Britain is Not a Christian Country

Wednesday, August 12th at 8:40AM EST

8 Comments

Gordon Brown is rather deluded if he thinks we in Britain live in a Christian country.

Sure, much of what is good about this country is due to the Protestant religion, but the same could be said about Canada, Sweden, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Iceland, New Zealand, Finland, Estonia and the USA.

Certainly, most of the things Gordon Brown has had in his life, such as capitalism and the system of Parliamentary representation we have are partially thanks to Judeo-Christian thinking.

Definitely, Christianity makes, or made, the basis for many of our laws and practises - “Christianity is part of the Common Law of England.” said Sir Matthew Hale, a Lord Chief Justice who died in 1676.

But we are not a Christian country.

We still have an established church (the Church of England), which most countries in Europe do not (on account of their church being that of Rome).

But a Christian country would not produce the levels of crime we have. A Christian country would not have promoted silly levels of personal debt. A Christian country would not produce crackheads and junkies all over the place, because Christian people are taught right from wrong.

Most importantly, a Christian country would not be under threat from another religion, which threatens to overtake Christianity itself.

A Christian country would wake up to the fact immigration is, and has been for the last 40 years, out of control.

It would wake up to the fact that Muslims in this country could easily outnumber those of us who prefer not to take صلاة‎ at فجر ,ظهر ,عصر‎, مَغْرِب and عشاء‎.

And most importantly, it would do something about it.

8 Comments Leave a comment

Okay...

wordsarepower (Diary) Wednesday, August 12th at 9:08AM EST (link)

“But a Christian country would not produce the levels of crime we have. A Christian country would not have promoted silly levels of personal debt. A Christian country would not produce crackheads and junkies all over the place, because Christian people are taught right from wrong.”

Is America a Christian country? We have plenty of crime, incredible debt, both personal and governmental, and lots and lots of crackheads and junkies. On top of that, illegal immigration is a huge problem here, and our border guards are punished for firing on the law-breakers. Also, a lot of Muslims live in this country.

Or, is that your point?

American isn't a Christian country either

Matthew Barrett (Diary) Wednesday, August 12th at 11:54AM EST (link)

America, like Britain is a country composed of a majority of Christians, but it is not a “Christian country” – we are both fairly secular.

In the way Gordon Brown put his point across, he was trying to imply Britain was a country dominated by Christianity in the same way as, for example, Saudi Arabia is dominated and ruled by Islam.

America is far more religious than Britain – that much is certainly true – for example, our schools gave up on creationism about a hundred years ago, to be a Christian minister does not earn you respect, it earns you derision and our Church attendance is something like 10%.

I read a book about religion in America and how there exists a kind of “free market of religion” – a lot of American families put a lot of thought into how good the local mega-church is, when they think about relocating neighbourhood. In this country, that is about as important when choosing a neighbourhood as the question “how far would we be from Taiwan?”.

So no – in the way our glorious Prime Minister tried to imply, America is not a “Christian country” as such, even if it is a lot more Christian than here.

Welcome to RedState, Matthew

civil truth (Diary) Wednesday, August 12th at 1:01PM EST (link)

It’s good to hear perspectives from across the Pond.

However, please not that RedState has a threaded comments section, which means that you click ont he “Reply to This” button to respond to an earlier comment. Otherwise, you reply comes out as a comment on the original post and the conversation can get rather baffling.

The greatest evil…is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern. -C.S. Lewis

http://www.gmsplace.com/

Thanks!

Matthew Barrett (Diary) Wednesday, August 12th at 1:05PM EST (link)

Thank you very much and I will definitely remember that in future!

BTW, your Melanie Phillips is most awesome

civil truth (Diary) Wednesday, August 12th at 1:10PM EST (link)

She gives me a very lucid and articulate picture of Britain’s downward trajectory…followed by the rest of “old” Europe – and how this connects with the loss of committment to historical Western values.

http://www.gmsplace.com/

Agree

Matthew Barrett (Diary) Wednesday, August 12th at 2:05PM EST (link)

I agree – she is one of my very favourite journalists.

I can hardly think of a better defender of Israel either.

Welcome!

Menlo (Diary) Wednesday, August 12th at 4:32PM EST (link)

Everything I hear about England seems to indicate it is about as Christian as Iran. As for its government, the prime minister and the vast majority of those in Parliament are not only vehemently anti-Christian but also very evil, sick, and amoral people.

I don’t know if you are familiar with Nadine Dorries, but she is one of a scant few I do admire.

“The ultimate touchstone of constitutionality is the Constitution itself and not what we have said about it.” -Felix Frankfurter

Agree

Matthew Barrett (Diary) Wednesday, August 12th at 6:06PM EST (link)

You’re right there – and yes I am familiar with Nadine – a very good MP.

I recommend Douglas Carswell – http://www.talkcarswell.com/

Daniel Hannan (who you may already know) – http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/author/danielhannan/

John Redwood – http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/

All good blogging MPs and MEPs.