Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Pathetic
The Times reports here on a visit to China by Dr Rowan Williams the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In visiting a such a repressive state where the only permitted religion is state sponsored you might expect that such a figure (who is firstly the de facto head of one of the religions so oppressed, secondly is in no danger himself of being arrested, imprisoned or tortured or killed and thirdly claims to be a Christian so should be prepared to follow the example of Christ who suffered death on the cross at the hands of a statist authority for mankind) might actually criticise the oppressions suffered not just by Christians, but by all religious. In his particular case I accept it might be difficult for him to criticise state sponsored religion per se, but even for the Church of England, the interference by the state is non-existent and it can only be described as nominally state sponsored. Sort of like how religion can be described as nominally free in China "Beijing officials say that religious freedom is enshrined in the constitution and citizens are free to attend ceremonies at churches, mosques and temples under state control" precisely.
In any event, I'm sure it'll come as no surprise; this so-called Christian leader spent his time sucking up to the communist atheist state. You can go and read the article if you want for the full stomach churning surrender, but suffice to say there isn't even a straw of resistance from the archbishop.
I wonder what would have become of the Church of England had it been led in earlier times by people such as Dr Williams instead of this fellow. Whilst as a Catholic, I'm sure all Protestants are theologically in error; I know that many are fine people and sincere in their belief and this sort of "leadership" I wouldn't wish on anyone. I know how bad I would feel if it were the Pope coming out with all this guff, and yes sometimes the Pope does come out with guff (but not when preaching ex Cathedra), but it's never yet been as bad as this.
In visiting a such a repressive state where the only permitted religion is state sponsored you might expect that such a figure (who is firstly the de facto head of one of the religions so oppressed, secondly is in no danger himself of being arrested, imprisoned or tortured or killed and thirdly claims to be a Christian so should be prepared to follow the example of Christ who suffered death on the cross at the hands of a statist authority for mankind) might actually criticise the oppressions suffered not just by Christians, but by all religious. In his particular case I accept it might be difficult for him to criticise state sponsored religion per se, but even for the Church of England, the interference by the state is non-existent and it can only be described as nominally state sponsored. Sort of like how religion can be described as nominally free in China "Beijing officials say that religious freedom is enshrined in the constitution and citizens are free to attend ceremonies at churches, mosques and temples under state control" precisely.
In any event, I'm sure it'll come as no surprise; this so-called Christian leader spent his time sucking up to the communist atheist state. You can go and read the article if you want for the full stomach churning surrender, but suffice to say there isn't even a straw of resistance from the archbishop.
I wonder what would have become of the Church of England had it been led in earlier times by people such as Dr Williams instead of this fellow. Whilst as a Catholic, I'm sure all Protestants are theologically in error; I know that many are fine people and sincere in their belief and this sort of "leadership" I wouldn't wish on anyone. I know how bad I would feel if it were the Pope coming out with all this guff, and yes sometimes the Pope does come out with guff (but not when preaching ex Cathedra), but it's never yet been as bad as this.
Tags: religion, Dr Rowan Williams, freedom
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
