Friday's Thursday Thought

I thought I'd pick up on Dan's point about people liking us as a charity but being uncomfortable (at least) with us being Christian.

I think it is really important for us to resist this. The very reason we work as a charity (and why our charity works) is because we are Christian.

I think this is part of society (or just the media?) becoming increasingly secular. But they're not just secular they're often quite anti-religious.

Some people (the media often) would like to promote the view that different religions fight one another. So Christians are against Muslims and vice versa. In fact, I don't see a lot of that to be honest - not in the west anyway. Instead - what we see a lot of is agnostics and atheists being very anti Christian AND Muslim (though mainly anti-christian as being anti-muslim is thought of as more non-PC). What's worse is that they often claim to do this for the purpose of not offending anyone.

Let's think of some examples from the news recently (there have been lots). There was the British Airways employee who was told she can't wear her small cross on her necklace. Well - she could wear it as long as no one could see it. What's that all about? Who was she going to offend? Muslims? I doubt it.

There was the Muslim teacher who was told to take off her veil at school. This was presented (by the evil media again) as being about not being able to teach her class properly. However, turns out she had no objection to taking it off in class, it was in the corridor and staff room where she came into contact with adult men that her beliefs wouldn't allow her take it off. What harm was she doing? No doubt people thought she was a terrorist or something. Do you think it was a christian kicking up the fuss. I doubt it.

There are loads of examples of councils trying to be PC about Christmas. Places rebranding their Christmas Carol services as Winter Festivals (I remember last year an army band refused to play at one for this reason - good on them!). There are councils that have removed nativity scenes from town centres too. If these people are so against Christmas - why don't they put their money where their mouth is, cancel their leave and go to work.

Sorry - this is becoming more like a monday moan!

We need to make our voices heard on these issues. Promoting peace, tolerance and respect but also shouting out that we are Christian and that's not a bad thing!!