And I'm surprised, you are surprised. I think you overstate the "Indian Reservation" thing. I may have been brought up in this strange little corner of the world, but I was allowed to travel out of it and do know a fair few people out there in the wide world. I'd say that my experiences in Scotland and Northern England would be that the relationship with religion is similar to that I experienced in my childhood. That being said, I will accept that the areas I'm talking about are mainly rural, rather than urban and that may be where the difference lies.
Like you, I am saddened that your friend felt she had to be quiet about her faith, but by the same token I would find living in a society where: "the assumption is that being a Christian (or, as we say, credente, a believer) tends to make you a better person; raises your standards, makes demands from you, makes you more willing to forgive and show love" somewhat disturbing.
To my mind mind both are examples of prejudice and the latter view, and some more extreme versions of it, may be the reason why some atheists are so inclined towards apparent hatred of Christians. I have been told, by an American visitor to our shores, that the fact that I was not a Christian meant that I was, by definition, a Satanist. Actually, on further conversation it appeared that I was joined in my supposed faith by all Jews, Catholics, Methodists and Baptists along with those who opposed the death penalty or paid federal taxes, oh and those who were not white. (I would have no argument, by the way, with the statement that being a Christian makes demands from you).
I would suggest that the ideal society was one where we could respect all views and judge the worth of people by their actions. That may be an impossible dream in a world where such extreme world views exist but one worth aiming at.
I'm not yet convinced by the articles your linked to that Brown is anti-Catholic. He may have views which are at odds with the views of the Catholic Church, but that is a very different thing. You'll be aware that I share some of his views, or at least struggle with contradictory feeling over issues like faith schools, but I do not regard myself as anti-Catholic.
Indeed I found one of the articles quite offensive in that it made insinuations that Brown's views came from his background and there was 'a faint echo of a Glasgow Rangers chant'. I have always hated that type of argument, if the writer thought Brown was a Protestant bigot from Scotland, why not simply say it rather than making stupid insinuations, which he would doubtless back down from if challanged.
Personally I don't believe that Brown holds the opinions he does because they are in opposition to the Catholic Church and thus is not anti-catholic. I do however stand to be convinced.....
I think our view of Blair is very similar. I have great respect for people who have a faith and live by that faith- so long as it does not involve harming other people. I have little respect for those who claim a faith and act in opposition to it for their own earthly purposes. And i'm afraid there are few politicians who fall into that category.
Re: As for the Tory Blur's comfortable conversion - and your earlier comments.
Like you, I am saddened that your friend felt she had to be quiet about her faith, but by the same token I would find living in a society where: "the assumption is that being a Christian (or, as we say, credente, a believer) tends to make you a better person; raises your standards, makes demands from you, makes you more willing to forgive and show love" somewhat disturbing.
To my mind mind both are examples of prejudice and the latter view, and some more extreme versions of it, may be the reason why some atheists are so inclined towards apparent hatred of Christians. I have been told, by an American visitor to our shores, that the fact that I was not a Christian meant that I was, by definition, a Satanist. Actually, on further conversation it appeared that I was joined in my supposed faith by all Jews, Catholics, Methodists and Baptists along with those who opposed the death penalty or paid federal taxes, oh and those who were not white. (I would have no argument, by the way, with the statement that being a Christian makes demands from you).
I would suggest that the ideal society was one where we could respect all views and judge the worth of people by their actions. That may be an impossible dream in a world where such extreme world views exist but one worth aiming at.
I'm not yet convinced by the articles your linked to that Brown is anti-Catholic. He may have views which are at odds with the views of the Catholic Church, but that is a very different thing. You'll be aware that I share some of his views, or at least struggle with contradictory feeling over issues like faith schools, but I do not regard myself as anti-Catholic.
Indeed I found one of the articles quite offensive in that it made insinuations that Brown's views came from his background and there was 'a faint echo of a Glasgow Rangers chant'. I have always hated that type of argument, if the writer thought Brown was a Protestant bigot from Scotland, why not simply say it rather than making stupid insinuations, which he would doubtless back down from if challanged.
Personally I don't believe that Brown holds the opinions he does because they are in opposition to the Catholic Church and thus is not anti-catholic. I do however stand to be convinced.....
I think our view of Blair is very similar. I have great respect for people who have a faith and live by that faith- so long as it does not involve harming other people. I have little respect for those who claim a faith and act in opposition to it for their own earthly purposes. And i'm afraid there are few politicians who fall into that category.