[deaconjim]

Recently, a minister friend of mine from England was visiting, and attended church with us. We heard a very good sermon, but afterward my friend informed me that, while he agreed with the sermon, he would have been arrested for giving that sermon in England. My guess is that England is NOT very free.

Just to test the issue of England's freedom, publicly express the opinion that Islam is an evil religion of hate. Another good test would be to try and find your local gun shop and buy yourself a handgun for protection.

[weegie]

Alternatively try drinking a can of beer in a New Jersey Park (I did, I nearly got jailed). Light up a cigarette in an NY restaraunt or have your wife go topless on a Californian beach.

[bobdsmith]

There are other indications that Britain is not free:

- Drive while drinking alchohol and you will be arrested
- Drive without a license and you will be arrested
- Collect child porn and you will be arrested
- Grow marujanna and you will be arrested
- Try fighting in the street (with a consentual sparring partner) and you will be arrested

How all freedoms have been eroded in Britain.

[Bombay Bloke]

Yes, those both make sensible tests of a nation's freedom. The freedom to make idiotic, racist remarks and the freedom to have easy access to the means to kill fellow citizens. Britan scores badly on both of those. But I would also propose another test - are you allowed to see images of naked men and women - and their genitals - on terrestrial TV channels?

Here I think Britain has the edge.

[pau1f0rd]

Another test may be to evangelize at a homosexual event. Oh, sorry that's America. ;-) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1335699/posts

[tjwmason]

Recently, a minister friend of mine from England was visiting, and attended church with us. We heard a very good sermon, but afterward my friend informed me that, while he agreed with the sermon, he would have been arrested for giving that sermon in England. My guess is that England is NOT very free.

Well I'm not quite sure what your friend says in his sermons, but my father is a Priest in the Church of England and certainly has never felt any legal restrictions on preaching the Gospel.

Just to test the issue of England's freedom, publicly express the opinion that Islam is an evil religion of hate.

Nobody could do anything about it. There is no law whatsoever which places restrictions on what one might say about religions (except Christianity).