to think we no longer live in a Christian country

[orlantina]

More than 53% of people have no faith - according to a recent survey.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41150792

That figure changes to 71% amongst 18-25 yr olds.

It surveyed 3000 adults - so it would be interesting to look behind the stats but it seems that more than half the country have no religion.

Christianity is still probably the most common religion out there.

Should this have implications for areas of national life?

Interesting

The Christian Voice on Sadiq Khan

www.christianvoice.org.uk/index.php/sadiq-khan-and-the-muslim-card/

Khan voted for ‘gay marriage’ and abortion. He does not like Christians speaking out against Islam, voting for Tony Blair’s infamous Racial and Religious Hatred Bill. But outside Westminster, how far does his Islamic faith inform his view of the world, for example, of Israel, of the place of women?

The Salar story has sent out a ‘phenomenal message’ about Muslim misogyny, boorishness and intolerance. Will it influence the election result in May? Sadiq Khan’s decision to play the ‘Muslim Card’ may yet come back to haunt him.

So it's not only Christians that face a hostile media.

Muslims do as well.

Rees-Mogg was foolish. He could have clearly stated his beliefs without using inflammatory phrases.

Just another male politician who thinks they have an opinion on uteri

Male Christian voices dominate the airwaves.
I guess it's the case in most countries, according to the religion. Do you hear Christian (or women's for that matter) voices coming over the airwaves in somewhere like Saudi Arabia or Iran?

I guess it's the case in most countries, according to the religion. Do you hear Christian (or women's for that matter) voices coming over the airwaves in somewhere like Saudi Arabia or Iran

Which is why a separation of church and state would lead to more representative voices on the airwaves

I've never seen Sadiq Khan be directly asked the question the way Tim Farron was repeatedly was.
BPAS have said his "extreme views", so now catholic views are now extreme views.

Are you saying anti abortion anti gay is not an extreme opinion?

I have real issues with people who claim to be scientists but then say 'there's so much we don't know, it must be God'. To my mind the whole point of being a scientist is acknowledging that you don't know everything, that you can't know everything, but you can, step by step and using improving technology, learn more and more and more. In the course of doing so, you will find some of your unknowns - and you will discover new ones. That's the beauty of science.

The other point about 'it's a 14 million to one chance to it must be God' rather reminds me of the Terry Pratchett theory of probability: It's a million to one chance but it might just work...

I'm an atheist - I absolutely respect people's rights to believe whatever the hell they want. But I do think religion should not directly influence the way the state does business. So yes, let's abolish compulsory acts of worship in schools (does no-one find the juxtaposition of 'compulsory' and 'worship' in the same sentence disturbing?). Let's stop religious selection in state-funded faith schools.

And atheists are not immune to family tragedy. We have had more than our fair share in the past 7 years or so. I'm still an atheist. I also find it incredibly patronising when people sneer that the atheists on this thread don't seem happy, as if happiness is the preserve of the religious. It's just as rude as referring to 'Sky Fairies', which I do not do.

so now catholic views are now extreme views

In a society where the default position should be equality then, unfortunately, some tenets of Catholicism meet that description.

I was not raised Catholic, I do not 'believe in' abortion (it's not a belief - if you don't like the idea of it, don't have one) and I have been lucky enough to never have been in a situation in which I would have had to consider my options wrt an unwanted pregnancy, I DO believe in the autonomy of individuals to decide what is to happen to their bodies, so in the case of pregnancy, the woman gets to make the choice.

I watch Ress-Mogg with open-mouthed astonishment. He comes across as an innocent in the original meaning of the word: total and utter lack of self-awareness.

We never did, and anyone who thinks we did needs to study some actual history instead of reading the tabloids

Sadiq Khan is high profile and vocal on many aspects of women's equality and rights.

He has consistently voted for Gay rights and equal marriage. Unlike the woman currently running the country.

There are liberal, humane, progressive Christians just as there are Muslims.

There are liberal, humane, progressive Christians just as there are Muslims.

Hear, hear!

Araiwa- no I don't think it's extreme, it's an opinion, so long as it's not forced on others. We live in an age now where having any opinion against the main stream view gets you lambasted. I think it's getting ridiculous. Freedom of thought is now not allowed. If they didn't want to hear his opinion, they shouldn't ask.

There are liberal, humane, progressive Christians just as there are Muslims

Indeed. And we probably don't hear those people being asked their views on things, do we?

I guess it's the case in most countries, according to the religion

Indeed - so the fact that we tend to hear more about issues involving Christianity is that in general, there are more Christians than other religions so if we are going to hear people being questioned about their faith, chances are they will be Christian.

As long as JRM doesn't stand outside clinics waving placards and shouting in people's faces, he can say what he wants. Ditto on gay marriage. As an MP, he can also table a Private Member's Bill to try and get abortion banned again and the gay marriage ruling overturned. All fine by me.

As long as I'm free to think he's a twat.

How much money could be devoted to a million better things than religion and all the nonsense ceremonies and fancy buildings

How much money could be devoted to a million better things than weapons, gravy trains for politicians and fancy salaries for people who contribute comparatively little to the economy . . . . ?

How much money could be devoted to a million better things than weapons, gravy trains for politicians and fancy salaries for people who contribute comparatively little to the economy

Ask the Christian leaders in Government that....

Theresa May is someone who definitely brings her Christian faith to politics....apparently

As long as I'm free to think he's a twat

See - people of faith and people of none can find common ground!

Freedom of thought is now not allowed. If they didn't want to hear his opinion, they shouldn't ask

Of course it's allowed. But it isn't without consequence if you hold outdated views

In order to have freedom of religion you have to have freedom from religion, to prevent any particular religion claiming privileges over other people. The bible is a shit guide to morality anyway, as it advocates slavery, human sacrifice, rape and genocide.

The bible is a shit guide to morality anyway, as it advocates slavery, human sacrifice, rape and genocide

There does seem to be a contrast between Old Testament God and New Testament God.

I love the ten commandments in particular.

The first 4 are all about god, and how jealous and narcissistic he is, Like a petulant three year old.

Of course it's allowed. But it isn't without consequence if you hold outdated views

Then it's not really allowed at all- this translates as if you hold a view different to the main stream view you will be punished.
Difference of opinion is healthy, it shouldn't be discouraged.
If everyone went along with main stream view then people can be swept along into anything, as they have in the past when various atrocities have been done.
Silencing people's views is restriction on true freedom and balanced decisions.

Free speech isn't free if it comes at a cost.

By saying people have to denounce their own religion to fit into this "progressive society" isn't really allowing people to practice their religion as they see it should be, therefore religious freedom is no more.

Silencing people's views is restriction on true freedom and balanced decisions

I don't think Rees - Moggs has been silenced. He was on TV this morning expressing his views. So he has not been silenced.

Then it's not really allowed at all- this translates as if you hold a view different to the main stream view you will be punished

People get 'punished' all the time for their views - they get dropped from TV programmes, axed from papers, lose ratings etc - because ultimately people whose views are different to the mainstream lose their audience and are not welcome. Society has always 'punished' people whose views are not mainstream and are VERY CONTROVERSIAL and OFFENSIVE to many people.

You forgot to mention those words, didn't you. People can have non mainstream views, but when they become very controversial and offensive, most of society turns its back on them.