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.

He didn’t seem to be a big fan of the death penalty, at least for adultery - “let he who is without sin cast the first stone”

I would say this is a 'culturally' Christian country rather than a country full of church going Christians.

Well, it's actually more a pagan country wearing a Christian mask imo

A lot of people celebrate the pagan spring and winter festivals with lots of feasting and alcohol and call them Easter and Christmas, enjoy pancake day but don't do lent, tick the Christian box on forms or call themselves c of e without really thinking about it.

This is not in any meaningful way a Christian capital C country.

Maybe he misspoke ?

'Secular' people can be selfish, 'religious' people can be selfish, anyone can be selfish. Thinking yours is the one and only religion can make many somewhat aloof and judgemental.

Are you?

The politicians who do this are also the first to profess outrage if the church or church leaders intervene in politics.

'Secular' people can be selfish, 'religious' people can be selfish, anyone can be selfish.

Religious people are told to do it though. By their book. So it's not their fault.

I agree.

The history of the Catholic Church is full of very unchristian activities if not downright "sins"

Love perhaps, tolerance not so much.
The thing is, their book wouldn't have to tell them to love people quite so much if it didn't also encourage judging people to start with.
Trust me, I have been there, read the bible 'from cover to cover' and some, and spent lots of times with xtians. The mantra is 'love the sinner but not the sin', they judge you as a sinner who needs Jesus's love and they put themselves in the position of conveying some of that love. Becoming a xtian means that you judge yourselves and others of not being worthy without a god. It's all very contradictory and messed up.

Crimes actually. Where I am anyway.

I am going to assume you mean that tongue in cheek, re it not being their fault, and I agree - that book is used to justify a lot of unjustifiable things!

Religious leaders should not be involved in politics, they have no place in a modern society.

Spot on. Personally I doubt these people have a personal faith, they’re just using it as an excuse to be Islamophobic. And if they do have a faith they should start showing the LOVE that Christ preaches.

The fact that they actively moved abusers around, thereby precipitating further abuse. They behaved this way as an institution. It was institutional immortality. It was against god. Scum of the earth. And when all these abusers face their god, I hope they are made to face up to the evils they perpetrated and facilitated.

The bible is clear that the welfare of the poor, the widow and the orphan, as well as the ‘foreigner’ are hugely significant to God. According to scripture wealth is a potential barrier to God because it hardens your heart to God and those around you.

I doubt any hard right politician’s Christian faith because whilst Jesus was absolutely NOT party political, it’s impossible for a living faith not to impact your politics. Food banks are something the psalms would rail about, the super rich would meet some harsh criticisms. Debts would be regularly cancelled. There are areas of policy where I am more ‘conservative’ e.g abortion. But compassion is the overriding stance of the gospels and should impact how we respond to any situation. We can’t ignore that in favour of ‘issues’. Without love we are like a clashing symbol.

*immorality

They aren’t genuine Christians. Farage and his ilk might label themselves that way but they don’t live as Jesus lived. 😂

Compassion for things you are judging, that's the overriding theme.
Xtians prime motivation is always to glorify their god, even if they end up benefitting society while they do it.

Pray tell, what is a 'genuine' xtian - being as, even on this thread, we see lots of different interpretations. Who is right? Who is wrong?

Alastair Campbell got it right when an interviewer wanted to ask Tony Blair about his faith when he famously said “we don’t do god”
Religion has no place in politics.
Farage and Anderson like many politicians would say anything to get attention and pander to the section of society they target.
I think the world would be a better place with no religion but I expect those who enjoy power and violence would find another sort of tribalism to use instead.

We are culturally Christian, but within that there are many shades of observance, or none. We also have a generally secular view in allowing all religions and none, as long as they don't interfere with that basic culture.

I am culturally a Christian, but don't believe in a God, or in organised religion. I would class myself as a humanist probably. I still believe in love and tolerance, but at the same time would not countenance a religion, any religion, imposing their own set of values on me or the country. I include fundamental Christians in this just to be clear. I like the French model.

So, back to the OP, parliamentarians can be any religion or none, but they should defend our multicultural and multi faith country, in a way that allows all to practice, but not to the detriment of anyone else.

I’m Catholic, our local Tory MP comes to our church… whenever I see him, I do wonder how he reconciles his conscience (he has a terrible voting record, around disability rights, refugees, asylum seekers etc)

What really gets my goat is when they selectively use religion, in their political life .. such as JRM, voting to support curtailing abortion rights (against his religion…) - yet spectacularly disregarding his religion when it comes to refugees, looking after the poor, and the evils of wealth

Every Christian event, Christmas, Easter, all souls night etc. The atheists, other religious and the left get together and this happens:

• it's all pagan;
• we not Christian country;
• Christians don't behave like Christians;
• no one is eroding Christian traditions (replacing"Easter" on eggs, replacing "Christmas" with "holidays".
• did Jesus say anything about eggs, Jesus wasn't born on Christmas Day.

Yada yada.

We get it, but every time..
Yes, some traditions have pagan routes. Take a bow!

Historically, our legal system, our traditions and culture was built on judo Christian beliefs. Fine if we not anymore but please don't re write history while we replace this all with god knows what.

Christians don't behave like Christians. No because Christianity isn't a script out of the vicar of debleby. Love and tolerance is the heart of it but it's based on following teachings which are difficult to follow in todays world(like sex outside marriage is a sin) and which others who don't believe find intolerant. But if you believe these sins will banish you to hell (yes, this is what Christians believe) why should Christian tollerate?

If this country is no longer a Christian anymore that's fine. Let's not force people to take time off as a national holiday to mark it. Just let those who believe retain the traditions, the names of the events and let them take time as annual leave to so in peace.

Your main concern is annual leave 😂😂😂

By the same token, political leaders should stay out of religion.