Posted on 11/25/2007 6:31:22 PM PST by AKSurprise
"TONY BLAIR has admitted that his Christianity played a “hugely important” role during his premiership but he was forced to play down his religious conviction for fear of being seen by the public as “a nutter”.
In his most frank television interview about his religious beliefs, Blair confesses he would have found it difficult to do the job of prime minister had he not been able to draw on his faith."
"In The Blair Years, the former prime minister, who is expected to convert to Roman Catholicism soon, compares the differing attitude to religion in British politics with that in America.
“It’s difficult to talk about religious faith in our political system,” he says. “If you are in the American political system or others then you can talk about religious faith and people say ‘Yes, that’s fair enough’ and it is something they respond to quite naturally. You talk about it in our system and, frankly, people do think you’re a nutter. They sort of [think] you maybe go off and sit in the corner and commune with the man upstairs and then come back and say, ‘Right, I’ve been told the answer and that’s it’.”
Blair once tersely denied that he prayed with President George W Bush in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, although Bush said his decision to go to war was “a mission from God”.
During next week’s programme, Charles Clarke, the former home secretary, describes Blair as “an almost messianic politician”, and Peter Mandelson, the former Northern Ireland secretary, claims Blair takes a Bible with him everywhere and reads it before going to bed.
Blair says: “The reason that Alastair, my press secretary, has said ‘We don’t do God’ was not because he is opposed to religious faith, but because you always get into trouble talking about it. So, anyway, here we are talking about it.”
He continues: “I don’t actually think there’s anything wrong in having religious conviction – on the contrary, I think it is a strength for people . . . You can’t have a religious faith and it be an insignificant aspect because it’s profound about you and about you as a human being . . . If I am honest about it, yes, of course, it was hugely important.”
Policy aides, however, were keen to hide Blair’s religious fervour. He was told to leave out the phrase “God bless you” at the end of a speech on the eve of hostilities in Iraq, and one aide even went as far as trying to ensure that Blair was not photographed next to a cross during an Easter procession."
I heard it was like that in Canada, too.
Sad really, I can understand desiring to be the leader of Non Christians as well in a Democracy, Blair went to far IMO.
Roman Catholic doctrine is at war with the battle on many essential points, such as salvation and nature of Jesus Christ and man. There are most likely Christians (called saints in Scripture - different from what the Romans call Saints) with the Roman church. That’s the grace of God. But just as no thinking Christian should join Joel Osteen’s club, neither should one join the Roman church.
My mind is, no doubt twisted - everyone’s is. Only the Bible reveals Truth.
Back then there wasn’t Protestant or Catholic. There was just the church.
What the hell does that mean? I smell the Zot Machine warming up!
Being a Catholic AND a Christian, I find this statement highly objectionable.
Why am I not a Christian? Because I don't follow the reforms set forth by Martin Luther? There are those who believe Luther reformed the church to fit his own wants and needs from religion.
Having attended an Evangelical church with a former girlfriend, I can honestly say I found them far LESS Christian than I was raised to be.
The culture gets sicker every day.
Nice thread hijack.
It’s a shame that Christians have to hide their faith, OUR faith, to avoid slings and arrows from those with no moral compass.
Sorry, the Roman Catholic Church decided on which books would be included in the Bible that you hold out as sole Truth.
Also, do you believe in the Holy Trinity — One God and three Persons? Most Christians do. If so, just point me to the verse which gives you the explanation of that revealed truth...
btt
I’m also sorry that the Romans decided what they did about including Gnostic garbage in what they call the Bible. Ain’t what the first and second century church leaders (who were not Roman Catholics) decided - based on authorship and harmony with what we call the Old Testament.
The Three-fold Benediction of Numbers 6:24-26 is similar to Paul’s Benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:14. Paul had to have in mind Numbers 6:22-27 when he gave this benediction.
Numbers 6:22-27 “Then Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, “Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: Yehovah bless you, and keep you; Yehovah make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; Yehovah lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.” So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.’” (Deut 6:22-27)
2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”
Jesus had this in mind when He commanded that we be baptized in the name of the Trintiy:
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. GO THEREFORE and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”
You can read more on that topic here - http://www.layevangelism.com/qreference/chapter10.htm
and here - http://www.joyministries.org/joytrinity.html
>> It’s really a sad state of affairs in Great Britain, when people are afraid to openly discuss their religious beliefs.
It IS a sad day for the UK.
I note with disappointment, however, that the *muslims* aren’t afraid to openly discuss their religious beliefs... only Christians and Jews need be fearful.
How dare you judge another man’s faith? You sound just like a Pharisee.
IIRC Olsteen was unable to say that Jesus is the only path to salvation. Call me narrow minded but a man who cannot do that is not a Christian.
> Policy aides, however, were keen to hide Blair’s
> religious fervour. He was told to leave out the
> phrase “God bless you” at the end of a speech
Maybe they’ll be happier with “Alahu Akbar”, which is where they are headed.
I agree with your comment. And all the while the Democrats, ACLU, etc. tell us that THEY are the ones preserving people’s freedom!
I have not said that no Catholics or Osteen members are not Christians - their DOCTRINEs are NOT Biblical. That is why saints using their knowledge of the Word and seeking to follow the Lamb of God would not join any club or self-called church that falls away from the Bible.
That ain’t Manfred’s doctrine - it’s in the Book!
Have another nutter butter peanut butter sandwich cookie!
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