Vanishing England?

[GayandProud]

If you are saying that the British government fully funds and operates schools that teach religious doctrine, I find that shocking (and I don't use that word lightly). In America, kids in public schools (meaning government owned/run) are not even permitted a moment of silent prayer, even if every single student in the school wishes to do so. A high school valedictorian (top student in the class) recently had the microphone shut off during the middle of her speech to the graduating class and was escorted off the stage for merely mentioning that her faith in God helped her persevere with her studies. Although I strongly oppose such prohibitions as repugnant to freedom of speech and religion, I do not believe government should be in the business of teaching religious doctrine, regardless what religion. I would imagine such practice can only be divisive.

but i thought you had that college in the US

Ptrick Henry Collge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Henry_College

rather makes a mockery of yoru post doesnt it

[cosmicB]

Me thinks that England gets exactly as much sorrow and strife as England lays onto Ireland... I bet if England treated Ireland nice, and just let them be Ireland, that England's evil Karmas wouldn't be so painful to endure... It's a cosmic thing.. in that you get what you dish out... The old adage goes, "What goes around comes around"... Me thinks England is just getting her poo tossed right back at 'er by the cosmic forces...
Whole thing is, treat other living things nice, and living things will treat you nice... Be nice to the little life, and the big life will be nice right back...
Be nice to each other, and love will happen...

[Jane_]

Be nice to each other, and love will happen...

Im in a reflective mood today. I like this Cosmic.

[7779311]

If you are saying that the British government fully funds and operates schools that teach religious doctrine, I find that shocking (and I don't use that word lightly). In America, kids in public schools (meaning government owned/run) are not even permitted a moment of silent prayer, even if every single student in the school wishes to do so. A high school valedictorian (top student in the class) recently had the microphone shut off during the middle of her speech to the graduating class and was escorted off the stage for merely mentioning that her faith in God helped her persevere with her studies. Although I strongly oppose such prohibitions as repugnant to freedom of speech and religion, I do not believe government should be in the business of teaching religious doctrine, regardless what religion. I would imagine such practice can only be divisive.

but i thought you had that college in the US

Ptrick Henry Collge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Henry_College

rather makes a mockery of yoru post doesnt it

Your link says that Patrick Henry College is private, not owned or operated by the American Government.

[GayandProud]

If you are saying that the British government fully funds and operates schools that teach religious doctrine, I find that shocking (and I don't use that word lightly). In America, kids in public schools (meaning government owned/run) are not even permitted a moment of silent prayer, even if every single student in the school wishes to do so. A high school .valedictorian (top student in the class) recently had the microphone shut off during the middle of her speech to the graduating class and was escorted off the stage for merely mentioning that her faith in God helped her persevere with her studies. Although I strongly oppose such prohibitions as repugnant to freedom of speech and religion, I do not believe government should be in the business of teaching religious doctrine, regardless what religion. I would imagine such practice can only be divisive.

but i thought you had that college in the US

Ptrick Henry Collge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Henry_College

rather makes a mockery of yoru post doesnt it

Your link says that Patrick Henry College is private, not owned or operated by the American Government.

true, however I find it more shocking that nobody seems at all bothered that religious zealots are being trained to enter the White House after being taught things like this.

'Before being hired by Patrick Henry, all members of the teaching faculty, too, have to sign a pledge stating that they share a generally literalist belief in the Bible. Oddly, only staff teaching biology and theology have to hold a literal view specifically of the six-day creation story. And what is Bonicelli's own view? He smiles. "I am basically persuaded by the young Earth. I believe in six literal days, but I remain open to someone persuading me otherwise."

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0421-09.htm

[7779311]

President George W. Bush is a born-again Christian.

[cosmicB]

Oh Well... if that's the case, then we're all saved... Oh yay...

[Jane_]

President George W. Bush is a born-again Christian.

Dont all US Presidents have to profess faith in a supernatural deity? Its a pre-requisite of running for office, these days. Certain failure if they dont.

[cosmicB]

Consider the fact that "Christian" means to accept a fantasy as ones god, and destination... Means that Bush is now "Double Fantasied"... "Living in a dream within a dream", pretending it is reality... Plus, he has his hands at the controls of the world's largest christian military, which is this now in process of implementing the second phase of the Inquisition, exclusively for monetary purposes, which means that Life on this planet is in big doodoo if something doesn't happen to pull America's terrorist-plug...

That something will be the earth pushing up a new mountain range right in the middle of America... No to worry, she is in process of destroying that which is destroying her...

At least America stopped the Muslim attempt at the second phase of the Inquisition.. but it now seems that the cure is the disease...

[myron myron]

Consider the fact that "Christian" means to accept a fantasy as ones god, and destination... Means that Bush is now "Double Fantasied"... "Living in a dream within a dream", pretending it is reality... Plus, he has his hands at the controls of the world's largest christian military, which is this now in process of implementing the second phase of the Inquisition, exclusively for monetary purposes, which means that Life on this planet is in big doodoo if something doesn't happen to pull America's terrorist-plug...

That something will be the earth pushing up a new mountain range right in the middle of America... No to worry, she is in process of destroying that which is destroying her...

At least America stopped the Muslim attempt at the second phase of the Inquisition.. but it now seems that the cure is the disease...

I take it you are an American born-again Christian or an ardent admirer of same.

[myron myron]

President George W. Bush is a born-again Christian.

Dont all US Presidents have to profess faith in a supernatural deity? Its a pre-requisite of running for office, these days. Certain failure if they dont.

There is no legal requirement that the President of the United States “profess faith in a supernatural deity.” In a properly functioning democracy, however, the elected leader reflects the views of the majority. The majority of Americans “profess faith in a supernatural deity.” Consequently, even though the U.S. is legally a secular democracy, the elected President will invariably “profess faith in a supernatural deity.”

