21st century Britain

[whiffey]

Christian, Secular, Multi-Cultural, whatever.

Is it time to drop the Christian ethic, the Archbishops, St.Paul's cathedral, the Queen, Christmas, Easter, all that stuff ?

I watched "The Miracles of Jesus" tonight on BBC2 presented by Rageh Omar. It was a good and balanced programme, but it was stated very early on how offensive the Christian claim of the divinity of Jesus is to Muslims (why did they have to say this?).

I have my own private views, but there is no longer any point airing them. I just keep them inside me.

Any thoughts on Britain's spiritual future ?

[sponsmith]

Interesting question.
You could also ask if any non-Muslims were offended when a bunch of Muslims murdered 3000-odd innocent people in New York 2001. Or when a handful of Muslims murdered 250-odd people going to work on a Madrid commuter train in 2004. Need i go on?
I think a lot of people have had enough of trying to keep Muslims happy (i notice you weren't interested in Sikhs or Jews or Buddists)
If your question centered round dropping Islam from British life,instead of Christianity, what do you think the response would have been?
Even though i'm not religious either way, i do find the question particularly offensive.

[whiffey]

sponsmith, I think my cynicism was not spotted.

I just observe how I can't listen to the radio, the news, anything, without some mention of Muslims and Islam. I wouldn't be at all surprised if within the next 10 years we see large road signs: "You are now entering a Sharia Law area. All women must be veiled. Please place all pork or bacon in the bins provided"

Britain 2100.

[sponsmith]

I'm sorry if i misunderstood your question whiffey.
I read an article in the paper last week where the colomnist was asking why the police have to consult self appointed "community leaders" whenever they have to make a high profile arrest on a Muslim. He said he didn't recall Scotland Yard consulting The Bishop Of London when they arrested the Kray Twins!
Its a strange old World we're living in!

[pega]

WHEN in Rome do as the romans was a saying and our land was considered christian and the way they have tried to ban decorations cribs etc also we did not have a vote for moques to be built here we would not be able to build churches or cathedrals in their country I was very saddened to have seen in the graveyard of a cathedral last week a group of influx playing cards and drinking among the old tombstones more like a scene from a James Bond film than our english country its up to everyone to uphold christian values which sadly are lacking we should be thankful we have a Queen who has faith and some good Archbishops having meet both of them agree with what sponsmith has said Having seen all the memorials at ground zero in NYC and in Jerusalem how that city is divided. I didn't see the programme you mention, the world has changed as the news this week and all the problems for families going on holidays they have looked forward to.

[steve @ home]

Why not take a historical view of this? (we are in the history section)
What was the religious life of this country like 100 years ago? 200? 500?
When did this 'Christian' country expel ALL the Jews from within its borders? (look it up)
Who burned people with different religious views? (hint: it was a queen)
when did blind obedience to the Church begin to fade away and self-reliance begin to take over?
What WILL it be like in 100 years?

[jenstar]

Yes, it's high time we dropped all that religious claptrap. Christian, Muslim, Jewish, the whole lot.

[Catso]

I agree with jenstar: if we are going to ban any religion, then surely it's fairer to ban the whole lot. And enforce the ban rigourously.

Assuming that'll never happen, no, we shouldn't ban Christianity. I think steve@home was trying to say that in the past Christianity was as bloodythirsty and intolerant as other religions are now. Which is true, but we have moved on rather a lot since then, and (in this country, anyway) are a very tolerant lot and if there's one religion that shouldn't be banned, it's Christianity. What would be the point and what would be achieved by a ban?

[violetblue]

I thought, whiffey, that he said that the claim of the divinity of Jesus was offensive to Jews.

[violetblue]

Bearing in mind, of course, that Islam wasn';t even around at the time of Christ, but came about after the supposed coming of Mohammed in the 7th century? (At least that is my understanding of it, do correct me if I am wrong.) Therefore there wouldn't have been any Muslims around to be offended?

[whiffey]

violetblue, he did mention it, and it is the ongoing claim of Christianity not specifically any claims Jesus made at the time.

There are also problems with the doctrine of the Trinity. I have serious problems with that too. How could a Son be present from the beginning of time with his Father (John 1:1) ? I don't go with that view, but it makes no significant difference, it's like arguing over the virgin birth or transubstantiation, peripheral to the real thing in my view.

[steve @ home]

I don't think there is any point trying to ban religious thought. Yes, we are definitely a more tolerant society than in the past, but has this been achieved because we are now a less religious society? Wasn't it the very fact that people's thoughts were constrained by their religious leaders that led to intolerance in the first place? I think there is more to be gained by comparing different societies as they are now. Are 'religious' countries more or less tolerant than secular societies? I think the answer to that one is obvious.