to think many politicians who claim to be Christians and who say this is a Christian country really aren't Christians and would criticise the teachings of Jesus

[cakeorwine]

Lee Anderson saying this is a Christian country and complaining about some councils celebrating Ramada with lights.

"But let’s turn our attention back to traditional values for a second. The last time I checked Britain is a Christian country, it is enshrined in our law. So why is it that one of the most important religious festivals in the country is not proudly celebrated in the nation’s capital? Just like Labour, the Tories also refuse to stand up for Christian values it seems. Their candidate for the Westminster constituency said the lights were to be “welcomed” before paying trivial lip service to the promotion of other religions and their holy days. Under successive Tory governments British culture, identity, and values have ebbed away, and the rate at which they are doing so seems to be rapidly increasing.
Let me be clear, this isn’t an attack on Islam or any other religion. I firmly and absolutely respect the rights of individuals to celebrate their faith, but who in the establishment is standing up for the Christian values that made our country so great and revered across the globe? Can you honestly believe that if the shoe were on the other foot, a Muslim country would decorate its capital city with Easter decorations during Ramadan?"

'UK is Christian – it's time to demand our country back' | Express Comment | Comment | Express.co.uk

Farage saying that he has stopped going to church because of what someone said

"Mr Farage said: "I won't go to my local church, I won't go. I am christened and confirmed in the Church of England, all my family on both sides have been Church of England.
"I used to believe in it, I used to attend, not every Sunday but regularly during the year, I will not go. It is hopeless, they've given up, they've surrendered."
Nigel Farage reveals why he has stopped going to church: 'It is hopeless!' | Politics | News | Express.co.uk


I firmly believe that these two, as well as other politicians who claim to be Christian and to believe in Christian values would be the first to have Jesus locked up for his views. They would not understand the story of the Good Samaritan.

I say this as someone who is not a Christian but who can see what Jesus was trying to say about helping others and particular values.

[Changingplace]

Totally agree, the whole concept of Christianity has slipped so far from what the Bible says Jesus actually taught it’s ridiculous- I say this as a non practicing Christian but I went to a C of E school, Sunday school etc so I know the Bible stories.

Jesus taught forgiveness & acceptance- it’s all been twisted now, not that I follow it anyway but he’d be horrified by what a lot of nonsense is spouted in his name.

Ironically he’d probably be hounded and silenced like he was at the time, guess people don’t get literally crucified these days but the politicians wouldn’t like it.

[DinnaeFashYersel]

Politicians are not elected to represent religions.

A minority of Brits are Christian. And not all of them are practicing.

Individual Christians are entitled to be critical of their religions.

[cakeorwine]

@DinnaeFashYersel

Politicians are not elected to represent religions.

A minority of Brits are Christian. And not all of them are practicing.

Individual Christians are entitled to be critical of their religions.

When a person who claims to be Christian displays none of the values that Jesus taught, I think it can be concluded that they aren't Christian. Or weren't listening to the Christian message. Or maybe they just don't get it?

[BloodyHellKenAgain]

I think 95% of people who claim to be Christian, politicians or otherwise, don't behave in a very Christian way. There's far too much criticising, finger pointing and judgement around IMO.

[Changingplace]

@BloodyHellKenAgain

I think 95% of people who claim to be Christian, politicians or otherwise, don't behave in a very Christian way. There's far too much criticising, finger pointing and judgement around IMO.

Totally agree, it seems to be a cover by politicians for being incredibly judgmental these days, not what should be seen as Christian at all.

[cakeorwine]

@Changingplace

Totally agree, it seems to be a cover by politicians for being incredibly judgmental these days, not what should be seen as Christian at all.

I would love to ask a politician who discusses Christianity what they think of various stories and attitudes - what would Jesus do and all that!

[KeinLiebeslied54321]

Politics and religion shouldn't mix.
We are not 'a christian country', we are a country which (supposedly) tolerates all beliefs or none.

