Faith groups to be key policy advisers

[H3LL]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6569144/Faith-groups-to-be-key-policy-advisers.html


Well, this should be a very large group.

What with 34,000+ different denominations of Christians, most, by their very existence, not quite agreeing entirely with the others, they can then move on and add the other faiths, such as; Vodun, Baha'i, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Pagan, Islam, Jainism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, and of course Scientology.

Once they have sorted out representatives for each of the denominations, schisms, cults and offshoots from each of those there are a few hundred other minor faiths, beliefs and cults lurking about that probably want their voice heard.

Sitting down and getting agreement on "policy" from them all should be a doddle.

I suggest they start with sex equality and human rights first as they are probably the easiest topics to get total agreement from their "panel of religious experts" and can then move on to education.

However, I notice that humanists and secularists are completely excluded from their plans, but as most of the world's and UK's faiths are also excluded it hardly matters.

It's refreshing to note that the Abrahamic religions apparently represent all faiths and can advise accordingly.





This idea is so ********** up from so many angles I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

:jaw-dropp


.

[Filippo Lippi]

I'll make a note to cancel my party membership this evening

[Soapy Sam]

Supposing the quotations to be accurate, Mr. Denham would seem to be a rather dim person.

[AgeGap]

John Denham, the communities secretary, said the values of Christians, Muslims and other religions were essential in building a "progressive society".

ROFLMFAO. Hightech witch burning and beheadings with lightsabres. Religion=Progressive society. LOL

[Uzzy]

This coming from the government that ignores scientific advice over drug safety. And lets not forget Blair's suddenly found religious nuttery too. Not that Cameron's been much better on that front just recently. Sigh..

[Last of the Fraggles]

I get the horrible feeling that Britain is going rapidly backwards these days...

[H3LL]

Religion=Progressive society. LOL

Agreed.

People seem to have forgotten that religion had both power and government for hundreds, if not thousands of, years.

During all that time while they actually had the money, the means, the power, the authority and opportunity they completely failed to instigate individual human rights, freedom of speech and democratic accountability, to name but a few.

They had their chance and blew it - Big time.

Secularism has managed to wrestle a few basic freedoms from the claws of religious tyranny only in the last few decades.

It's not perfect, but secularism has achieved more for individual rights in a few score decades than religious tyranny managed in tens of thousands of years.

I think it's a bit early to start handing influence of "policy" back to those that have been shown to have failed so badly, for so many, for so long.



It still puzzles me why anyone in any democracy that is female or black or gay or was once a child should want them to get within a million miles of government "policy" considering the track record of most religions and in particular the Abrahamic ones.

.

[H3LL]

Supposing the quotations to be accurate, Mr. Denham would seem to be a rather dim person.

Quite. However, I have no reason to understand that this quote is false:

Mr Denham revealed that a new panel of religious experts has been set up to advise the Government on making public policy decisions.

My bold.

I get the horrible feeling that Britain is going rapidly backwards these days...

See above. I think it's probably has gone and not is going. :confused:

.

[Lothian]

This coming from the government that ignores scientific advice over drug safety. And lets not forget Blair's suddenly found religious nuttery too. Not that Cameron's been much better on that front just recently. Sigh..I contest the suddenly remark. Sure he has publicly jumped from the CofE to Rome but I am fairly certain that he has taken advice from his imaginary friend all the way through his political career .

[H3LL]

I contest the suddenly remark. Sure he has publicly jumped from the CofE to Rome but I am fairly certain that he has taken advice from his imaginary friend all the way through his political career .


I don't think Cherie is imaginary. More's the pity.

Taking advice from a money-grubbing, selfish, power-hungry, megalomaniac does seem a little odd for a so-called socialist like Tony.

But I'm guessing it was Cherie that introduced him to the Pope and his message in the first place.


:D


.

[Uzzy]

I contest the suddenly remark. Sure he has publicly jumped from the CofE to Rome but I am fairly certain that he has taken advice from his imaginary friend all the way through his political career .

I agree with that. What I mean was that after leaving the post of PM, he became a lot more vocal over his Christian beliefs and how they've shaped his views. When he was PM, he at least understood that those views shouldn't be front and centre in his discourse with the public.

[Lothian]

What I mean was that after leaving the post of PM, he became a lot more vocal over his Christian beliefs and how they've shaped his views. When he was PM, he at least understood that those views shouldn't be front and centre in his discourse with the public.Correct. Campbell's "We don't do God" restrained him. I recall him refusing to answer the question on whether he prayed with Bush before the launching Iraq war.

[Uzzy]

Correct. Campbell's "We don't do God" restrained him. I recall him refusing to answer the question on whether he prayed with Bush before the launching Iraq war.

Ah yes, I forgot Campbell's comment. But either way, it shows at least a different emphasis on behalf of the current Labour Government. A change from Campbell's "We don't do God" to "Faith Groups are going to help shape Government policy". They may have done so previously, in private chats between Blair and religious leaders, but this is much more public then that. It's especially worrying, given that Labour recently decided to ignore scientific evidence, as I mentioned above.

[Hux]

It would be interesting to know if Denham was a dirty little believer in the first place. Of course, if you ask him, like most politicians he will slither into some nebulous faith or other.

Will the last person in the UK. to leave, please switch off the light?

[plumjam]

On the other hand, if the government had listened to the Archbishop they wouldn't have waged war on Iraq.

In any case, it's probably just window-dressing. You know what politicians are like.