Godless Britain!

[LeftishBrit]

A bishop has expressed strong disapproval of the religious decline in my country:

"Morality and religion have collapsed to a degree that has never been known in any Christian country!"

Perhaps not too surprising, given the following description of the Prime Minister:
"a man whose life reflects a genial paganism, who regarded all creeds with the impartiality of indifference, and who looked upon all religion as a local accident and as the result of hereditary influences" ... "a sceptic as regards religion"


Tut tut.


Of course, Bishop Berkeley's comments were made in 1738; and the Prime Minister whose scepticism was recorded by his official biographer, was Sir Robert Walpole, our first Prime Minister, who served from 1721 to 1742.


Evil British secularism, *and* moral panics about it, seem to have a long history. (Though just a few decades before this, there had been wars fought about religion, not to mention the Puritan era with its genuine war on Christmas.)

Incidentally, a British schoolchild is said to have once written an essay on 18th century religious indifference: "In the 18th century Englishmen neglected their religion. They neglected cricket and football...". Now many English people would regard THAT as a SERIOUS form of godlessness!

[mr blur]

1. If only it were so!

Although we do seem to be well on the way.

We had some Jebus whackjobs at the door the other week; they wanted to talk to me and "help". I told them they were mentally ill and far more in need of help than we are. I added that if they came back I would call the police (we are an official police-approved No-Cold-Calling-or-Doorstep-Selling area.) They took it very well so I suspect I wasn't the first.

[trotsky]

2. Well, look at what happened to Britain since that bishop wrote.

You lost your empire! Neener neener!