State Religion

[NotAllThere]

When the head of state is also the head of the states official religion this verdict kinda gives mixed messages.

I'm non religious buy to me this is a non story and waste of money bringing it to court, if you don't want to pray at the start of the meeting don't, can I suggest an alternative of mentally undressing the female councillors

That's probably want anyone not actually praying is already doing.

Prayers at the start of a meeting isn't imposing any views on anyone. If you don't want to participate, then don't. Recite the koran to yourself, or dawkins latest missive instead. Or read the paper. Why impose your secular values on the majority of us who couldn't give a toss? Seems to be a great lack of respect and rather intolerant to go to court over the matter.

[d000hg]

It is time that we withdrew all state support from religion and removed religion from all state activities, this should include:

- Ceasing state religious schools

Why exactly? In many towns these are the preferred/popular schools even by secular parents.

Prayers at the start of council and parliament sessions

Never even knew that happened. I agree that this isn't 'real' and therefore is a waste of time... in fact it promotes inaccurate understanding of the Church

-Removal of charity status from religious organisations

Impractical when so many charities are fundamentally Christian in nature/motivation. One example: Free Debt Counselling | UK Christian Charity

[AtW]

Good decision - religion should be personal matter.

[EternalOptimist]

'for those we are about to fleece, May the Lord make us truly thankful'

[KimberleyChris]

Why would 'the great sky fairy who lives on a cloud' be bothered with what happened in Bideford's council chamber anyway?

[xoggoth]

The council did not actually oblige anyone to attend during the prayers so some may say it is all a fuss about nothing. In that case, why is that not the way many Christians are seeing it? The reality is that too many see, by reason of history, that Christianity should have an official role in society.

I think a point some are missing is how this has the appearance, and perhaps the reality, of vested interests being in control, that there is a clique in the parish that may not regard the views of other councillors as having equal validity and this is certainly likely to be the case on some issues, whether a church hall extension is desirable for example. By having these prayers during meetings they are making this marginalisation explicit.

Say you joined the committee of some society and all the others spent 5 minutes exchanging masonic handshakes, would you not begin to wonder if your input really counted?

[d000hg]

Good decision - religion should be personal matter.

According to you or God?

[d000hg]

Why would 'the great sky fairy who lives on a cloud' be bothered with what happened in Bideford's council chamber anyway?

Personal god - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

HTH.

[KimberleyChris]

According to you or God?

God, actually :-)

Matthew 6.6

[xoggoth]

What is in the bible has been selected for political ends, you should read Kevin 3.6 or Brian 7.2.