Does Christian privilege exist in the UK? If so why and what impact does it have?

[SilverBirchWithout]

This idea came up during a discussion in Site Stuff earlier today, where it was suggested it might be more helpful to start a specific thread.

There is strong evidence that Christian privilege exists. Christian views and values pervade our law making, education system, and bank holidays without a doubt. But what about the way society and our upbringing teaches us to recognise and respect people with a faith, at what point is deference to someone's belief damaging to the rights of someone who doesn't share those views?

I personally identify as generally an atheist with strong personal values, a spiritual nature (but not involving any deities or woo) and a mixture of non-conformist influences from my childhood.

I'm genuinely interested in the whole idea of Christian privilege and welcome anyone's views.

Evangelising simply means sharing The Good News. If a transformation has taken place in your life and you worship the living God, why would you want to stay silent? We are commanded to go out into the world and speak of Jesus. It doesn't mean haranguing or hectoring or pummelling with bibles.

I'm an atheist - member of the British Humanists Association - and I've been wondering what I can constructively add to this discussion..

It's often said that all religions are man-made (sic). Well, of course they are. And we don't have to look far to find a living example:

We live in a country where the head of state (Queen) is in place as God's representative.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the C of E was established as a direct result of Henry VIII's desire for a male heir. The pope wouldn't agree to him divorcing, so he decided to form his own church and the C of E was born. (He could have declare England a secular state, which would have avoided a lot of bother, but he didn't.)

I've always struggled with the validity of this - not to mention the churches of Scotland, of Wales, of NI. It's a crock of shit, if you ask me.

In my younger days, in the forces, I was sometimes asked why I didn't become a Christian - my reply was always "I wouldn't know what sort of Christian to choose to be!"

Seems that there are around 33,000 different Christian sects - all with their unique claim to be the one, true religion. Talk about being spoilt for choice!

If I were to choose one, I think it would have to be The People's Front of Judea*. They seem to have it just about right!

*Or maybe, The Judean People's Front...

I was also thinking of the relationship between the Church, State and Monarch earlier and our history

The English Civil War of the 1640s, the Interrugnum and reestablishment of a monarch on the throne in 1659. No doubt this is an over simplification of the period. But I suppose it's essence was a dispute and process that firstly rejected the absolute power of the Monarch, then a rejection of a group which used its power to introduce draconian religious practises and finally the establishment of a fledgling Parliamentary democracy with a Monarch as its figurehead with little power.

I think we have therefore already rejected the Divine right of our Monarch.

Vdbfamily thanks for your sensible points :) voice of reason

RTFT, but regarding the point of the B&B owners and the cake bakers, what we have to understand is that once you open your business to the public, you are required to obey the law of the land. The gay men involved had booked with that particular B&B because they had tried booking elsewhere and were unsuccessful, as the other B&B's were all booked up. So, in short, if you don't want to have any of the LGBT community staying at your B&B/Hotel, then don't open it to the public.

I would apply the same reasoning to anyone baking a cake. If you don't want to have to provide a PUBLIC SERVICE to certain members of the public, then don't provide a public service.

AS an NI citizen, I'm all for women having abortion and for homosexuals to have the right to marry. With the DUP abusing the Petition of Concern to block homosexual marriage, I'd love to know what they are concerned about with gay marriage? Marriage has some different legalities that a civil partnership (CP) doesn't. For instance, in a CP, if a person dies, their assets go to their family (parents and/or any siblings), not their partner IIRC. Marriage would do away with that, and allow the person's assets to be transferred to the partner.

As an atheist, I have never persecuted a person of faith. I simply ask questions about their faith and ask for evidence for their particular god/gods. I find that many Christians feel persecuted simply because they are unable to provide evidence for something that they believe in.

If creationists want their DC taught that the bible is fact, you have your own home and church to do that in. School/college/university is for being taught fact that has been scientifically and rigorously tried, tested, peer reviewed and critically analysed.

The bible was written by a number of Middle-Eastern folk for their people, in that area of the world, for that era. Not just that, but there were many mistakes made when translating it from Hebrew to Koine Greek and to other languages.

what I find objectionable is that whilst people are allowed to be critical/joke/make objections etc to Christianity this freedom is not applied to other religions. The double standards is a concern

Seriously? Have you never heard jokes about Jewish people? Did you see/hear about Katie Hopkins' tirade against Muslims fasting and working?

sashh, try drawing a cartoon of allah and sticking it in your window. You will experience the very serious double standards.

"sashh, try drawing a cartoon of allah and sticking it in your window. You will experience the very serious double standards."

Why would I want to do that?

It would prove the point that you are disagreeing with, that double stands exist.

Christians do not have a problem with graphic depictions of their God.
Muslims do.
So it is a completely ridiculous suggestion.

I agree its ridiculous, but it does potrait how all religions are not equal in a very real sense.

No it doesn't. It just shows that religions are different.

'try drawing a cartoon of allah and sticking it in your window. You will experience the very serious double standards'

But who would find that to be funny or a joke? Your suggestion makes no sense.

Islam has a privilege enforced by violence ie you cannot make fun of it or you might be killed (easily proved). What other group has this privilege?

Christianity has a privilege enforced by a historical majority of the culture.

Religions have privileges that other groups don't have!