British Christianity

[Deckard]

Johann Hari on The slow, whiny death of British Christianity (http://www.johannhari.com/2010/08/10/the-slow-whiny-death-of-british-christianity)

As I say about every link I post - s'worth a read ;)

He's summed up the whole persecution paranoia to a tee.

[bryantm3]

it's mainly because observance is forced and sponsored by the government. no wonder people hate religion in the uk.

[Deckard]

it's mainly because observance is forced and sponsored by the government. no wonder people hate religion in the uk.
Not sure about that.

My guess is that our long term history of religious strife has - over the generations - shaped the British attitude to religion considerably more than anything in the present. In other words, the decline of Christianity is a long and gradual one, rather than an immediate rebellion against present conditions. There are probably also cultural reasons - our generally greater scepticism and disrespect for/ridiculing of authority, and so on.

Despite the undoubted privileges still enjoyed by the Church of England, despite living in a country with an established church headed by our constitutional monarch, the reality is that religious observance is long long way from being "forced" on us by the government as you suggest. Even I an atheist and committed secularist have to admit that, on a day-to-day basis, such 'incursions' barely register. Of course I'm aware that other people will experience them more.

As Blair's former spin doctor said to an American journalist quizzing him about politics and religion in the UK, "Brits just don't do God". British politicians are well advised to avoid it for fear of seeming a bit weird(-er than normal). I could quite easily see an atheist such as our current deputy Prime Minister being elected into No.10. Not so sure about religion and the monarchy, but then that's an issue in itself with a whole load of other baggage.

[jOHN rODRIGUEZ]

Damn, that was good Decks, may stomach is sore from laughing. Thanks.

[Deckard]

Damn, that was good Decks, may stomach is sore from laughing. Thanks.
What?

[jOHN rODRIGUEZ]

What?

What what? :confused:

[Deckard]

Was just curious which bit you found funny.

[jOHN rODRIGUEZ]

The entire article. Of course, it's a bit of a comedy/tragedy/horror/drama all rolled up into one really. I'm not familiar with the research/poll entities in the U.K. and certainly not which are respected and which have been proved skewered yet still operate and so on and so on.

I don't really put full faith in the results of any of them over here in America either though.

But like I said, that was funny! TGIF, huh? Whachadoin' tonight? Whachadoin???

[Deckard]

EDIT
On second thoughts, I can't be bothered ;)

[dubman]

any gram of dignity shifted in the scales towards a reasonable balance is always going to be seen as persecution by those with the most power. and onward...

[Deckard]

any gram of dignity shifted in the scales towards a reasonable balance is always going to be seen as persecution by those with the most power.
I couldn't have put it better.

[Rog]

.....i've just heard on the news that the bloody pope's visit here is gonna cost the tax payers of the uk 13 million! we're in a fuckin major cash crisis having cuts imposed upon us left right and centre and yet we have to fork out for fuckin religion! and the catholic religion makes me spit feathers!

all over the country we're having genuinly beneficial local facilities shut down due to cuts in funding often amounting to as little as few thousand pounds a year yet there's money to spare for this pile of shite?:(

[stimpee]

Why cant he pay for his own fucking holiday?

[Rog]

Why cant he pay for his own fucking holiday?

too right.................;)

[Deckard]

One of the Pope's senior advisers has pulled out of the papal visit to Britain, after reportedly saying the UK is a "Third World country" marked by "a new and aggressive atheism".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11317441

Cardinal Walter Kasper, 77, made the remarks in a German magazine interview.

The Vatican said the cardinal had not intended "any kind of slight", and was referring to the UK's multicultural society.

-

Aggressive atheism my arse. Anybody would think atheists were marching past places of worship, throwing stones, lobbying government to ban religion, and so on.

What utter bilge these people speak.

(whoops, how "aggresive" of me)

[Deckard]

Back to the original topic of this thread, some interesting stats on religion in Britain that I just came across:


http://i51.tinypic.com/264hoxy.gif

Curious that the 'non-Christian' category has declined by what looks like at least 3% in the space of a year.

(More here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/11297461))

[Deckard]

"I love the Pope. I love seeing him in his Pope-Mobile, his three feet of bullet proof plexi-glass. That's faith in action..."
- Bill Hicks

[//\/\/]

wow! i knew he was close with the big fella upstairs, but it seems he's also preaching godwin's law as well

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11332515

[jOHN rODRIGUEZ]

If you're in the serious need for a chuckle, read some of the questions asked to Hawkins here:

http://10questions.time.com/2010/09/14/ask-stephen-hawking/

Man, now that's entertainment...

[taoyoyo]

"I love the Pope. I love seeing him in his Pope-Mobile, his three feet of bullet proof plexi-glass. That's faith in action..."
- Bill Hicks

My favorite Hicks quote! :)