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Posted on 01/17/2009 6:41:56 PM PST by bruinbirdman
The Radio 2 host said that he feels unable to talk about his faith on his show because he fears how people would react.
He argues that society has become increasingly intolerant of the freedom to express religious views.
"You can't express views that were common currency 30 or 40 years ago," he said.
"Arguably, the parameters of what you might call 'right thinking' are probably closing.
"Sadly, along with that has come the fact that it's almost socially unacceptable to say you believe in God."
His comments follow the claim from Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, that Britain is an "unfriendly" place for religious people to live.
Mr Vine, 43, is a practising Anglican, but says he would be compromised by being more open about his faith on air.
"Just blurting it out would be destructive," he said.
"Just because something's true doesn't mean you can say it. That's quite an important principle.
"Once I put my cards on the table about my faith in discussions, it becomes problematic."
In an interview with Reform, a magazine published by the United Reformed Church, Mr Vine says that he is forced to separate his personal beliefs from his role as a presenter.
"One of the things that I think, which may sound bizarre, is that Christ is who he said he was.
"I don't think I'd put that out on my show; I suppose there's a bit of a firewall between thinking that and doing the job I do."
Last year, Mark Thompson, the director-general of the BBC and a practising Roman Catholic, suggested that Islam should be treated more sensitively by the BBC than Christianity.
However, he also said that accusations that the corporation was anti-God were "not just too sweeping; they
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
And personally I'm not getting into arguments with anyone about how long it took to make the universe or anything else. But I will defend the dignity of the human person at all stages, all day long.
There is precedent, no? Not only USA but nations.
How did they work out?
yitbos
Who do the Brits think built their country? Taoists?
I assume this is Jeremy Vine? I listen to BBC Radio 2 all the time and am glad to hear that someone at the BBC is a normal person.
Well yes, it is problematic if you are a Christian. Who is to blame for this hatred of Christianity. The answer is simple. CHRISTIANS. The most vilified and detested Christians in America are fundamentalists and evangelicals.
I am evangelical. I go to church on Sunday and here sermon after semon about how we need to get out of our “comfort zones” and become more active. What the pastor means is active in the church.
Attend Bible study if you do not presently attend. We need people to clean up around the church and we need to make more Christians. (I have pointed out that we do not make Christians. We invite people to service. We try to live lives that do not damage others and are worth emulating, etc.). The Holy Spirit makes Christians.
The pastor is talking about growing the church. At the same time he is adamant about not getting involved in politics. We are all involved in politics whether we like it or not. Apparently it has never occured to anyone that it was politics when Jesus threwthe moneychangers from the Temple. He was crucified for being a political threat. Following the “no politics” advice has resulted in us being the only group of people in America or the world who can be openly insulted and vilified publically with impunity.
Blacks, homosexuals, women, whatever. Insult them and you bring down the fire. Christians? Spit on them. The only problem there is trying to express more contempt for them than anyone else. What is the Christian response? What do the pastors say? Let us not jeopordize the holy 501C(3). Lets fill those seats and fill those collection plates.
We all know that early Christians were persecuted don’t we? Perhaps we need to see how well we stand up to persecution, so lets just take what they give us. And oh yes. Let’s not snivel about it. After all, if we wanted to stop this we could. But we won’t.
Where have you been? See my tagline....
Preach it, brother! ;~) I agree with you 100%. Welcome to FR, by the way!
“Coming soon to a country near you!”
Just a sign of the times... everything here seems to start in California and work its way out from there. Try being an outspoken Christian in Hollywierd. And when there is a void of Christianity other religions and crack-pot beliefs will fill the gap. Other not-so-friendly religions.
(Save the Crusades comment crap... I ain’t playin’ that)
I pray that you are wrong!
To be an “aggressive Christian” in the New York/New Jersey area has been seen as being “nuts” since I was a young kid (I was born in 1976 to give you perspective). The only folks I see going out praising Jesus in public seem to be elderly black women and some largely Hispanic evangelical groups.
There are quite a few out there who are quick to denounce anything other than evolutionary theory.
But I see this as a question of freedom of speech and thought.
Let all the ideas be presented in the classroom, the media etc.
In the UK the increasingly closed and totalitarian society is no joke.
The media portray Christianity as “nutter” and “respect” Islam.
But it goes way beyond that with all kinds of control from telling people to save food to the Sexual Orientation Regulations.
A retirement community in Brighton is being denied taxpayers money because the people who live there won’t answer questions about their “sexual orientation.”
Talk about “government in the bedroom.”
I’ve heard Terry Wogan on the BBC Radio 2 morning show noting the “nanny state” in passing.
Maybe he and Jeremy Vine should just go on the air someday and say the United Kingdon is becoming a “Nazi State” and get it over with.
Let the BBC fire them both for telling the truth.
I know this is true in the UK, but in the US in recent years I’ve found it more comfortable to freely mention God. When I was growing up, one never, ever mentioned such things; it just wasn’t cool, and it embarrassed people. But now I seem to discover fellow Christians everywhere and they openly speak of faith.
I live near Washington DC and work for a company that does science.
You said — “There are quite a few out there who are quick to denounce anything other than evolutionary theory.”
Yeah boy! They come crawling out of the woodwork (or is that the electrons)... :-)
Atheism is certainly not a good idea for a national putsch from any group. It’s the wrong and impractical direction and is already starting to backfire—even on the Atheists.
About 20 years ago, the predominant attitude to the Christian religion in Britain was apathy. That is now gradually but surely morphing into antipathy.
I know what you mean, I’ve lived over there and still visit and I get a ear full if anyone sees me wearing a cross.
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