Vive la Difference II

The following are excerpts from news items appearing on the BBC website pertaining to the issue of secularism and religious symbolism.  Ed's thoughts follow.

“Williams joins faith symbols row

The Archbishop of has entered the Muslim veil debate by saying people should be free to wear visible religious symbols.

Dr Rowan Williams said aiming for a society where no symbols such as veils, crosses, sidelocks or turbans would be seen was "politically dangerous".

It would treat the state as a "central licensing authority" which creates public morality, he told the Times.

The Bishop of Southwark, the Right Rev Tom Butler, said Dr Williams had provided a "helpful perspective".

"Religious symbols add to the richness of our society and we should not be too influenced by those who push such symbols to excess," he said. ”

bbc: William joins faith symbols row

“UK Christians 'suffer for faith'

More than one in five Christians in the faces discrimination in their local communities because of their faith, a survey for a BBC programme suggests.

"There is an aggressive secularist agenda that says it's OK to support any group ending in 'ism', but it's not OK to support anything connected to Christianity."

Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who is a Catholic, said Christians must decide whether to "fight back or take it".

"My own belief is that we should stand together and fight this discrimination."”

bbc: UK Christians suffer for their Faith

aside: Oh yes, there may be discrimination in the UK , but nobody keeps mum about it.  Reason rules the evolution of rules, most of the time, in the UK.

The Value of exposure to, and embracing Difference (true ‘secularism’)..

...lies in its ability to forestall Indifference in the face of novelty.   

This undermines any inclination towards a myriad of bigotries as ‘different’/'weird' is not immediately and subconsciously equated with ‘undesirable’ or ‘discountable’ simply because our existing formulae for comprehending reality cannot be utilised to readily explain or understand it. Such a people will be afforded and enriched by the perspectives of peoples from many walks of life, and, as a consequence, learn the art of contradistinguishing phenomena in multifarious ways and give requisite attention to the details that comprise and interconnect them.  Such a people will be at the forefront of creativity and intellectual vibrancy for at the core of these invaluable traits lie a mind appreciative of the detailed stitches and sinews comprising the tapestry of life.  Thus, they who take ethnocentric pride in their culture whilst according less attention and public visibility to those of ‘others’, will invariably become a stupid race of people.  Such a people are to be feared as they will countenance no ‘other way’ other than ‘their own’.

Related article by Gadgit : Vive la Difference!

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