While I don't think it is a good thing to have a political leader who is also religious - especially not one who asks God if he should send soldiers into battle - I'd rather see a political leader be open and honest about his faith, than be sneaky and deceitful, in order to protect his own political career.
Tony Blair is now a Catholic
- Thread starter CFLarsen
- Start date
-
- Tags
- catholicism tony blair
While I don't think it is a good thing to have a political leader who is also religious - especially not one who asks God if he should send soldiers into battle - I'd rather see a political leader be open and honest about his faith, than be sneaky and deceitful, in order to protect his own political career.
He has been a catholic in all but name for a long time IMO. He went to mass. He took communion. He was not open about his faith while in office because he thought it would harm his career. He is a hypocrite and a coward. He is not the stuff a martyr is made of. He is not the stuff a decent human being is made of. But we knew that
Last edited:
He seems to have waited to fully "cross over" until he was no longer directly involved in the Northern Irish peace process. Makes sense.
Most of us here couldn't care less what faith, if any, our prime minister (and of course he isn't anymore) has, as long as it's a private matter that does not influence policy. I can't help but wonder whether his firmly-held Christianity, shared of course with George W, might have had on his decisions, specifically those about the Iraq war.
Most of us here couldn't care less what faith, if any, our prime minister (and of course he isn't anymore) has, as long as it's a private matter that does not influence policy. I can't help but wonder whether his firmly-held Christianity, shared of course with George W, might have had on his decisions, specifically those about the Iraq war.
Anglican ... Catholic ... it's all the same. One has it's authority figure wearing flowing robes and making the occasional public appearance to adoring fans while denying the immoral acts of others nearby and defending them when denial is impossible. And the other is ... dang ... forgot which one I was talking about.
Not an entirely unexpected conversion however I would be very curious how he now reconciles his "new" faith with some of his past votes.
No I don't think that does explain it, he's become a RC presumably because he agrees with the doctrine and teachings of that faith, his conversion is just the "technical" part of that. And if he agrees with those doctrines and teachings then his past votes aren't compatible with those doctrines and teachings.
I do think this explains why there was so much dithering and delay regarding the RCC wanting to be exempt (because of their religiously inspired bigotry) from the recent change in the law in regards to adoption.
Darth Rotor
Salted Sith Cynic
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2006
- Messages
- 38,527
Has Tony Blair ever asked God if he should send soldiers into battle?
Why do you choose to discriminate against practitioners of religion when it comes to political office? That does not strike me as very open minded, Claus, given the variation in adherence to doctrine among practitioners on an individual basis.
Let me offer you an example: I dropped by my favorite local bar last night, on the way home, for some cocktails and conviviality. A nice couple in their late fifties and I struck up a conversation over a few drinks. Lively and friendly it was, with much laughter.
As the conversation progressed, I found out they were both practicing members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (Mormons) My eyebrow only raised a bit, as I have known other Mormons who libate.
Adherence to doctrine varies, in practice.
DR
Last edited:
I don't "discriminate" any more than those who prefer to have a superstitious person in office. The difference is that the one I vote for does not claim to be guided by Gods.
When politicians point to divine connections as to why they make the decisions that influence us all, we should pay attention.
A contradiction in terms.
FireGarden
Philosopher
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2002
- Messages
- 5,047
Maybe not before sending them into battle, but (from the OP): "Last year Mr Blair said he prayed to God when deciding whether or not to send UK troops to Iraq."
So, at best, a subtle distinction.
andyandy
anthropomorphic ape
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2006
- Messages
- 8,377
Do you think it was more of a
(1) Blair: "OK God, should I invade Iraq? What's that? If the next word I hear starts with a constanant then you wants me to invade Iraq, If it starts with a vowel you want me to not invade...OK..."
Chere: "Tea's ready!"
Blair: "Invasion it is!"
or a
(2) "Please God, help me make the right decision"
type of prayer? The latter seems more likely than the former no?
Last edited:
Given Blair's conversion to a religion which thrives on direct, clear-cut answers from God, I'd say the former.
Even in the latter case, what does this "help" consist of? If not a direct answer from God, then a divine justification.
In a way, that's more scary. He doesn't send soldiers because of some miracle the rest of us can see (and test, and therefore, make up our own minds about whether he is right or not), but because God Told Him This Was Right.
It's precisely what Dawkins spoke about in "The Root of All Evil?", when he talked about the Pope simply decreeing that God Told Him This Was Right.
We only have the leader's word about what God said.
Neither - it's the Jews so it's a surprise to the adherents of all three of them!
DanishDynamite
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2001
- Messages
- 10,752
Sad to see.
articulett
Banned
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2005
- Messages
- 15,404