3 replies to this topic

[Ash]

Link

David Cameron has said the UK is a Christian country "and we should not be afraid to say so".

In a speech in Oxford on the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, the prime minister called for a revival of traditional Christian values to counter Britain's "moral collapse".
He said "live and let live" had too often become "do what you please".

The PM said it was wrong to suggest that standing up for Christianity was "somehow doing down other faiths".
Describing himself as a "committed" but only "vaguely practising" Christian, the PM admitted he was "full of doubts" about big theological issues.

'Don't do God'
But he staunchly defended the role of religion in politics and said the Bible in particular was crucial to British values.
"We are a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so," he told the audience at Christ Church.
"Let me be clear: I am not in any way saying that to have another faith - or no faith - is somehow wrong.
"I know and fully respect that many people in this country do not have a religion.

"And I am also incredibly proud that Britain is home to many different faith communities, who do so much to make our country stronger.
"But what I am saying is that the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today."

Mr Cameron said people often argued that "politicians shouldn't 'do God'" - a reference to a comment famously made by former No 10 spin doctor Alistair Campbell when Tony Blair was asked about his religion.

"If by that they mean we shouldn't try to claim a direct line to God for one particular political party, they could not be more right," the PM said.
"But we shouldn't let our caution about that stand in the way of recognising both what our faith communities bring to our country, and also just how incredibly important faith is to so many people in Britain."
Mr Cameron also said it was "easier for people to believe and practise other faiths when Britain has confidence in its Christian identity".

"Many people tell me it is much easier to be Jewish or Muslim here in Britain than it is in a secular country like France," he said.
"Why? Because the tolerance that Christianity demands of our society provides greater space for other religious faiths too.
"And because many of the values of a Christian country are shared by people of all faiths and indeed by people of no faith at all."

This really is a rather eloquent saying of nothing that is sure to appease those who say that the multicultural experiment has failed epically. And it'll probably get the backs of various other groups up.

I wonder what other Brits have to say about the British cultural and religious 'identity'. Or whether others from other countries have any thoughts about that of their own. That is irrespective of their own religion, that is.

[Námo]

What is your own take on the essence of that statement?

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EDIT:

In the case of Denmark, it's as simple as this:

Our beloved national flag 'Dannebrog' ... the symbol should be cristal clear.

Edited by Námo, 16 December 2011 - 09:49 PM.

[Beowulf]

England is as much a Christian nation as the United States in that it's really not. It pretends to be one, but everyone knows you're not just like we're not. I am okay with this, but not asskissers like David Cameron. He sounds like a pushover in that speech, trying to have both ways without any fucking substance. Jesus. I thought the US had the monopoly on appeasing smacktards. Thank god we're not anymore.

[duke_Qa]

I think we who've been in the west might have started off as Christians, then as consumerism and mass-media began to take control(and pointed out some logical flaws), we've lost touch with that. I define myself as a cultural christian, but I guess consumerist-christian would be a bit more insulting but just as precise.

it's a bit like an old friend that faded out of your social circles, whom you thought was an okay fellow: He had some good ideas, but he also had some pretty bad ideas, and trying to get back in touch with him now would just make you look like a hypocrite because those bad ideas he had were pretty unacceptable. The irony is that you also have gained new bad ideas from your new friends(the fat, but fun and dirty-minded girl named consumerism), which was where your friend Christianity had some acceptable answers. So it basically becomes a social triangle affair of guilt and hypocrisy. Which lesser evil and so on and so forth.

I don't have a quick answer for this, beyond taking the best from both characters and creating a new "friend", one that has some morals but isn't abused by a superstitious system, and has some capitalistic and consumer concepts, but without the "memememe" logic sprayed all over.

Edited by duke_Qa, 17 December 2011 - 12:10 PM.