Religion, the Church of England and State Ceremonies

[cakeorwine]

I know we have an established church. I get that. And that's probably the answer to this question.

I do feel uncomfortable with the role that religion - specifically the Church of England - plays in State Ceremonies.

Watching the Cenotaph events on Remembrance Sunday. A moving event - but it does have a lot of religious elements. Prayers, hymns and The Lord's Prayer.

I think that anything religious should stick to events that are just for people of that religion. Or if it is multi-faith, then involve other faiths.

Remembrance Sunday is a national event. Keep religion out of it and just stick to remembering the people who died.

This is a Christian Country this is what we do.

I’m an atheist but don’t have an issue with it.

What do you mean by "A Christian country"?

Other faiths are represented. The prayers, hymns etc provide a dignified focus to remembrance.

They had representatives of 22 faiths at the Cenotaph, and the (short) religious part is fairly ecumenical

It would be interesting to see what other countries do who don't have an established church but who do have national events.

She means this...

The official religion of the United Kingdom is Christianity, with the Church of England being the state church of its largest constituent region, England. The Church of England defines itself as neither fully Reformed (Protestant) nor fully Catholic.

I would have thought that means the core religion is Christianity and its what our traditions and culture is built around?

I'm not Christian but I don't mind remembrance Sunday having religious elements to it.

I think that anything religious should stick to events that are just for people of that religion. Or if it is multi-faith, then involve other faiths.

Why, this is a Christian country (still headed by the Church of England) and was very religious until a few decades ago. It has been Christian for centuries. The majority of people that died in the wars fighting for this country were either Christian or nominally Christian. I never understand why people seem to have such a big problem with Christianity in this country. Nobody is forcing you to participate.

The CofE is the state church. Hence, it plays a role in state and public ceremonies. And at the Cenotaph it's about 10 minutes. The Cenotaph itself deliberately does not have religious insignia so that it can represent the dead of all faiths or none.

The King is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. He is head of state, the PM head of government.

The religious elements of all these state occasions is pared back to the minimum and they are usually very inclusive in terms of the diversity of those invited.

The UK is actually one of the most irreligious countries in the world. I was brought up in the Anglican faith, but don't believe in God, etc now. I'm not offended by the continued inclusion of religious elements. They bring comfort to people who believe.

I never understand why people seem to have such a big problem with Christianity in this country. Nobody is forcing you to participate

I don't have a problem with Christianity. Worship who you want.
I do have an issue with a national event having a Church of England element to it with prayers.

And our anthem is God save the King. That is asking me to participate or be 'shamed' for not singing it.

The Church of England has a big hold in this country.

The Church of England is our countries main religion , just as the Catholic Church is other countries church, or the Jewish Church, or Islam etc etc. At services like Remembrance Sunday then of course our church will lead, just as in other countries their religion will lead.

As others have said there were 22 other faiths represented, I really don’t see the issue

@cakeorwine our national religion is Christian our Royalty is Head of our branch of Christianity. We have been Christian for hundreds of years, we used to be Roman, then before that we were Pagan.

And our anthem is God save the King. That is asking me to participate or be 'shamed' for not singing it.

Shamed indeed! 😂

That is asking me to participate or be 'shamed' for not singing it

How are you being shamed for not singing it and who's asking you to participate? from experience I can assure you that no-one's checking to see if you're singing, miming or staring benignly in front of you willing it to end because you're a republican .

That's what I said in the OP.

I like all the religious aspects of Remembrance Sunday. It’s traditional and a nice part.

Difficult to think of a country where religion is not represented in this context. Russia during the communist era perhaps? Putin has turned the Russian day of remembrance into a propoganda exercise, completely removing the focus from the act of remembrance. Not sure I'd like North Korea's take.

TBH I prefer the UK's way - solemn, dignified, the act of remembrance front and centre, some good tunes from the bands, a prayer and a hymn.

It's unpatriotic apparently.

Well yes, of course The Church of England has a big hold in this country because it's the main religion and like I said, is what our traditions are based on throughout the year.

The Church of England has a big hold in this country

In what way? no-one's forced to go to church (unlike the 16th century, when if you didn't it was a heavy fine) and I find that the church plays no part in my day to day life.

And I agree that no one cares if any one person does or does not sing god save the king.
luckily for all of us that live in the U.K. we are free to sing or not sing as we decide.

OP why are you asking stupid questions then.

Are you familiar with all the ways countries do this?

Or you just went for Russia and North Korea?