November 5, 2006
LORD MAKE ME CHASTE, BUT NOT YET
Christians ask if force is needed to protect their religious values (Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Sunday Telegraph, November 5th, 2006)
A leading church group which represents more than a million Christians has raised the prospect of civil unrest and even "violent revolution" to protect religious freedoms.In a startling warning to the Government, senior church and political figures have backed a report advocating force to protest against policies that are "unbiblical" and "inimical to the Christian faith".
The menacing language of the report, which Lord Mawhinney, the Tory peer, Andy Reed, the Labour MP, and the Rt Rev Peter Forster, the Bishop of Chester, helped to produce, echoes comments made by Muslim fanatics.{...]
The report from the Evangelical Alliance says "violent revolution" should be regarded as a viable response if government legislation encroaches further on basic religious rights. The church is urged to come to a consensus that "at some point there is not only the right but the duty to disobey the state".
The report, entitled "Faith and Nation", comes amid growing concern that people are being prevented from expressing their faith, including BA's recent decision that an employee could not wear a crucifix.
Before we all do the right thing and disassociate ourselves from this, is it sinful to delay a bit in order to savour the frissons of worry and doubt on all those secular bureaucratic faces?
Posted by Peter Burnet at November 5, 2006 8:52 AMWhy would we disassociate ourselves from it? They're merely quoting the Declaration of Independence.
Posted by: pj at November 5, 2006 9:08 AMI can see it now - hundreds (nay, thousands) of 'inspired' church-goers marching through London, carrying swords and the flag of St. George.
Ken Livingstone would probably order them shot, because they represent his greatest fears. Given the state of affairs in England, he might even arm the Muslims to do it.
And will there be a day in the near future when a British P.M. wonders aloud what to do about that meddlesome Archbishop?
Ha.
Posted by: ratbert at November 5, 2006 9:25 AMMaybe they watched "'V' for Vendetta" and thought it possible.
As an aside...though a silly and absurd movie, it did have one great line.
As the people march on Parliament, one cop asks the other "What do you think will happen."
He replies, "What always happens when people with out guns confront people with guns."
It almost redeemed the movie.
Posted by: Bruno at November 5, 2006 11:26 AMIf I have my verses right, it doesn't quite square with Romans 13.
Posted by: Bruno at November 5, 2006 11:27 AMAfter Charlie all but admitted his fascination w/Islam in Pakland, rattling sabers might just be what is needed.
Posted by: Sandy P at November 5, 2006 11:39 AMWho will be more accommodating (meaning inclined to allow the Christian faith to exist outside of catacombs) of surviving Christians in England: the Muslims and their Jihadists who eventually will inherit the Hearth? Or the secularists who call the tune now? Orrin has indicated he thinks it will be the former. I would far prefer to take my chances with the latter. As would Chesterton, Knox, Waugh, Lewis, and Tolkien.
Posted by: HL at November 5, 2006 1:21 PM