St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

In our "Questions to the clergy" slot, John will try to answer any query you throw at him, without hesitation, deviation or repetition...

Politically correct nonsense?

Q. Isn’t it a disgrace that so much of our Christian heritage is banned these days in the interests of “political correctness”?

(The questionner supplied newspaper articles on:

the 68p Christmas stamp which offended Hindus,
the threat to withdraw Home Office funding from the St Martin-in-the-Fields carol service for the victims of crime, because it is “too Christian”,
the Inland Revenue banning staff from helping Samaritans Purse distribute toys at Christmas because some Christian literature goes with some of the boxes,
a council in Suffolk stopping grants for Christmas lights,
Birmingham Council renaming “Christmas” as “Winterval”,
the Red Cross banning Christmas trees..

In one of these articles, Rowan Williams (the Archbishop of Canterbury) said he felt the objections didn’t come from Muslims or Hindus but from the secular lobby - well-meaning but misguided. He thought these objections would harm community relations, and that European countries should continue to recognise the traditional place of religions in community life.)

A. I think you’re right. The Archbishop of Canterbury thinks you’re right as well, as the comments in one of the newspaper items shows.

I think we have to find a way of distinguishing between race, culture and faith when we discuss these things. It’s wrong for anyone to shove a faith down someone else’s throat - but by the same token it’s wrong for anyone’s faith to be banned or sidelined. How can the truth emerge if we don’t debate different viewpoints?

So, for instance, I think calling the year “AD” (Anno Domini - Latin for the year of our Lord) is no more offensive than calling the day “Wednesday” (Wotan’s Day - after a Norse god), and I expect others to tolerate “AD” just like I tolerate Wednesday. Those things are culture, not faith. A secular “carol service” with songs like “White Christmas” and “Rudolf” would be of no use for comforting those who’ve suffered, and I think it’s crazy to suggest it’s “too Christian”.

I also think the Archbishop is right that people of other faiths usually respect each other. My son’s school does both Divali and Christmas, and I have no problems with that. I’d far rather they did both than neither!

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. December 2005, Page 6.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (December 2005) Joseph, Advent candles, PC nonsense. Other questions.	In our "Questions to the clergy" slot, John will try to answer any query you throw at him, without hesitation, deviation or repetition... Politically correct nonsense? Q. Isn’t it a disgrace that so much of our Christian heritage is banned these days in the interests of “political correctness”? (The questionner supplied newspaper articles on: the 68p Christmas stamp which offended Hindus, the threat to withdraw Home Office funding from the St Martin-in-the-Fields carol service for the victims of crime, because it is “too Christian”, the Inland Revenue banning staff from helping Samaritans Purse distribute toys at Christmas because some Christian literature goes with some of the boxes, a council in Suffolk stopping grants for Christmas lights, Birmingham Council renaming “Christmas” as “Winterval”, the Red Cross banning Christmas trees.. In one of these articles, Rowan Williams (the Archbishop of Canterbury) said he felt the objections didn’t come from Muslims or Hindus but from the secular lobby - well-meaning but misguided. He thought these objections would harm community relations, and that European countries should continue to recognise the traditional place of religions in community life.) A. I think you’re right. The Archbishop of Canterbury thinks you’re right as well, as the comments in one of the newspaper items shows. I think we have to find a way of distinguishing between race, culture and faith when we discuss these things. It’s wrong for anyone to shove a faith down someone else’s throat - but by the same token it’s wrong for anyone’s faith to be banned or sidelined. How can the truth emerge if we don’t debate different viewpoints? So, for instance, I think calling the year “AD” (Anno Domini - Latin for the year of our Lord) is no more offensive than calling the day “Wednesday” (Wotan’s Day - after a Norse god), and I expect others to tolerate “AD” just like I tolerate Wednesday. Those things are culture, not faith. A secular “carol service” with songs like “White Christmas” and “Rudolf” would be of no use for comforting those who’ve suffered, and I think it’s crazy to suggest it’s “too Christian”. I also think the Archbishop is right that people of other faiths usually respect each other. My son’s school does both Divali and Christmas, and I have no problems with that. I’d far rather they did both than neither! John Hartley
Top of page.	This web page was last updated on 26th November 2005.