http://abcnews.go.com/US/northwest-c...ry?id=20845696

Pretty interesting, imo. Most surprising to me is that the University has been supportive. That would not have been the reaction from my Christian University when I was attending.

Only in a very religious country would this even be a story. If it happened in the UK, people would shrug and wonder why it was being given column space.

though God forbid in a less religious country a vicar be allowed to sign a passport application

Yes, the UK is clearly still a very religious country, where people are constantly forcing and re-inforcing religion on you, where children are being brainwashed, where the very structure of society is perpetuating the myths and stories, with the help of corrupt officials and civil servants. You have to be constantly on your guard, and vigilant at all times, lest the pressure gets to you and you fall under religions evil spell. I mean, only the other day, a well respected corporation dared to insinuate that religion was the arbiter of morality!!

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But the net belief in God must go up right? Your claim is that any repetition of religious beliefs perpetuates those beliefs, so by extension, when the British public reads about a Christian University the belief in Christianity goes up?

Really have no idea what ya'll are arguing. Britain isn't a politically secular country, it has a state religion, so religion is tied up in all sorts of things, but it's secular in terms of how little importance religion is to the day to day life, while the US is opposite, politically secular but heavily religious on the ground.

You think that the state of religion in the UK and in the US are comparable? We have religious traditions dating back to before America even existed, but that doesn't mean people actually care about them.

We may have long religious history, our own branch of Christianity and many deeply embedded religious traditions, but don't confuse that with a high level of cultural religious relevance. I think that this story would not be newsworthy in this country because Atheism is much much more acceptable here. If anything, I'd say that generally, admitting to deep religious feelings is more likely to generate embarrassment than the opposite. Obv that's going to depend on whom you're talking to.

Close enough. There is supposed to be separation of church and state here too but the church has been active for much longer in the UK than in the US and has many fingers in many pies here. Politicians would still be reluctant to admit to atheism here, politicians everywhere worry about alienating any part of their constituency, but it's unlikely that anyone would ever think to ask. It simply doesn't matter as much.

That's just not what I'm saying, it's not as black and white as that. I'm going to restrict any comments I have about that to the other thread though.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

For those who may have missed the reference:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...7&postcount=13

I suggest reading the whole thread.

You'd have to define 'very' but yes, it's still a religious country, there are churches and cathedrals everywhere, our language is full of religious concepts and phrases, we still have the option to swear on bibles in courts of Law, state schools still focus on Christianity to the detriment of the other religions, people still get married and do it in the eyes of god, or Christen their children, etc etc etc. There are more and more Mosques too, over 1500 now.

All true.

I have no reason to believe that 'corrupt officials and civil servants' are involved, or at least I can't comment on their honesty. But yes of course 'officials and civil servants' are involved though, they can't not be since they create and enact the laws of the land and those include religious education and other laws that affect religious interests, like the recent passing into law of Gay marriage rights that deliberately excluded the CoE.

Well, you sound a bit paranoid now but it certainly behooves us to pay attention, to question things and not be unthinking sheep, wouldn't you say?

Actually, as an aside, it created general astonishment and dismay when, having left office, Tony Blair (sometimes spelled 'Bliar')admitted to being deeply religious and to having prayed for guidance on his decision to send our troops into Iraq. He wouldn't have dared to admit this while still in power. I can't imagine American politicians not contriving to work something like that into any public announcement about something so serious, especially something that is so closely linked to patriotism. It would be expected of them.

So much on your efforts to stay on topic...

Also, LOL.

I don't really see what the big fuss could be about. Would it be shocking if there were a significant number of atheist members of the YMCA/YWCA ?

KBC,

linked article was interesting. I am glad he had a good experience and didn't feel judged. It is nice to see Christians living out what they profess to believe.