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British Prime Minister, David Cameron, on Saturday, ventured into faith world, saying “moral neutrality is not going to cut it any more.”
In a speech to mark the 400th birthday of the King James Bible, Cameron declared Britain ‘a Christian country’ and said politicians and church leaders should not be afraid to say so.
The “passive intolerance” of immoral behaviour and the failure to stand up and defend the values in the Bible helped spark the riots and fueled terrorism, Cameron said.
“Whether you look at the riots last summer, the financial crash and the expenses scandal or the on-going terrorist threat from Islamist extremists around the world, one thing is clear – moral neutrality or passive tolerance just isn’t going to cut it any more.”
Addressing Church of England members at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, he added: “Put simply, for too long we have been unwilling to distinguish right from wrong.
‘Live and let live’ has too often become ‘do what you please’.”
Cameron admitted his own faith was racked by doubts. “I’m no religious authority whatsoever,” he said.
“I am a committed Church of England Christian who’ll stand up for the values and principles of my faith but who is full of doubts and, like many, constantly grappling with difficult questions.”
Cameron listed the Christian values that British society treasures as “responsibility, hard work, charity, compassion, humility, self-sacrifice, love, pride in working for the common good and honouring the social obligations we have to one another, to our families and our communities”.
“Yes, they are Christian values but they are also values to people of every faith and none.”
The Mail reports the speech was a bold Christmas gamble. It was something Tony Blair wanted to do but was talked out of by his spin doctor, Alastar Campbell, who famously told him “We don’t’ do God.”
Editor of The Tablet, Catherine Pepinster disagrees with Cameron, saying Britain is a long way from being truly Christian.
Christianity is “demanding, turns the world’s values upside down.”
“What Christianity is really about is putting the least first,” Pepinster said.
“In a world riven with inequality, the belief that we are all equal before God requires that we speak up against to inequalities.”
President of the National Secular Society, Terry Sanderson said, “”Mr Cameron’s promotion of faith for other people when his own is so wishy-washy is typical of a politician who thinks religion is a useful means of social control.”
Sources
- BBC
- The Mail
- The Express
- Image: Politics Home
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News category: World.
