Mel Rowing
5/24/2009 11:03:00 AM
On May 24, 11:45 am, Maria <oldwo...@theshoe.ac.uk> wrote:
> > There is no persuasive argument that suggests that the church or
> > clergy "should keep out of politics" Politics is about how people
> > live. So is religion!
>
> But we do have a tradition of seperation of Church and State. Will you
> be as benign if Newscum Labour start telling Christians specifically
> what they should and shouldn't do?
That is not what separation of church and state either means or
implies which is that the Church and no other church provides the
governance of this country. If you prefer, we are not a theocracy.
I have no doubt (in fact I know) that some supporters and even
activists of all the parties attend some church or other. With such
attendance comes at least the implied acceptance of that church's
teaching and that such teaching will therefore influence their
political beliefs.
You should not be too surprised to find that people who go to church
engage in activities similar to those who don't.
> > The general public whether members of the CoE or not are entitled
to
> > hear the views of these leaders just as they are entitled to hear the
> > views of anyone else. They are equally entitled to accept or reject
> > them.
>
> Can you see the difference between expressing an opinion, and 'urging'
> people to do something or not to do something?
I would suggest that all opinion is pointed and thus intended to
influence. Otherwise what is the point of expressing it?