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UK non-Christian claims 'absurd', senior Tories say | UK non-Christian claims 'absurd', senior Tories say |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The UK is a Christian country and those who deny it are "deluding themselves", two senior Conservative MPs have said. | |
Attorney General Dominic Grieve and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith told the Daily Telegraph modern Britain had "Christian heritage". | Attorney General Dominic Grieve and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith told the Daily Telegraph modern Britain had "Christian heritage". |
Deputy PM Nick Clegg has also said it is "obvious" that Christianity is integral to the UK's identity. | |
A group of public figures recently objected to David Cameron's description of the UK as a "Christian country". | |
Mr Cameron had also said Britons should be "more confident" in defending "Christian values". | |
Mr Grieve, a patron of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, said atheism had not made "much progress" in the UK. | Mr Grieve, a patron of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, said atheism had not made "much progress" in the UK. |
"Many of the underlying ethics of society are Christian-based and the result of 1,500 years of Christian input into our national life," he said. | "Many of the underlying ethics of society are Christian-based and the result of 1,500 years of Christian input into our national life," he said. |
"It is not going to disappear overnight. They [atheists] are deluding themselves." | "It is not going to disappear overnight. They [atheists] are deluding themselves." |
'Fundamentalism' fear | 'Fundamentalism' fear |
Mr Grieve went on to say that there had been a rise in the "assertiveness" of some religious groups, which some people with "softer religions" had found "disturbing". | Mr Grieve went on to say that there had been a rise in the "assertiveness" of some religious groups, which some people with "softer religions" had found "disturbing". |
"I do think that the rise of religious fundamentalism is a major deterrent to people," he said. | "I do think that the rise of religious fundamentalism is a major deterrent to people," he said. |
"It is a big turn-off away from religion generally, and it's very damaging in that context." | "It is a big turn-off away from religion generally, and it's very damaging in that context." |
Mr Duncan Smith said claims that Britain was not a Christian country were "absurd" and ignored "both historical and constitutional reality". | Mr Duncan Smith said claims that Britain was not a Christian country were "absurd" and ignored "both historical and constitutional reality". |
"It is arguably our Christian heritage, with its innate tolerance and inclusivity, that has ensured the freedom of all voices - religious or non-religious - to be heard and to be valued," he said. | "It is arguably our Christian heritage, with its innate tolerance and inclusivity, that has ensured the freedom of all voices - religious or non-religious - to be heard and to be valued," he said. |
Asked about the controversy at an event in London, Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg said: "I'm not a man of faith but I think it's stating the obvious that we are a country underpinned, informed, infused by Christian values, Christian heritage, Christian history, Christian culture, and Christian values. | |
"That is something that is obvious about our identity as a nation. | |
"We are also a very tolerant nation. In fact one of the great Christian values is tolerance and respect for other people, people of other faiths, other views. So I think our Christian heritage sits very comfortably alongside our plurality and our tolerance as a people." | |
A group including academics, authors and philosophers responded in an open letter to the Telegraph in which they said Mr Cameron's description of Britain as a Christian country had "negative consequences for politics and society". | A group including academics, authors and philosophers responded in an open letter to the Telegraph in which they said Mr Cameron's description of Britain as a Christian country had "negative consequences for politics and society". |
The group, which included author Philip Pullman, comedian Tim Minchin and philosopher AC Grayling, wrote: "Repeated surveys, polls and studies show that most of us as individuals are not Christian in our beliefs or our religious identities." | The group, which included author Philip Pullman, comedian Tim Minchin and philosopher AC Grayling, wrote: "Repeated surveys, polls and studies show that most of us as individuals are not Christian in our beliefs or our religious identities." |
They added that claiming Britain was a religious society "fosters alienation and division". | They added that claiming Britain was a religious society "fosters alienation and division". |
In response to Mr Grieve and Mr Duncan Smith's comments, Andrew Copson, from the British Humanist Association, said: "We'll leave it to other people to argue whether, in light of its pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon and Roman influences and post-Christian enlightenment influences, our law can be described as Christian." | In response to Mr Grieve and Mr Duncan Smith's comments, Andrew Copson, from the British Humanist Association, said: "We'll leave it to other people to argue whether, in light of its pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon and Roman influences and post-Christian enlightenment influences, our law can be described as Christian." |
He said the letter "made it clear that we respect the right of people to their religious beliefs but that in a very diverse society like today's we need to build an inclusive national identity not a narrow one. To try and make this instead a war of words about religion as such is a distraction." | He said the letter "made it clear that we respect the right of people to their religious beliefs but that in a very diverse society like today's we need to build an inclusive national identity not a narrow one. To try and make this instead a war of words about religion as such is a distraction." |
The 2011 census found 59% of people in England and Wales said they were Christians - down from 72% a decade earlier. | The 2011 census found 59% of people in England and Wales said they were Christians - down from 72% a decade earlier. |
In Scotland the figure was 54% - down from 65% - while the percentage fell slightly to 83% in Northern Ireland. | In Scotland the figure was 54% - down from 65% - while the percentage fell slightly to 83% in Northern Ireland. |