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.

I would understand the message of Jesus to be loving and accepting of all no matter what their beliefs.

but I’m not a Christian. Funnily enough a lot of Christians I know personally are very intolerant and judgemental. But I don’t think they’re good Christians.

I think there is space to celebrate all religious festivals in the uk

I'm not stupid enough to think everyone sees it for what it is, of course some folk think it's all real. Good luck to them, just don't impose that view on others, especially when it comes to healthcare.

Most xtians are very judgemental, their book teaches them to be, despite pretending it's all about love.

I should think Nigel Farage would burst into flames if he set foot across the threshold of a church.

I think a lot of people are hugely angry that some of these self same 'christians' abused their power to physically and sexually abuse defenceless children and women, and threw the bodies of babies in septic tanks. Then, they covered it all up for decades and fought against victims being compensated for their suffering. And continued to pontificate at their congregations about what they were doing wrong. What Christian can make sense of that? It's not at all hard to see why people would simply turn their backs on God in these circumstances.

And if we’re talking about politicians look at Jacob Rees mogg. Apparently a devout catholic and one of the nastiest people to stalk Westminster. He’s certainly not one for helping those less fortunate. Quite the opposite

People aren’t perfect. We are all a work in progress. I could find many secular people incredibly selfish but I don’t judge them against their secularity, rather I think I don’t know what their personal circumstances are so assume they are doing their best with what they have got.

And yes, the whole empire thing was about expanding territory at the expense of natives. That was the Crown in most countries, wasn’t it?

What's strange about it?

Lee Anderson talking about Christianity and being a Christian country
Farage saying he won't go to church again

I don't think they are what I think a Christian should be. I certainly don't think they follow the message of Christ

You are right - you did say that in the OP.

Whist messages of Christ do you think they should follow because every Christian denomination has a different take on those messages.

Homosexuality
Death Penalty
Abortion
Censorship
Sexual abstinence and sex outside of marriage
Intelligent design or evolution
Communion
Saints
Bishops or elected Ministers
Men and women priests or ministers

Its a long list.

I judge Anderson if he claims to be a Christian
And Farage

The morals of Jesus - the teachings.
I certainly don't think Jesus expressed a view on many of those things.

I think 95% is probably a bit high. It may seem that much because of all of the damage they do and how vocal they are but the majority of Christians I have met have been decent people and I truly beleive that the majority are.

@DanielGault

i agree Daniel. Where was the state? The police? The people who knew but did nothing? That’s a consequence of a religious state creating such fear that people were paralysed to do anything.

But being Christian is firstly about a relationship with ones better self - the better part of oneself. We all have a right to prioritise that.

I’m going to exit this now as I don’t want to get into one of these arguments today of all days.

Happy Easter all

I am in no way absolving the state of their responsibility. Which they abdicated to these 'people of God'. Look what happened.

To those of you with the view that religion and state should be separate, are you doing anything about that? Campaigning? Writing to your mp? Trying to have the seats reserved in the house of Lords for bishops removed?

Does having a state religion preclude celebrating festivals of other religions?

Which ones though?

If the multitudes of Christian denominations can't agree on these things how are you and I as non-Christians, or mere MPs going to agree which morals and which teachings to follow?

"but who in the establishment is standing up for the Christian values that made our country so great and revered across the globe? "

This is what's strange. It certainly isn't Christian values which created colonialism- it's absolutely the opposite. I don't have and sentimentality at all about the kind of "greatness" we used to have as a nation- the sooner it goes, and we fully respect and embrace other humans and cultures the better.

To those of you with the view that religion and state should be separate, are you doing anything about that?

No nothing because its not that big a deal and its happening organically overtime anyway.

Campaigning? Writing to your mp? Trying to have the seats reserved in the house of Lords for bishops removed?

No nothing because its not that big a deal and its happening organically overtime anyway. There are far more important things to worry about than this anyway.

Does having a state religion preclude celebrating festivals of other religions?

England has a state church. However Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not.

And no this doesn't preclude anyone from celebrating any festivals or religions.

You're right that different denominations have different stances on various topics.

However, all Christians regardless of denomination are supposed to be be compassionate and forgiving and to strive to live moral lives e.g., not to lie, cheat, steal or display greed.

It's clear from the actions of Mogg, Anderson, Farage, etc, that they're failing even the most basic of Christian teachings.

Tbf I don't really care what their personally beliefs are, the issue is they are trying to use something they clearly don't believe in to push a political agenda and to further their own personal career/finances.

Farage is someone who spends his whole life denigrating, criticising and disrupting any organisation he comes close to. His life's work is to rubbish everything that others hold dear. The only thing about his focusing on church and Christanity that surprises me is that he ever went in the first place. This is a man who was praising the Nazis whilst at school.

Mogg is another. Sunday in church - the rest of the week calling ordinary people Pot Plants (for being inert and dim), hanging out with far right politicians and being part of a political party that has plunged huge parts of the country - especially children - into poverty.

Anderson, well he is a very angry, divisive man with no empathy for his fellow men.

I've no faith myself, but even I wonder either of them ever wonder how they will answer to their maker when the time comes.

I stand to be corrected as my knowledge of Christianity is from school/Sunday school but I don’t think any of Jesus’s teachings had much to say about any of those topics except maybe communion.

@KeinLiebeslied54321

Most xtians are very judgemental, their book teaches them to be, despite pretending it's all about love.

It's been a while, but I'm pretty sure the New Testament is all about love and tolerance

Perhaps the modern Catholic church should have a leaf through it sometime so?

Too true!

What does this mean -

“the sooner it goes, and we fully respect and embrace other humans and cultures the better”

Do you want every country on earth to be exactly the same with no differences in culture, society or religion? have you really thought that through ?