In fewer than 50 years, Britain has changed from being a society with an acknowledged Christian basis to one which is increasingly described by politicians and the media as “multifaith”.
One reason for this is the arrival of large numbers of people of other faiths to these shores. Their arrival has coincided with the end of the Empire which brought about a widespread questioning of Britain’s role.
On the one hand, the British were losing confidence in the Christian vision which underlay most of the achievements and values of the culture and, on the other, they sought to accommodate the newer arrivals on the basis of a novel philosophy of “multiculturalism”.
This required that people should be facilitated in living as separate communities, continuing to communicate in their own languages and having minimum need for building healthy relationships with the majority.
The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ Our Lord to the Gentiles (the world). Today. Thank you +Michael.
As long as the political, and revisionist theological elites keep shying away from the clear mandate from Christ and the clear expression of the Truth of the Christian Religion, the world will continue to be in darkness. The darkest parts of the world are still the Muslim-dominated pockets in Asia, Africa, and NOW in Europe. The so-called religion of peace is anything but.
I was born under the Union Jack, and from childhood sang “God save our gracious king/queen” on Empire Day. But I am afraid I no longer recognize the Britian I once knew and held in highest regard. It breaks the heart to hear, see, and to read of what is happening to the once greatest modern nation and empire.
If we are not careful, there will come a time when the yobs will no longer accept this de facto take-over of Britain. The history of Northern Ireland is still fresh on our minds.
Fr. Kingsley+
Arlington, TX
MNA ha spoken the truth. The Establsihment will not thank him for this.
Three cheers for +Michael Nazir-Ali. A true successor of the apostles. Once a missionary, always a missionary.
I particularly welcome his public questioning of the continuation of the political establishment of the C of E. This is a completely separate question from recovering a robust sense of England as a Christian nation (which it once was, but alas, no longer is) and counteracting the de facto establishment of a secular form of humanism as the real official religion of England. England is now a mission field. In some ways, a highly resistant one, as much as northern Africa or the rest of the Arab and Islamic world.
We are indeed living in a Post-Christendom era everywhere in the neo-pagan West (even in America). That gives us a glorious new opportunity to recover the vitality of the Pre-Constantinian Church.
But it won’t be easy. However, the process starts with a widespread recognition of current reality, i.e., our new minority status as practicing Christians in an increasingly pluralistic and hostile social environment.
David Handy+
Champion of High Commitment, Post-Christendom style Anglicanism
Passionate Advocate of the New Reformation