[KeinLiebeslied54321]

@Changingplace

Totally agree, it seems to be a cover by politicians for being incredibly judgmental these days, not what should be seen as Christian at all.

I'd say at least 70% of the xtians I used to mix with were a lot more judgemental than non-xtians.

[Ponoka7]

People pick and choose what bits of their religion they want to focus on. Let's face it, it's the same globally.

[makeanddo]

Politics and religion should be separate. The Christian celebrations are actually linked to nature and started as pagan traditions - the church just made up celebrations at the same time to control people and get them to join their club.

Frankly I'm not sure how any (but mainly a couple of main ones) religions can keep a straight face when they talk about kindness, giving, forgiveness because that's not what I see.

[MistressoftheDarkSide]

Christianity and formalised religion has zilch to do with spirituality and faith. It was politics before politics was invented. A form of power and control.

The anthropomorphasising of a force that even the Bible says we cannot name, see or comprehend into a beardy big daddy in the sky immediately nixed any hope of understanding anything about anything because it infused everything with fear.

Jesus "got it" (or multiple spiritual leaders of the time depending on belief) but no-one really listened, and those in power that "got it" and saw it threatened them subverted it and claimed heresy.

Also religion and state should be separated, because treating each other humanely should be intrinsic and not because beardy big daddy says so but with a list of conditions that contradict the "message".

It's all nuts and hypocrisy.

[Mothership4two]

In my experience some people are just lovely, some are horrid and most are somewhere in between and their faith or lack of it has no bearing on their behaviour whatsoever.

[cakeorwine]

If there was a Christian test - and you had to demonstrate it not by your knowledge of Christianity but by your deeds, I think people like Anderson and Farage (and Mogg) would fail it.

[Staringatthemoon]

I think a lot of you have a strange idea about Christianity. Today is Good Friday, a bank holiday.

Could you perhaps try and understand Christianity from a Christians point of view and not your own - it might then make some sense.

@MistressoftheDarkSide you said Jesus ‘got’ it - well, that’s who we follow to guide us to where we want to be ( with God). This notion of a bearded bloke in heaven is your idea of God not mine.

[Changingplace]

@Staringatthemoon

I think a lot of you have a strange idea about Christianity. Today is Good Friday, a bank holiday.

Could you perhaps try and understand Christianity from a Christians point of view and not your own - it might then make some sense.

@MistressoftheDarkSide you said Jesus ‘got’ it - well, that’s who we follow to guide us to where we want to be ( with God). This notion of a bearded bloke in heaven is your idea of God not mine.

The point is that a lot of politicians have a strange concept of Christianity that doesn’t follow the teachings of Jesus.

I’m sure Jesus would be horrified to learn Farrage considers himself a Christian since his beliefs are so far removed from what Jesus taught.

[cakeorwine]

@Staringatthemoon

I think a lot of you have a strange idea about Christianity. Today is Good Friday, a bank holiday.

Could you perhaps try and understand Christianity from a Christians point of view and not your own - it might then make some sense.

@MistressoftheDarkSide you said Jesus ‘got’ it - well, that’s who we follow to guide us to where we want to be ( with God). This notion of a bearded bloke in heaven is your idea of God not mine.

Eh?

Lee Anderson claims to be a Christian
As does Farage

If I were a Christian, I would be asking them what makes them a Christian. They certainly don't follow the teachings of Christ

[Staringatthemoon]

How Do you know what people do in their private lives, really? I’m not a fan of either of them at all but I don’t judge their private lives as I know there’s a lot we won’t know.

They are working as politicians within a political framework so of course they are pushing their agendas. I don’t understand the logic of this - if they pushed a truly Christian agenda it wouldn’t have a place in politics as it’s politics not faith and we don’t run our country that way.

You seem to want them to reflect the idea you have of Christians. I’m sick of people expecting us to be saints for everyone because of their idea of what faith should look like

[Changingplace]

@Staringatthemoon

How Do you know what people do in their private lives, really? I’m not a fan of either of them at all but I don’t judge their private lives as I know there’s a lot we won’t know.

