from being hypocritical to their beliefs by attending a Church of England service.

[R1Geezer]

You just play along AOG! As an atheist you know that much of the population are smitten with whatever set of fairy tales they believe. Out of courtesy and to avoid offence you just go through the motions. It's not hypocritcal it's no different to taking a kid to see a film when you know you don't want to watch it yourself.

[NOX]

I wouldn't imagine he goes anywhere, but it's nice to see he doesn't give a rat's a75e about what everyone thinks he ought to do- maybe someone is actually going to be themsleves this time and show a bit of honesty, not getting married and not towing the religious maniac line which always seems to be expected- I must admit I'm quite looking forward to this.

[China Doll]

Attending a service isn't hypocritical. People get married, have baptisms etc and appreciate the attendence of their friends and family regardless of their athiest tendencies. As to what you do, in my experience, you sit/stand/kneel as required in order to be polite and generally stare at your watch quite a lot and wonder what you're having for tea... Perhaps look at other peoples shoes.

I don't think religion and politics should have anything to do with each other anyway really.

[craft1948]

I believe he has now said that he is going to get married Nox.....bet that'll be a romantic proposal....

[jaydah]

and he'll grow plaits & wear a yiddish cap

[naomi24]

Of course it's a daft question. What do you think non-believers do? Anyway ..........

If asked to stand I stand, I never kneel, and I never bow my head as though in prayer.

Wouldn't you attend a ceremony in a synagogue then?

[youngmafbog]

At last something good about Red Ed

Personally I dont stand up, I dont sing and I dont leave the room.

I do usually fall asleep during sermons, even the short ones at Chritenings etc.

As R1 says, allow anyone the freedom to believe their Fairy tales so long as I am not affected.

[Haggisdj]

It doesn't seem like a silly question to me. When I was a Paisley Grammar School in the sixties we had religious school assemblies. There was one girl who had to wait outside with a teacher until the religious bits were over then come in and sit for the notices, etc.

[Ankou]

i usually put my ipod on and wear these.

http://s3.thisnext.co...imension/19616688.jpg

until they get the wine out, then i'm religious for a few minutes.

[naomi24]

Haggis, the Jewish students at my school had their own religious assembly every morning - and then joined the rest of us in the main hall for the notices. However, I'm sure the majority of us wouldn't expect the same procedures to apply to our elected members of parliament, so it is a silly question.

[naomi24]

What, even if they tell you to sit down Steve?

(Sorry - couldn't resist it). ;o)

[anotheoldgit]

I am not particularly religious, but judging some of the answers to this, is it any wonder this country is going to hell in a hand cart?

Religion along with most that goes with it, ie sticking as near to the Ten Commandments as possible etc. has worked pretty well for over 2,000 years, it is what separates us from the animals.And after all how can any mere mortal categorically say there is no God?

And until someone comes up with a better idea, I guess we shouldn't venture too far from what has proven to work until the last 50 years..