Religion under threat, says Warsi

denphone · 14-02-2012, 07:39

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17021831

Quote:

Britain is under threat from a rising tide of "militant secularisation", a cabinet minister has warned.

Religion is being "sidelined, marginalised and downgraded in the public sphere", Conservative co-chairwoman Baroness Warsi wrote in an article for the Daily Telegraph.

The Muslim peer said Europe needed to become "more confident and more comfortable in its Christianity".

She will also highlight the issue in a speech at the Vatican on Wednesday.

Taf · 14-02-2012, 08:41

YAY! for secularism!

heero_yuy · 14-02-2012, 09:14

A Muslim promoting Christianity? That sounds like dodgy ground.

Gary L · 14-02-2012, 09:27

I personally think that religion is an outdated thing, and is actually out of place in the modern society were in now.

I haven't got a clue what she's on about anyway.

Digital Fanatic · 14-02-2012, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17021831

That woman talks out of her backside! Yeah love, all those athiest suicide bombers are a nightmare!

**Maggy J** · 14-02-2012, 11:51

This atheist is sick of the religion bashing as well so could we at least discuss this in a reasonably adult manner without turning the thread into another religion bashing rant..No one is stopping those who are secular from maintaining their rights BUT they must also resign themselves to the fact that those with religion have rights as well.

They have as much right to give their opinions on political and financial matters as atheists.

**Damien** · 14-02-2012, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

This atheist is sick of the religion bashing as well so could we at least discuss this in a reasonably adult manner without turning the thread into another religion bashing rant..No one is stopping those who are secular from maintaining their rights BUT they must also resign themselves to the fact that those with religion have rights as well.

They have as much right to give their opinions on political and financial matters as atheists.

She isn't arguing for equal rights for all. She wants religion to play a greater role in Government. You don't have to be an atheist to support secularism anyway.

**Maggy J** · 14-02-2012, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

She isn't arguing for equal rights for all. She wants religion to play a greater role in Government. You don't have to be an atheist to support secularism anyway.

I never said she was.I was saying it.I'm just asking that we treat her opinions with a bit more respect than has been shown so far and that we can be adult about the discussion.

Gavin78 · 14-02-2012, 12:08

What place does religion have in government? the only thing I can see is if this was to happen that they would push for some kind of law so that everyone would have to go to church.

I agree that it is more outdated today than it was years ago....I think it should be a personal choice but I had to do it in school because I was told to. I dont know what its like now for kids maybe they have options.

But all you have to do is look on TV among a lot of things religion always seem to play a part in war.

RizzyKing · 14-02-2012, 12:08

I think people are just more concerned with practical things and religion has no impact or solution to the problems are dealing with on a daily basis. Religions come and go we have seen that in history maybe it is just that time again for people to re-evaluate their position on this. While i have no problem with anyone having whatever faith\belief they want government must not have more then a token link with any religion. Let religion take care of the spiritual and stay out of practical aspects we vote governments in to deal with.

Gavin78 · 14-02-2012, 12:14

I get more annoyed when you get people coming to your house and trying to convert you to religion.

So the answer would be do you go to religion or does religion come to you?

danielf · 14-02-2012, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin78

I get more annoyed when you get people coming to your house and trying to convert you to religion.

So the answer would be do you go to religion or does religion come to you?

I was just thinking about that the other day. I've had 2 door knockers (that I know of) in the past 10 years or so. It really isn't a problem. You just tell them you're not interested and they go away. Door-to-door salesmen for Energy firms are a bigger pest.

**Maggy J** · 14-02-2012, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin78

What place does religion have in government? the only thing I can see is if this was to happen that they would push for some kind of law so that everyone would have to go to church.

I agree that it is more outdated today than it was years ago....I think it should be a personal choice but I had to do it in school because I was told to. I dont know what its like now for kids maybe they have options.

But all you have to do is look on TV among a lot of things religion always seem to play a part in war.

Well that wouldn't be democratic and in a democracy it is never going to happen.The place religion has in government is that people with religion have opinions that are just as valid as anyone else's.

As for the religion plays a part in war may I point out that many wars are not about religion.In fact they are about resources,politics,greed,racial discrimination,tribal discrimination and SOME will be about religious differences.

As for the teaching of religions in school it has it's place if only to teach some basic facts about the differences between religious groups and avoid ignorance.

bw41101 · 14-02-2012, 12:40

Methinks you may need to read between the lines. Remember that the Muslim religion in many countries is THE way of life and used as the model for how people worship, behave, conduct their business and how their laws are administered. The people under this regime (especially in Middle Eastern countries) are bound by this and as a consequence the doctrine is instilled from a very early age and followed religiously (no pun intended) by everyone no matter who they are!

In other non-muslim countries (not just the UK) religion plays very little/no part in the way society operates and it certainly doesn't dictate policy.

I think (maybe) this is what this particular minister is trying to convey, I.e. Basically that we have no respect for the religious values that are used to model ourselves with respect to our government, culture and laws.

Having lived in the Middle east myself and sampled the delights of their way of life (in some cases) I have to agree with her - especially in the (mostly) innefective way that we deal with our law breakers and the unscrupulous way that some in our society conduct their business.

Si thee

Gavin78 · 14-02-2012, 13:23

I see things from a different perspective because I work for the NHS its not so much christians its the muslims that use their religion to take advantage of certain things.

We have to do courses on diversity and clinical governance in a better way of understanding different cultures needs, it bites hard when you know someone is using it to gain an advantage.

This is one reason I wouldn't want a religious party in politics its used too many times for gaining things and wars are started over religion.

@bw41101 as much as I agree with your post the one issue I dont agree with while it might work for a country (middle east) that religion is a way of life from my perspective its more of a dictatorship suppressed for years and some rebel over it as seen on tv.

Its not really my area as I'm not religious but I do try and respect those that are.