to think there is nothing wrong with saying britain is a christian country

[Slutbucket]

I have no strong opinion about David Cameron but I don't think h e has said anything wrong in describing Britain as a christian country. Our main holidays are Christmas and easter, the head of state needs to be protestant and much of our history and traditions are based around the christian religious calendar. We are moving to a more secular society but I can't see these traditions dying out. I live in a very multi cultural area where all festivals are celebrated. I have friends from many cultures who are not alienated by the christian festivals. Many send Christmas cards as a mark of respect (and some just celebrate Christmas because they like the festival) some people are not religious but will celebrate these festivals in some form ie buy an Easter egg for their children, celebrate pancake day.

Maybe the Druids were in uproar when Christian missionaries first started appearing in Britain. 'But we're traditionally a good Druidic? peoples. Why are these people coming here with their 'good news' from afar? (or Woden or Thor etc.)

Sorry, I'm being facetious.

I havent read all the thread because I'm just about to go out but it annoys me that apparently being a Christian is a bad thing to some people.

Someone up thread has said DC saying we are a Christisn country annoyed them because they don't want to be lumped in with the 'god bothering, kiddy fiddlers'.

Apply this statement to any other religion and mumsnet would have been all over it like a rash telling them that was wrong and not everyone is the same etc. If I stated that 'Muslims were terrorists' I'd be (rightly) shouted down and told that the few don't represent the rest of the religion. Why is it ok then to slag off Christianity and Christians? We are a Christian country in that our history and traditions are built on it. Why is that now such an awful thing to say? What is so terribly wrong with it?

And can I add that I don't go to church although I would state that my religion is c of e. It just annoys me that we are now tolerant of everybody - as long as they aren't Christian.

Laws are given strength by the consensus of the people to whom they apply and the ability of those in charge to enforce them.

No consensus and no power and they are just words.

See: the Easter Act 1928!

When people say "this is a Christian country" it's generally code for "it's a DECENT country, not like those countries full of Jews, Muslims and Hindus"

What utter nonsense. (and i'm not even on the side of the argument that believes that this is still, meaningfully a 'Christian country' or that it matters much in the modern scheme of things). I have never heard the phrase used with the apparent intent or subtext.

No, Kim147, many people celebrate Christmas and Easter as RELIGIOUS festivals.

I believe in God. I say a prayer to him now and again. We go to church at special times of the year and ds is Christened.

Moonfacesmother
Someone up thread has said DC saying we are a Christisn country annoyed them because they don't want to be lumped in with the 'god bothering, kiddy fiddlers'.

Apply this statement to any other religion and mumsnet would have been all over it like a rash telling them that was wrong and not everyone is the same etc.

Isn't that the post that had 'homophone' and 'homophobe' confused? I think that may be part of why mumsnet wasn't all over it like a rash. Plus, discrimination is always more serious when it's against a vulnerable group. We'll probably take discrimination against Christians more seriously the day after disestablishment acts are passed.

Does such census data exist?
I was not talking percentages, merely disagreeing with your statement that 'WE' - the whole country - celebrate Easter and Christmas as cultural, not religious, occasions.

I should have written 'does such survey data exist'.

Oh, so you have figures from a proper survey, not dodgy census data?

I've heard England described as a post protestant country. I think this was a reference to the amount of people active in the religion.

I thought it was interesting how Kate Middleton was confirmed in the C of E in the months leading up to her marriage to the prospective head of the C of E. Confirmation is not part of the hatch, match and dispatch occasions most commonly carried out in religious venues. Maybe it would be more ordinarily associated with the active practice of the religion.

I think it is possible to consider oneself a Christian without attending church very regularly. many people are 'good Christians' because of the manner in which they conduct their lives.
(Thanks for the link, Kim)

In 2007, a survey said 10% of Britons attend church weekly. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6520463.stm

These are the Church of England's official statistics on attendance. www.churchofengland.org/about-us/facts-stats/research-statistics.aspx

I think that is interesting, but isn't Christianity the whole 'where 2 or more are gathered in my name, I am there two' last supper sort of thing. If one is a good christian 'cos of the manner in which one conducts their life, you could unbeknownst to yourself be a good Zoroastrian. Is it not necessary to be consciously living and choosing to be such?

Do you think it would increase the number of people in Britain who are de facto Christians if the parameters of a poll assessed the consciously Christian manner in which the people live their lives rather than their churchgoing?

Omg. I said two instead of too. I was very naughty to say omg, too.