To think it is about time to stop being a Christian country.

[ShagOBite]

On the council prayers debate, lots of people have said "but we're a Christian country". Why are we? Should we be? How do we go about changing this? It seems so inappropriate and unnecessary in this day and age.

If this country becomes RC I'm emigrating

not a chance. No contraception, the inquisition, AIDS rife in many countries because using condoms is not allowed.
And the vast wealth of the RC church yet poverty stricken ppl still handing over more money.

For fear of this turning into an anti-catholic thread and getting told off by catholics I'd just like to clarify that my disdain isn't only directed at catholicism, it's ALL of them

To all the RatSkep men

Shit, that's twice I've done that today. Wrong thread

On this thread we've been told that English morality and law is based on a Christian standpoint. That such values are integral to our English heritage. And that Christian values are good for a country.

We've also been told that having a state religion is harmless and that having one particular religion does not preclude or intefere with anyone following a different religion.

Yet for the majority of the time this country has been a country the religion has been Roman Catholic. The Roman Catholic church has a Christian heritage that no other church can touch (bar, possibly, the Greek Orthodox). If our laws are based on any Christian heritage it is unarguably a Roman Catholic heritage.

So I'd like to pose this question to any of the CofE disestablishmentarians on this thread:

Why should the link be between the state and a church that has only been around for a few hundred years and that has singularly marked a gradual decline in religious belief in this country? If we must have a link between church and state, why not link us to the church that more-or-less ruled this country for over a thousand years and really did form the basis of our law and heritage to a much greater degree than the CofE has ever managed?

Snorbs: Well the main reason why not is that Catholicism is not just bullshit (in the same way that ALL RELIGIONS are bullshit) but it has dangerous and disgusting elements incompatible with being allowed more power. This is a superstition that is inherently woman-hating. It's not surprising that there is a long track record of serious sexual abuse within the Catholic church, it's because of the deeply unpleasant misogyny and twisted attitudes towards sexuality that this organisation appeals to the sexually dysfunctional and abusive.

Gah! That should, of course, be antidisestablishmentarians.

habbibu do you live in Scotland because if you do, I know a funny joke about the head of your Church?

I do, tell me

Why are there more Rangers supporters than Celtic supporters?

Because it's easier to shout "F#% the Pope" than "F#% the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Churches of Scotland".

Topical, me...

I don't want to talk about Rangers today, I may just cry :sad:

Sorry, brilliant joke

How could a decision to potentially revoke the state having a religion come about? What would it take for such a discussion to take place? Is a referendum even possible? What could be done?

the UK is not a Christian country - it does not have Christian values. what is true, is the values of UK Xianity reflect those of the Uk people! (albeit tracking about 30 years behind)

if you read the bible, there isn't much about the weather, cricket, and what makes a good cup of tea.

Well, you would need a political party with the bollocks to do it. None even appear to entertain the notion.

Campaigning for change is really the way forward but good old apathy always gets in the way. As I said earlier, hopefully the census results will show a slightly more realistic view than previously, it'll give the campaigners something to work with.

If you're really interested the British Humanist Association and The National Secular Society can give you info.

Out of the discussion for a while but agree with manatee said upthread about evangelical secularism. The British Humanist Association and National Secular Society make me shudder. Practising Christians may be in a minority bur most still identify themselves as Christian, can't believe the majority share the dangerous zeal of those extremists.

"The dangerous zeal of those extremists". Provocative language much? Care to explain exactly what makes you assert those things, rather than wildly accuse?

'dangerous zeal'?

evangelical secularism.

Do you even know what secularism is? You do know you can get christian secularists?

It's been a long while since I read such misinformed tripe. Why 'exactly' do those associations make you shudder? Lol. Sorry for massive URL but it's worth it

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=militant+atheist&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1024&bih=475&tbm=isch&tbnid=QS8sCeD6JL6oYM:&imgrefurl=debunkingchristianity.blogspot.com/2011/10/militant-atheist.html&docid=z5nAdzunVwtiQM&imgurl=2.bp.blogspot.com/-glQwEV3ZM_4/ToeJWjWXrDI/AAAAAAAAAs0/le8Uu1tkq3c/s1600/Militant%252BAtheist..JPG&w=720&h=408&ei=1Mk6T9iAIKqx0AXxzPGjCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=412&vpy=142&dur=186&hovh=169&hovw=298&tx=152&ty=79&sig=107295363565174449769&page=2&tbnh=109&tbnw=192&start=10&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:10" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=militant+atheist&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1024&bih=475&tbm=isch&tbnid=QS8sCeD6JL6oYM:&imgrefurl=debunkingchristianity.blogspot.com/2011/10/militant-atheist.html&docid=z5nAdzunVwtiQM&imgurl=2.bp.blogspot.com/-glQwEV3ZM_4/ToeJWjWXrDI/AAAAAAAAAs0/le8Uu1tkq3c/s1600/Militant%252BAtheist..JPG&w=720&h=408&ei=1Mk6T9iAIKqx0AXxzPGjCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=412&vpy=142&dur=186&hovh=169&hovw=298&tx=152&ty=79&sig=107295363565174449769&page=2&tbnh=109&tbnw=192&start=10&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:10

I mean dangerous in the sense that they seem to me fundamentally intolerant, evidenced by comments about people being happy that religion plays no part in the life of most Scandinavians (not at all sure that's true). I think the goal of those organisations is to anihilate spirituality, not to promote freedom. In Britain they also pose a further danger, noted by many others on this thread: the threat to our cultural heritage.

More bollocks. Might I suggest you actually have a look at their websites and it'll tell you exactly what they stand for.

You mean atheism anyway, not humanism and definitely not secularism.

And no way can your average theist talk to me about intolerance, the religious are the masters of it. Ask gay people, women, ask muslims about jews, ask christians about muslims etc etc etc.

Actually, a truly secular society will allow the delusional fuckwits to believe in whatever imaginary friend they like. You can have your churches, temples, mosques, stone circles or giant colanders (for followers of the spagheti monster).
You just can't have a legal right to bother rational people with your crap when they are not interested.

Pardon, what was your evidence of anything being dangerous again? Eh?

If you were to find a political party to take this on, what would then be the next step?
And what if it weren't one of the big three parties? Would it be worthwhile, do you think?