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Are we really a Christian country?

TheCatWoman

I know in a calendrical sense we are, we arrange things like school terms and holidays according to church practices, but is that the same as being a Christian country? Church attendance is dropping especially the CofE, we seem to be default CofE in that if you don't know what religion you are or aren't bothered, it's often still put on forms that require a religious affliation. I've sometime been asked if I really want to put Wiccan down in writing on a form and yes I do, I wonder if others have found similar attitudes?

We seem to be a very religiously and spiritually diverse nation, not all Christian denominations celebrate things like Christmas or Easter on the same days, let alone all the other faiths, and what of those who have no faith or belief, do they deserve to be forced into celebrating something meaningless to them?

Apart from the very observant in non Christian faiths, I've noticed that those of many other faiths are quite happy to celebrate Christian holydays, in Islam, Jesus is seen as a prophet, many Hindu's being basically polytheistic join in and put thier own twist on it.

I know that MP chap got all offended about a public Iftar prayer and food distribution in Trafalgar Square last week and I could for the life of me understand why? I've been to many interfaith events and found them all incredibly welcoming, most people just want to share, not dominate.

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  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    I read this today

    "British socialist values have deep roots in Christian, particularly nonconformist and Anglican, traditions, which emphasized social justice, the brotherhood of man, and the "common good" long before the rise of secular marxist socialism

    . Many early British socialists and Labour Party leaders, including Keir Hardie, cited the New Testament as their primary inspiration, discovering socialist principles within the teachings of Jesus"

    www.co-operativeheritage.coop/.../christian-socialism-and-e-v-neale

    Free at the point of use systems which the UK has are rare. The norm in most of Europe is for an insurance based system which is heavily subsidised and cost effective, with those on the lowest incomes receiving the highest levels of subsidy or not paying at all.

    There are very similar values around caring for one's neighbour in Islam and Judaism, for example. The Sikh community also has very strong supportive and humane values. Some others countries attitude towards disability are not so compassionate as the UK.

  • in reply to RachelO

    I think that there are many non Chrisitan countries where they have good health care and social services that aren't Christian and some countries that are outwardly and vocally Christian that really don't.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    This is just some of my thoughts. Most of the countries who have free high standard universal health care and a benefit system like Spain and France  have a history of being founded on Christian doctrine. I doubt you have to necessarily be a Christian country today  or accept the faith yourself. Some other countries may adopt these doctrines.  It is just its values which seem to me to be enshrined in some of the values this countries have adopted. I think it like a slippery slope if they change these values.