The slow death of Religion in the UK

May 13th, 2008

The slow death of Religion in the UK

Last Friday, May 9 2008, two interesting articles were published by two secularist organisations. First, RichardDawkins.Net published the interviews of Richard Dawkins and Cardinal Murphy O’Connor, head of England’s Roman Catholic Church, by John Humphrys on BBC Radio 4.

Follow up:

Letting aside the glorious way in which Dawkins disposes of Humphrys’ argument

except that the difference [from questioning a politician] is when you’re talking about faith, proof is not available to you […] you can’t demand the same [evidence] from someone who believes in something…^[RDF]

as he does of anyone who debates him (Humphrey at least shows some doubt and embarassment when not beeing able to cope with Dawkins arguments, contrasting the arrogance and stupidity of O’Reilley, oh my FSM, I despise him!), the interviews were spawned by the Cardinal’s speech Faith in Britain today, in which he exhorts Christians to respect atheists^[BBC] and secularists to consider religion in a new light^{[BBC Radio ]}. Such a ridiculous attempt at a truce comes only now that the Roman Catholic Church is at the brink of extinction in England. Well, perhaps not extinction; Terry Sanderson of Guadian Unlimited puts it this way:

[The Catholic Church is a] rapidly diminishing religious sect ^{[commentisfree…]]}

The second article was published by the National Secular Society, that reports the end of the blasphemy law, as voted in the House of Commons. I read most of the debate and found the case of the Conservatives very weak. As the Cardinal Murphy O’Connor, Miss Widdecombe, an opponent of the law’s abolition, in a pathetic attempt of sympathy, depicted Christians as a group undermined by unfair treatment and deprived of its freedom of speech. Almost as ridiculous as Ben Steins’ supressed “scientists", unable to question the veracity of evolution:

However, the point that I consider more relevant is that it served to demonstrate that Christianity does not receive equal treatment in our country. I was one of the worshippers who arrived at Westminster cathedral shortly after some of the Pope’s remarks had been rather badly misinterpreted, and I was confronted with banners being held by members of the Muslim community proclaiming, “Jesus is the slave of Allah—Islam will conquer Rome”: not one or two banners from one or two lunatics but a very large number. The police were there, but they did nothing. I do not, in fact, advocate that they should do something, because I am, as I have said before, a big believer in free speech. However, let us suppose the reverse and that I was stood outside a mosque with a big sign saying, “Allah is the slave of Jesus—Rome will conquer Islam”. I would be up before the bench before one could say “Jack Robinson”, or “Danish cartoon”. I could not do that—I do not think that the Minister would deny that—but they could. That, to me, is a clear demonstration that Christianity would not, as my hon. Friend the Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) said, receive equal treatment.

I agree with her, that Muslim terrorism is widely allowed for the sake of “community cohesion”^{[Pat Condell]} (don’t forget Fitna^{[my article, in Spanisch]}, that extremist speeches are only allowed for Muslims and that criticising Islam is immediately frowned upon even if the arguments are facts. But this is not a case about defending Christianity against Islam, it is about abolishing a 17th century law that was formerly misused to persecute atheists and that can still be misused to silence freedom of speech, a value for which Miss Widdeocombe so strongly advocates.

I won’t get tired of quoting Richard Dawkins

…blasphemy, as the witty bumper sticker puts it, is a victimless crime.

That’s the whole point, isn’t it? I am very happy that the ammendment was carried by 378 votes to 57.

Tags: ben stein, catholics, evolution, islam, news, pat condell, richard dawkins, richard dawkins foundation, secularism, uk, youtube