Baroness Warsi went on to say: "For many years, I have been saying that the stronger we are as a Christian nation, the more understanding we will be of other faiths. Take it from me: there is nothing incompatible about a world of many religions and a world of strong, vibrant nation states."
At this same time, the Radio News snippets sent out by Australia's Religious Media's Ramon Williams, recently stated that three out of four 'Brits' claim to be Christian. According to the report, nearly 70% of Britons still identify with the Christian faith, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The Integrated Household Survey found that while the number of people saying they were not religious rose from 20.5% last year to 23.2% in 2011, the proportion describing themselves as Christian was still 68.5%.
An Evangelical Alliance spokesman accepted that not many of those who self-identified as Christians would be devout believers, but the Christian Institute said it was about time that the nominal Christian majority was reflected in government policy and broadcasters' output. [THE TELEGRAPH, 28 Sept.; DAILY MAIL, 29 Sept.]
Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson pondered on these two articles. The first from a Muslim, who strongly recommends Christians not to shy away from their faith as she recognises the historical benefits of Christianity upon Britain. The second, claims that the British Government shies away from policies that reflect this nominal Christian majority implying its afraid of the voice of vocal minorities.
He suggests the following ideas in reflecting on this strange situation.
The British Constitution is clear, there is a State Church, the nation and church are inextricably linked. Yet, religious freedom is central to Britain.
The British Government is aware that many issues cannot be based on a religious view, if so, the Prime Minister would be forever ringing the Archbishop of Canterbury. When a collective decision is pronounced it is made on a range of national principles and available information.
British Governments have a long colonial history in Foreign Affairs and have realised many aeons ago that their British heritage of values may not align in any way to a situation in another country. The Judaean-Christian tradition places great value even on one life. This heritage is best illustrated where one volunteer Israeli soldier is valued at 1000 Palestinian imprisoned terrorists. (www.smh.com.au)
British Governments tend to follow social trends, as Governments are not put in place or ever have been, to legislate social trends, rather for economic management and therefore British Governments have never legislated on what women wear to Royal occasions. He wonders what legislation could possibly have been written on some of those 'hat creations' for the recent Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The British Governments legislates for every citizen. Christians have no more rights when shopping, or when travelling on public transport, or more rights to comply to Council by-laws for religious buildings (that's Apartheid).
Britain has a free press. If a prominent British Christian leader says something ridiculous, it will get reported and criticised. Look at those Bishops over the years who say they no longer believe in God. The British media have a field day and they seem to be blood hounds when 'stupidity' raises its head. Christians are not immune from making some pretty silly statements when good sense is expected, but sadly, good sense is not generally news worthy.
Mark Tronson says there are a number of British Christian organisations that focus on protecting Christians from over zealous civil servants whose sense of political correctness has eventually been overturned by the courts.
This has become a pertinent issue in Britain where retaining that sense of British fair play by 'minor officials' seems to have been lost in the fabric of non-direction which it seems that the Christian Institute is on about.
Mark Tronson suggests that this situation is more akin to personality disorder syndromes within local borough employees and might be better directed to UK National Health.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
