Britain Is A Christian Country - Get Over It. So Says Eric Pickles

[ladybirder]

in an attack on Atheists.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/06/eric-pickles-says-britain-is-a-christian-nation_n_5100794.html

Is he right? And what's it got to do with him whether you or I believe or not?

[Zeuhl]

///Simply because this was illegal, and while it is perfectly okay to bring in laws to protect some, the Christian Church does not generally receive such protection, so in this particular case the law was changed simply because a particular council wanted to ban prayers at the start of council meetings, a victory against those who wish to enforce their politically correct intolerance on others, yippee a result at last.///

Well that's about as muddled and distorted view as you could ever wish NOT to see

[Zeuhl]

/your religion can make it so that certain laws don't apply to you./

such as?

(please don't dredge up crash helmets not fitting over Sikhs' turbans)

[jno]

BA did sack a woman for wearing a crucifix, but changed their policy and took her back. Any other examples?

[vulcan42]

When I served in the RAF the Padre, before a church parade, would carry out a prayer service but not at an ordinary parade. Also the order was quite specific," Roman Catholics and Jews may fall out". In other words the B****y Atheists had to stay put and listen whether they liked it or not!! And yes, obviously, we were militant Atheists.

[jno]

in the RAF, I should hope you were militant.

[naomi24]

AOG, //it is the atheists who are doing all the dictating.//

They are? How so? Atheists would like to see unelected Bishops having no influence on the law of the land; Faith schools abolished, religious education abolished in all schools, companies no longer expected to concede to religious foibles, and most would abolish Sunday trading laws. None of those things have happened, and as far as I can see are highly unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future – so in what respect do you feel that atheists are doing all the dictating?

Someone said that most people in this country are atheists (or words to that effect) – but they’re not. Even though most of the people who consider themselves to be Christian rarely enter a church, it matters not. The majority consider themselves to be Christian.

[DTCwordfan]

And naomi, even atheists will go into a church, temple or mosque for a wedding or funeral - as a mark of respect for the couple or the person being interred/burnt/hung out for the vultures.

I would also add that churches can be beautiful places and good for meditation, even if one does not believe. In part, it's that old chestnut, tolerance, to be practised by both sides. However, formal meetings concerning the electorate and state/regional issues are not proper occasions to be muttering any prayer, even the Lord's Prayer.

[naomi24]

Indeed, DT.

//your religion can make it so that certain laws don't apply to you.//

Apart from the crash helmet thing (I'm at a loss to know why it shouldn't be mentioned) I'm not sure what other 'laws' the religious are exempt from - but in many instances they are certainly exempt from regulations that apply to everyone else - NHS hygiene regulations relating to clothing for one.

[Zeuhl]

/I don't see why I shouldn't "dredge up" Sikhs/crash helmets. after all it does prove what I said/

No it doesn't. It proves that you can't fit on a crash helmet when someone already wears a bulky headgear at all times.

/the law on slaughter of animals - feel free to opt out if you are Muslim or Jewish/

It is not an opt out. There is no evidence that halal/kosher slaughter causes suffering to animals and the first regulations for abattoirs which replaced the 'free for all' for everybody, acknowledged those differences in practice. Are you suggesting that New Zealand Lamb (which is all halal) is also an 'opt out' from our laws?

[naomi24]

Actually, Zeuhl, it does prove what Divebuddy said. No one else would be allowed to ride a motor bike without a crash helmet just because they wanted to wear a big hat.

[Zeuhl]

You're right

More Rastas on Lambrettas is what we need!

[naomi24]

:o)

[naomi24]

Divebuddy, he did admit he was wrong. He said I was right - which means you were right too. ;o)

[Zeuhl]

fair enough buddy

Naomi is fair as ever (LOL) but I should have conceded you were right specifically

I didn't mean it to seem begrudging :-)

[jno]

what it presumably means is that crash helmets should be made in different sizes, to accommodate turbans.

[pixie373]

I haven't read all the posts yet. But according to the 2011 census, he's technically right-
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rpt-religion.html

But not for long...