They are working as politicians within a political framework so of course they are pushing their agendas. I don’t understand the logic of this - if they pushed a truly Christian agenda it wouldn’t have a place in politics as it’s politics not faith and we don’t run our country that way.

You seem to want them to reflect the idea you have of Christians. I’m sick of people expecting us to be saints for everyone because of their idea of what faith should look like

Your beliefs are part of both your public and private life.

Maybe if people truly did push a Christian agenda in the true sense of forgiveness, acceptance and respect then politics would be a better place - but few public figures who openly align themselves with the Christian faith seem to demonstrate those values.

[DinnaeFashYersel]

Maybe the are just not of the same denomination of Christianity as you OP?

There are a pretty wide range of values amongst very wide range of Christian denominations ranging from

• pro-choice to anti-abortion
• embracing all sexualities to believing homosexuals should be imprisoned/castrated/executed
• God is Love v we are all going to hell
• Holy Communion is the actual body and blood of Christ v its just symbolic

And everything in between

[KeinLiebeslied54321]

@Staringatthemoon

I think a lot of you have a strange idea about Christianity. Today is Good Friday, a bank holiday.

Could you perhaps try and understand Christianity from a Christians point of view and not your own - it might then make some sense.

@MistressoftheDarkSide you said Jesus ‘got’ it - well, that’s who we follow to guide us to where we want to be ( with God). This notion of a bearded bloke in heaven is your idea of God not mine.

As an ex-xtian I know more about it than many. Studying the bible and spending lots of time among xtians simply helped me to see how easy it is to convince yourself something is true, even when the whole concept contradicts itself many times.
The concept of sin is man-made, as is needing to be saved and the existence of a saviour, as soon as people accept that they see xtianity for what it is - a tool to control and create dependency.

[cakeorwine]

@DinnaeFashYersel

Maybe the are just not of the same denomination of Christianity as you OP?

There are a pretty wide range of values amongst very wide range of Christian denominations ranging from

• pro-choice to anti-abortion
• embracing all sexualities to believing homosexuals should be imprisoned/castrated/executed
• God is Love v we are all going to hell
• Holy Communion is the actual body and blood of Christ v its just symbolic

And everything in between Edited

I am not a Christian.
That's in the OP.

I would have naively thought that being a Christian meant following the message of Jesus.

[Staringatthemoon]

@Changingplace i disagree. We have people who insist that this is a secular country and some people keep their personal beliefs out if the political sphere.

But it’s anecdotes about the Christians you know who dont behave the way you think Christians should behave that annoys me. The Christians I met at mass last night behaved as Christians. Did the Christians from your Churches? Or are you not actually in contact with real Christians who are trying to do their best in this world?

[Canyousewcushions]

This is a really strange post.

You do realise that what made the UK "great and revered across the world" is colonialism and slavery? Forcing ourselves on local cultures, changing and overwriting cultural identities around the world and pillaging natural resources which the UK had no right to take? And horrific treatment of other human beings. The opposite of what should align with Christian values, in fact, which should be kindness, love, understanding and respect.

It's not a bad thing that we are waking up to this and our perception of ourselves as a nation is changing in the wake of the realisation that the reason we were "great" is horrifying and appalling.

(Though to be fair am also fuming with myself for rising to the bait and posting in response to anyone who has quoted nigel farage in a not "comedy, what an idiot" context)

[Mothership4two]

I don't think it is unreasonable to expect people who follow a particular faith to at least attempt to emulate their religious figurehead or follow his/her teachings. Jesus' basic message was that of love and tolerance to all, so it can be a bit perplexing when Christians don't act that way.

[Staringatthemoon]

@KeinLiebeslied54321

For you it is. For others it is something different. Just because it became something oppressive for you doesn’t mean it isn’t something liberating for others. And depending on who you are, what is oppressive for one person is a structure that liberated for another.

As someone pointed out, there are different Christian faiths. We assume they are all the same and fit under the same umbrella but really I don’t agree.