AIBU to think that people should stop claiming we are a Christian country.

[Ohbehave1]

Church attendances are at a very low level. How can we claim to be Christian when virtually no one goes to church any more. It seems people are when it suits them ( births, deaths and marriages or to be anti non Christian )

YABU.
Whilst our head of state is also the head of the established church, how we can we be described as anything other than a Christian country?
I'd love to change that system but, sadly, it is the one we are currently under.

PoorFannyRobin: "Liberalism grew out of Christian thought, not in spite of it."

Even a moment's thought will show that to be false.

Egosumquism, respect must be shown in the same way that i respect the customs, religions and laws of any other country, regardless of religion that i visit. Ok?

There is a big difference between respecting the beliefs and customs of a country I may visit as a guest and dealing with the beliefs and customs of a group which represent less than 50% of the inhabitants of my own home country, but which imp t significantly on my life. I am not sure how I can both stand up for myself and offer the same level of courtesy I would show on a two week visit.

I am pretty sure the New Testament didn't mention killing people, treating the poor like shit

It does mention buying a sword and raising people from the dead though.

Christians follow the NT in ways that make their lives indiscernible from anyone else's such as turning the other cheek. I don't know any Christians who have sold all their belongings, brought a sword or raised someone from the dead.

I should have stated that classical liberalism grew out of Christian thought. That is an accepted historical fact. I agree that progressivism masquerading as liberalism did not -- although progressivism has only been able to flourish without a violent revolution in a liberal Christian country. Yes, those really are two different things. Thanks for helping me make that point clearer!

Not knowing the difference, for example, between the Old and New Testaments and/or knowing almost nothing about the history and customs of the peoples in the Bible or knowing nothing about the context of specific verses in the Bible ought to keep people from quoting from it. But is surely doesn't.

"Christian holidays" bahahahahahahaha... sorry, can't actually write a reposit to that cause its so not worth it.

We're not a "Christian" country, we are secular, and long may it remain so. We haven't been a religous country for generations.

In fact, those who say its based in Christian faith are utterly wrong, the historic morals of the country are far more based in the old testement, which would make us... Jewish.

should have read -- But IT surely doesn't! (can't type)

PoorFannyRobin- please could you elucidate your cryptic comments about the beauties of other cultures and of secularism?

knowing nothing about the context of specific verses in the Bible ought to keep people from quoting from it.

Which would be valid if there was any one coherent consensus on interpretation. You do realise that there are many well versed biblical scholars who reject any of the supernatural claims of the bible? No one other Christian will have the same beliefs as the next. Broadly speaking Christian thinking tends to be dragged along by societal change, not vice versa. A Christian who supports gay marriage is doing so because of their 21st century ethics and not scripture. A Christian 50 years ago would have had no qualms viewing homosexuality as displeasing to God. Nowadays many Christians are at pains to to explain how God doesn't not condemn gay marriage. The bible hasn't changed, apparently God doesn't, so it must be the reader. The context argument is only used to quieten the cognitive dissonance of the believer. 'Why am I not raising people from the dead' and so on. It's never used when there is no conflict. You don't worry about the context of the things that don't cause a contradiction between reality and what the bible states such as 'for God so loved the world'.

He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” Luke 22v36

One of the best moments of my life so far, was seeing someone with the Leviticus quote about a man lying with a man as a tatoo, ironic seeing as Leviticus also bans tatoos.

Most people who are religious choose which bits they believe in, and discard the bits they don't like. You buy the whole lot or nothing at all in my opinion.

We are not a Christian country, shopping on Sundays, meat on Fridays, divorce, idolitry of the rich, money lending, blah blah blah... Not Christian, secular.

Actually David Cameron is From Jewish heritage. It's something he consealed for quite a while. I wonder why?....

"Actually David Cameron is From Jewish heritage. It's something he consealed for quite a while. I wonder why?...."

Perhaps for the same reason that George Osborne changed his first name?

I said the context of the verses, not the interpretation. Not the validity. Again, not the same thing. And I've elucidated about all I care to. I think you've both done your job here. Y'all have fun.

""Actually David Cameron is From Jewish heritage. It's something he consealed for quite a while. I wonder why?...."

Puzzles me too. Given that Disraeli was a Tory PM