Bad Lieutenant
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The opinions you've put forward have already bee smote upon the ruin earlier in this thread Wildcat. All too eager to pounce, the cat goes hungry.
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UK PM David Cameron: "We are a Christian country"
- Thread starter Bad Lieutenant
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Jorghnassen
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David Cameron's right, regardless of the beliefs or lack of beliefs among the UK population. You have an official state religion (Church of England) whose head is also your head of State (that decrepit, presumably less slutty Paris Hilton called Queen Elizabeth the second), plus you live in a monarchy where the divine right to rule is given by God to the royal family by Fate through kinship or some other BS.
You can pretend to being a secular society once you get rid of the monarchy. Until then, the entire Commonwealth is composed of Christian nations (unless the monarch starts or adopts a new state religion that is not part of christianity; or gets rid of an official religion altogether, though that divine right to rule (even just as a figurehead) sort of ties at least theism with the whole Commonwealth).
You can pretend to being a secular society once you get rid of the monarchy. Until then, the entire Commonwealth is composed of Christian nations (unless the monarch starts or adopts a new state religion that is not part of christianity; or gets rid of an official religion altogether, though that divine right to rule (even just as a figurehead) sort of ties at least theism with the whole Commonwealth).
Damien Evans
Up The Irons
Right, because the Queen is head of the church of England, Australia, Canada, New Zealand etc. are Christian Nations. What a ludicrous claim.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_116_of_the_Constitution_of_Australia
Section 116 establishes what is often called "freedom of religion", by forbidding the Commonwealth from making any law for the establishment of a religion, imposing any religious observance, or prohibiting the exercise of a religion, or religious discrimination for public office.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_Two_of_the_Canadian_Charter_of_Rights_and_Freedoms
Section Two of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is the section of the Constitution of Canada's Charter of Rights that lists what the Charter calls "fundamental freedoms" theoretically applying to everyone in Canada, regardless of whether they are a Canadian citizen, or an individual or corporation. These freedoms can be held against actions of all levels of government and are enforceable by the courts. The fundamental freedoms are freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of belief, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Bill_of_Rights_Act
Oh, and divine right to rule? The 17th century called, they want you to know they chucked that idea out and so should you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glorious_Revolution
Jorghnassen
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It's not my fault the entire British system of government is based on strange women lying in pond distributing swords.
Canada, Australia, and others have freedom of religion, that doesn't make Christianity and monarchy any less rooted in the system. Especially with Harper as prime minister in Canada...
Since all these countries are also considered democracies, if you really want Christianity out of it, instead of being butthurt over that fact, you could try to change the system, by lobbying your government to get rid of the monarchy and allusions to god and religion in various government fonctions, laws, texts and symbols. Until then, religion, and Christianity in particular, is part of the culture.
ETA: The "glorious revolution" you mention forbids Catholics from ever becoming king (or queen) or their spouse. Even Tony Blair didn't convert officially to catholicism until after he retired as prime minister, just because it's still a sensitive issue. Britain has some really funky laws that are especially antithetical to a modern free society (including media prohibition with respect to some film usage of government (I think the house of lords is it?) and the royal family (not allowed to use real images to make fun of them)).
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sphenisc
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Jorghnassen
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It appears to be a discretionary royal family power. Daily Show clip about the latest royal wedding from back a few months ago. NSFW
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Bad Lieutenant
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So are all politicians unprincipled PR professionals? Some resign in objection to the party whip from time to time - a little backbone really isn't too much to ask.
Humes fork
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He is raising his children to be faithheads though.
I really don't understand why. There was an election, no party got the majority and thus some bargaining was necessary. Clegg hadn't promised to ally with Labour (though he has since broken some promises).
Francesca R
Girl
I don't care. That's funny though; looks like "fat-heads"
Oh I do. But the logic is still weak and faulty.
Absolutely. The idea that a lot of promises could ever survive a coalition is contradicted by evidence the world over. But it is still the kind of thing that inevitably costs support. (In my view some of the "flagship" betrayals improved their policy program anyway)
PR was Cameron's previous hobby.
dafydd
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The Church Of England is a social organization, not a religious one.
geni
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Well yes the UK is a consititutionaly christian country. At least in part because it seems to work. By having an extremely broad state religion you have someone on hand to do religious stuff when people want that while at the same time limiting the risk they will do something problematical. It also means that you don't have to worry about trying to be fair to all the little new religious movements and the like. No one can claim that they weren't given fair warning.
Last of the Fraggles
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I should probably care but I don't think I could dislike Cameron any more than I already do. He's a vacuous tosspot that spouts inanities at every opportunity. I'm glad my country wont be part of his Christian nation much longer.
angrysoba
Philosophile
Technically I suppose he is right.
The Head of State is also head of a church. And he probably thinks the only people he can annoy are Guardian readers who won't vote for him anyway.
The Head of State is also head of a church. And he probably thinks the only people he can annoy are Guardian readers who won't vote for him anyway.
angrysoba
Philosophile
Nick Clegg is a pointless waste of internal organs and skin.
Francesca R
Girl
Are you still hung up on that facebook post he made about you? Even I think the photo was shopped a bit.
commandlinegamer
Philosopher
Only in England. The Church of Scotland by comparison is completely independent from the state, and its head is not the Queen (but Jesus Christ himself, IIRC).
I don't think there's an established church in Wales or Northern Ireland either.
angrysoba
Philosophile
The Church of Ireland used to be the official religion for the whole island but it was disestablished in 1871, according to Wikipedia!
Its top cathedral is in Armagh just across from the top Catholic church in all of Ireland. And I am sure I heard some jokes or stories about that but I can no longer remember them.
Anyone?
