It’s very interesting how momentum is gathering pace to make this a special year, not only for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee but also for the whole well-being of our nation. I’m no monarchist but would highly recommend the BBC’s informative documentary, The Diamond Queen.

Headlines and articles within the Daily Telegraph, one of our leading newspapers, are increasingly focussed upon the importance of Christianity in the UK.  (See links at the foot of this post.)  In view of previous posts you’ll no doubt realise my keen interest, and so I wrote today to the editor regarding a fellow reader’s published letter :

Sir, In response to Baroness Warsi’s reference to ‘totalitarian’ secularists, Nigel Hughes (Letters 16 February) points out that, ‘defending one’s point of view or having it revised or rejected is not totalitarian; it is called critical debate. This is how we gain understanding and make progress. It’s good fun for the open-minded but anathema to the bigoted’

(He continues, ‘To be forced to recant your heresy under torture and then be burned alive – that’s totalitarian. In Western Europe we have freed ourselves from such oppression by undemocratic, self-appointed religious hierarchies. Other nations are not so lucky.’  My letter continues…)

Yes, this Christian would agree, but that viewpoint pertained to the past. It is no longer valid today. Constructive, critical debate is one thing but the unwarranted, authoritarian imposition of an atheist stance upon one’s expression of belief is, by definition, dictatorial or totalitarian, is it not? Regrettably, this really is happening in Britain!

For example, the Advertising Standards Authority insists upon the removal of statements of belief that ‘God can heal’. Its ire is directed not only at various street preachers but also at a national Christian body.  Many are sufficiently concerned to e-petition government to ensure statements of belief are not going to be banned.

Links for further reading: