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Original poster

Should the Church of England be disestablished?

27 replies

dingdong89 · 30/04/2011 11:50

Are you in favour of disestablishing the Church of England?

Personally, I would like to see disestablishment happen, because I believe that privileging any denomination of any religion is unjust.

OP posts:
GiddyPickle · 30/04/2011 15:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Continuum · 30/04/2011 17:39

Why must the argument be undermined by assuming things about the poster?!

newwave · 30/04/2011 20:01

The religious establishment of any faith has no place in government (House of Lords), and education.

At best the CoE has to be admired for it's social and charitable work and the many many decent adherents of it's version of Christianity but it's place is in it's churches and communities and not in the House of Lords (or schools)

newwave · 30/04/2011 20:03

Giddy

Do you have some kind of authority or establishment issues dingdong?

dingdong may not have but If s/he hasn't then I have enough for both of us

:o

LynetteScavo · 30/04/2011 20:06

Would it mean the Queen was no longer the head of the CofE? [confued]

newwave · 30/04/2011 20:12

Lyn

It would mean that the CoE bishops who sit in the House of Lords would no longer be able too.

As for the Queen bit with luck that would end on her death, Charlie the plant whisperer has said he would be the protector of all faiths (and vegetables)

likale · 30/04/2011 20:33

The Church of England is the church of the anglican religion, it simply cannot be disestablished and any attempt to ban the church of england would be an attack on the freedom of religion.

southeastastra · 30/04/2011 20:34

no

newwave · 30/04/2011 20:40

likale, do you actually know the difference between disestablished and banned, someone is Confused

south, why "no"

complimentary · 30/04/2011 22:00

Dingdong. Have you ever read history?or was it not a strong point at school? This country was built on Christianity, our laws and culture are centred around it. It is not as if 'Christianity' was brought in on the last banana boat.

If Christianity and the CofEngland were a new phenomena I might agree with you.

We need the church now more than ever, as British culture and its ways of life are being eroded. Many British traditions are being lost. Is that what you want? ISLAM is the religion of Saudi Arabia and is elavated above any other religion, would you say that there religion should be got rid of as Saudis see it as of more important?

Tradition and identity are very important to most people something you seem to not understand.
Perhaps this question should have been put on the religion page, were it might have got a better airing.
PS. GOD help this country, if not perhaps the dear old Queen can help us! Grin

newwave · 30/04/2011 22:54

This country was built on Christianity, our laws and culture are centred around it.

Shame that our "rulers" so often fail to live up to christian values such as helping those who need help and charity then.

The CoE is a "new" phenomena in the scheme of things, I believe the Druids, Pagans and the Roman Pantheon all predated the CoE in the British Isles.

BTW good evening Comp, all ok with you?.

Original poster
dingdong89 · 01/05/2011 16:14

"The Church of England is the church of the anglican religion, it simply cannot be disestablished and any attempt to ban the church of england would be an attack on the freedom of religion."

Disestablishment doesn't mean banning the Church of England - it means stripping it of it's privileges.

Privileging any demonination of any religion above all others, is simply unjustifiable in a society that is as multifaith as 21st century Britain.

OP posts:
meditrina · 01/05/2011 16:25

You certainly wouldn't set up a system like this now.

But I doubt it's worth the Parliamentary time to change it, as - aside from the presence of a few Archbishops in the Lords - it seems to make no actual difference at all.

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 01/05/2011 18:17

Well, of course.

complimentary · 02/05/2011 11:42

Dingdong. I have s better proposal than yours. What about a referendum to abolish our 'traditions culture and heritage' and replace it with new ones as Hitler tried. 50 million died trying to defend their cultures in Europe but we as an Island, if... their were a few more of 'you' could wipe them out overnight. It would be a great 'cultural experiement'. WE would all then be at each others throats like 'Lord of the Flies' . WE would have no cultural identity thus would fight each other. Good idea? Grin

Newwave how are you? I must go to Tenerife 4 or 5 star next time,(like you) my holiday was vulgar, vulgar, vulgar! Particularly as it was all inclusive! (plenty, Brahms and Litszt at the hotel ba!) Smile

complimentary · 02/05/2011 11:44

bar! Mind you Ba is a good word, as they were all like sheep!Grin

ZZZenAgain · 02/05/2011 11:46

disestablished how? How would that happen?

I think I prefer to see CoE bishops stay in the House of Lords

complimentary · 02/05/2011 11:46

Dingdong. Multifaith? Hardly, as 75% of the people of this country condisider themselves Christians even if most don't go to Church!

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 02/05/2011 22:12

ZZZenAgain - You would separate the offices of Head of State and Head of the Anglican Church and remove the Bishops from the House of Lords (probably as part of a general reform of it).

suzikettles · 02/05/2011 22:17

There are plenty of Christians in this country (UK remember, not just England) who aren't Anglicans.

Never really seen the point of having an Established Church.

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 02/05/2011 22:17

Complimentary - even taking that 75% as a sensible figure to use, that leaves 25% of the population who aren't.

Though one does wonder in what sense you can be said to be a member of a religion without actually worshipping and that.

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 02/05/2011 22:31

Complimentary - Ooh that's a point - taking the British Social Attitudes Survey from 2007 referenced here:- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_United_Kingdom (ignoring for the moment that it only shows 55% having any religion, and just assuming that the results for breakdown of denominations is consistent) only 44% of Christians are C of E so taking your figure, that turns onto 33% C of E. 21% using the figures from the survey itself.

hocuspontas · 02/05/2011 22:37

The church in Wales has been disestablished. I didn't know that. (Info in the link)

ZZZenAgain · 04/05/2011 12:23

I see coalition, thanks

AMumInScotland · 04/05/2011 12:52

I think you need to consider whether disestablishment would really give you what you want, or whether you would have to go further and break all links between church and state.

Up here in Scotland we don't have an established church. But we still have denominational schools (Roman Catholic), we still have "broadly Christian worship" in all schools, I think we even have (optional) prayers at the start of Parliament sessions. So disestablishment wouldn't automatically mean that similar things would stop in England.