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.

Please note: JerichoStarQuilt knows what of what she speaks.

Not always is there choice Figgy. Where do you live? In rural areas it is often very hard to find a non-CofE primary.

Figgy Where I grew up there was no other option, all the primary schools within driving distance (and we didn't have a car!) were CoE. So its go to a CoE school or don't go to school. Maybe if you are in a city it might be different but in my small village there was no other option.

I read that as "Off to bum some heretics." That would be wrong. You know that. don't you?

Agent I am arguing that hearing "we are a Christian country" whenever an argument about worship in schools, prayers at a council meeting or similar comes up is unhelpful. I am totally happy to live in a country where Christians go to church and Jews goes to synagogue and so on. I am not happy to have my child either have to pray or have to leave the room (as I had to). Why can't people pray in their own time? And, go about their business, as I said.

Another thing. The whole leave-the-country-if-you-don't-like-it thing. Repulsive and shocking. I am allowed to have different views and express them. Christianity didn't give me freedom of speech FFS.

Bumming heretics is the best of the modern C of E - still Christian, now with added tolerance for anal sex.

I didn't say all councillors, I said of this ilk because most councillors that I have come across (and a fair few through work) are doing it to be self important. Not all, but most. That might be stereotypical but they are usually bored and want percieved power.

And I think you will find that the experience we had of school won't be the one that our children have. As an adult if you don't want your child to go to a religious school then it is up to you to ensure that doesn't happen.

Why are we a Christian country? Because it has been an integral part of our history, culture and laws. Some good, some bad.

During that time we have changed and grown. Policy has been influenced by other Christian faiths and non Christian faiths. To say that we should ditch the beliefs and traditions of the past is to deny who we are. For what?

I think that we are very fortunate to live in a progressive country where free thinking is encouraged and religious freedom is guaranteed. This Christian country is a magnet for people the world over. They come here knowing that they are free to practice their religion and enjoy freedom as individuals. I think thats brilliant!

What alternative do you propose OP?

Remember: JerichoStarQuilt knows what of what she speaks.

YABU. a whole country basically geared up to a belief that you should be good but without any pressure to be any sort of good sounds fine to me. If you don't believe it isn't a real worry - no Christian extremist come from the C of E . I don't hold with religion but I do think a common goal is good.

And I do live rurally. In fact there were more c of e schools (and very much in demand) where we last lived. Infact there was more religion there than there is in the rural district that I currently live in, which did suprise me.

Not just C of E schools... Collective worship

Figgy "As an adult if you don't want your child to go to a religious school then it is up to you to ensure that doesn't happen"

That is naive. If you live and work in an area and all the schools are CoE (which is very common in rural England) then you think you ought to have to sell up your home, possibly your business, leave all your family and community behind and move to a different are to find a school that isn't religious?? I must have misunderstood you because that is totally ridiculous.

I'm slightly disturbed that I know whereof I speak. I didn't know I knew whereof I spoke. Is this bad?

I don't know Jericho. Wine?

HeadyEddie Fri 10-Feb-12 23:07:02
Figgy "As an adult if you don't want your child to go to a religious school then it is up to you to ensure that doesn't happen"

That is naive. If you live and work in an area and all the schools are CoE (which is very common in rural England) then you think you ought to have to sell up your home, possibly your business, leave all your family and community behind and move to a different are to find a school that isn't religious?? I must have misunderstood you because that is totally ridiculous.

this is where we get back to the if you dont like it move argument

I am happy for the UK to keep Christianity as its religion of choice.

I am happy for the queen to be head of state and head of the CofE.
I am happy to have a queen.

However, I do think that state affairs should not be governed by religious ones, they should be separate.

State schools should be open and agnostic and respectful.
Councils should be run as a secular entity, but those wishing to pray should be free to do so before meeting begin officially.

I don't want a revolution, just an adjustment.

Wine solves everything.

I could make an off-colour joke about transubstantiation, but this being Mumsnet I'm sure I'll have that opportunity again soon so I'll leave it.

Nailak But nobody should have to move!

Heady if you feel that strongly about it, then yes. I don't think that is ridiculous because if you feel that strongly about it I suspect you wouldn't put yourself in that situation to start off with and it would play a major part of your life.

I do however feel most people are quite "meh" about it and that times have changed, schools have changed and the C of E has changed. That isn't to say that it doesn't need more changing but it is far more progressive than other religions.

'Not of' is the opposite of 'what of' in my pissed brain so I went with that.

Translation. Jericho knows quite a bit about religion in the uk in the medieval period and I am going to bed.

not sure how a country has a religion!? always seems a bit ridiculous

Oh! I follow you unnamed. Yes, you are right, I was being deliberately disingeuous when I said I didn't know when the dark ages were. I don't like the term.

I do have a serious POV and agree with people arguing for a more secular arrangement, in amid the slightly confused stuff.

i was joking about the moving bit, but many religious people i know do homeschool or set up there own schools etc, so i dont see why atheists cant do that too?