[cosmicB]

I take it you are an American born-again Christian or an ardent admirer of same.

Actually I am not anything to do with any religious insanity, but to try to get it to eliminate itself, for it knowing that it is the greatest evil...
Christianity is Hell's face, and Satan's arse...

[myron myron]

Actually I am not anything to do with any religious insanity, but to try to get it to eliminate itself, for it knowing that it is the greatest evil...Christianity is Hell's face, and Satan's arse...

You seem to be a profoundly spiritual person with an uncanny tolerance for the freedom of conscience of your fellow human beings and a keen sensitivity to their most deeply-held beliefs.

[myron myron]

Getting back to the thread topic -- for which, see title and opening post -- following is a news story in today's Sunday Telegraph, which has also been reported by the BBC (see links below):

Bishop warns of no-go zones for non-Muslims

By Jonathan Wynne-Jones

Last Updated: 12:39am GMT 06/01/2008

Islamic extremists have created "no-go" areas across Britain where it is too dangerous for non-Muslims to enter, one of the Church of England's most senior bishops warns today.

The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester and the Church's only Asian bishop, says that people of a different race or faith face physical attack if they live or work in communities dominated by a strict Muslim ideology.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, he compares the threat to the use of intimidation by the far-Right, and says that it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christianity to be the nation's public religion in a multifaith, multicultural society.

His comments come as a poll of the General Synod - the Church's parliament - shows that its senior leaders, including bishops, also believe that Britain is being damaged by large-scale immigration.

Bishop Nazir-Ali, who was born in Pakistan, gives warning that attempts are being made to give Britain an increasingly Islamic character by introducing the call to prayer and wider use of sharia law, a legal system based on the Koran.

In an attack on the Government's response to immigration and the influx of "people of other faiths to these shores", he blames its "novel philosophy of multiculturalism" for allowing society to become deeply divided, and accuses ministers of lacking a "moral and spiritual vision".

Echoing Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Commission for Equalities and Human Rights, who has said that the country is "sleepwalking into segregation", the bishop argues that multiculturalism has led to deep divisions.

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, has accused Muslims of promoting a kind of "voluntary apartheid" by shutting themselves in closed societies and demanding immunity from criticism.

In the Synod survey, to be published this week, bishops, senior clergy and influential churchgoers said that an increasingly multi-faith society threatens the country's Christian heritage and blamed the divisions on the Government's failure to integrate immigrants into their communities.

It found that more than one in three believe that a mass influx of people of other faiths is diluting the Christian nature of Britain and only a quarter feel that they have been integrated into society.

The overwhelming majority - 80 per cent - said that the Government has not upheld the place of religion in public life and up to 63 per cent fear that the Church will be disestablished within a generation, breaking a bond that has existed between the Church and State since the Reformation.

Calls for disestablishment have grown following research showing that attendance at Mass has overtaken the number of worshippers at Church of England Sunday services.

Bishop Nazir-Ali, whose father converted from Islam to Catholicism, was criticised by Ibrahim Mogra, of the Muslim Council of Britain. He said: "It's irresponsible for a man of his position to make these comments.

"He should accept that Britain is a multicultural society in which we are free to follow our religion at the same time as being extremely proud to be British. We wouldn't allow 'no-go' areas to happen. I smell extreme intolerance when people criticise multiculturalism without proper evidence of what has gone wrong."

But the Bishop's concerns are shared by other members of the General Synod.

The Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, the Bishop of Blackburn, which has a large Muslim community, said that it was increasingly difficult for Christians to share their faith in areas where there was a high proportion of immigrants of other faiths.

He believes that increasing pressure will be put on the Government to begin the process of disestablishment and end the preferential status given to the Church of England. "The writing is on the wall," he said.

Gordon Brown relinquished Downing Street's involvement in appointing bishops in one of his first facts as Prime Minister - a move viewed by some as a significant step towards disestablishment.

Last night, Mr Davis said: "Bishop Nazir-Ali has drawn attention to a deeply serious problem. The Government's confused and counter-productive approach risks creating a number of closed societies instead of one open, cohesive one. It generates the risk of encouraging radicalisation and creating home-grown terrorism."


Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/06/nislam106.xml

For those who have a problem with the Sunday Telegraph, here is the BBC news story posted today: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7173599.stm


Given that I do not live in Britain, I cannot say whether and to what extent what the Bishop describes is true.

I welcome the comments and thoughts of British members.

[cosmicB]

Actually I am not anything to do with any religious insanity, but to try to get it to eliminate itself, for it knowing that it is the greatest evil...Christianity is Hell's face, and Satan's arse...

You seem to be a profoundly spiritual person with an uncanny tolerance for the freedom of conscience of your fellow human beings and a keen sensitivity to their most deeply-held beliefs.

Look deep into the topic "vanishing england".. to see that it is a religious monarchy, and its beyond-control religion installation that be responsible for the deterioration in culture.. as in when culture tries to get off its knees, religion slaps it back down.. till eventually the culture accepts that kneeling is the way of life... It's not that England is vanishing as much as it is that the good is being stifled by religion's evils...

In your labeling me with your last statement "you seem to be..." You seem to have an innate need to apply a label to me, for you to enable yourself to move on... Now for you, I am the core and the restrictions of said label.. when I know I am much more than what you could even begin to fathom... It's almost like you are in a little box, and you've reached out the top of your box, grabbed me, and pulled me into your lovely little box, when I don't believe in boxes...


OK.. so now that you know England is in some sort of digressive-trouble.. What are you going to do about it?.. besides rephrasing the problem in all the ways it can be stated...