tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post3403802422876403742..comments2023-11-03T15:48:35.688+00:00Comments on Paul Linford: Clegg says no to English Parliament (and God)Paul Linfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01977920120772282561noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-62165279635087624932007-12-21T04:22:00.000+00:002007-12-21T04:22:00.000+00:00I don't believe that Clegg is an atheist. How can ...I don't believe that Clegg is an atheist. How can he prove it?<BR/><BR/>Joking aside, I don't think it important if you believe in God or not. I doubt God loses much sleep over it - If I was God, I'd be pleased that someone like Clegg had no faith in me...Charlie Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12770820928636046622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-24033800534041412732007-12-21T03:40:00.000+00:002007-12-21T03:40:00.000+00:00Concerning Clegg's non-belief in God, I think the ...Concerning Clegg's non-belief in God, I think the important issue is how this relates to and influences his liberalism, which is his declared credo. Just as openly Christian politicians should be expected to explain how their faith affects their personal lives and public decisions, so it would be reasonable to expect Clegg to outline at some point how his non-belief affects his ethics, and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-2251330125112398002007-12-20T13:03:00.000+00:002007-12-20T13:03:00.000+00:00Doesn't all this come down to the nature of profes...Doesn't all this come down to the nature of profession and denial?<BR/><BR/>We can usually rely on a denial of belief to be accurate: "I don't believe in that" leaves no room for argument.<BR/><BR/>But when someone declares a particular faith, all manner of questions can be asked, because the basic names of the world's religions mean different things to different people.<BR/><BR/>So I say let's Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-14545106713855349102007-12-20T11:52:00.000+00:002007-12-20T11:52:00.000+00:00The Archbishop of Canterbury seems to be taking a ...The <A HREF="http://politics.guardian.co.uk/libdems/story/0,,2230057,00.html" REL="nofollow">Archbishop of Canterbury</A> seems to be taking a sensible stance on this:<BR/><BR/><I>Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, told Five Live later: "It matters less to me than to know that they [politicians] are honest and reliable and that what beliefs they have they hold sincerely. "This isn't a Davide Simonettihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14115396395336706535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-84985120199997093092007-12-20T11:30:00.000+00:002007-12-20T11:30:00.000+00:00Even if Paul did think a muslim, or a jew, or a bu...Even if Paul did think a muslim, or a jew, or a buddhist, or a wiccan, was a "lesser politician" then so what?<BR/><BR/>The reasoning that colours monotheist religions is the 'I'm right, you're wrong' philosophy. Remove that right to act like chosen people, righteous (and self-righteous) people, and organised religion wouldn't hold much attraction for a lot of people; they'd just stay at home andGarethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10021800974251370747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-63846452552516393402007-12-20T10:59:00.000+00:002007-12-20T10:59:00.000+00:00Paul,Would you say that a muslim, or a jew, or a b...Paul,<BR/><BR/>Would you say that a muslim, or a jew, or a buddhist, or a wiccan, is a "lesser politician"?Joe Ottenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18380362092159905533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-17825246055473679742007-12-20T09:48:00.000+00:002007-12-20T09:48:00.000+00:00TedSorry you feel that way, I've missed your comme...Ted<BR/><BR/>Sorry you feel that way, I've missed your comments too. But for the record I did not say, and it is not that case, that I "have a problem with anyone who doesn't believe in God." What I was saying (and I acknowledged in a later post that it had been rather clumsily phrased) was that all things being equal I would prefer to vote for someone who did. Clearly if the choice had been Paul Linfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977920120772282561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-19823212636041972312007-12-20T09:45:00.000+00:002007-12-20T09:45:00.000+00:00The pro eu politicians across the parties will sti...The pro eu politicians across the parties will still try to regionalize England even if scotland and wales declared independence today. Europe does not want England as a nation state under any circumstances.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-82319526163070221122007-12-20T09:42:00.000+00:002007-12-20T09:42:00.000+00:00Perhaps when you do your piece on religion you cou...Perhaps when you do your piece on religion you could say how you think Brown's Christianity has instructed his Socialism.<BR/><BR/>If <A HREF="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/dec/19/dailyexpress.pressandpublishing" REL="nofollow">this story from the Guardian</A> is true I'd love to know how you think Brown will view Richard Desmond bank-rolling and supporting the SNP.<BR/><BR/>I imagine Garethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10021800974251370747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-62499161778610183502007-12-20T09:39:00.000+00:002007-12-20T09:39:00.000+00:00Paul I only came back onto your blog today to read...Paul I only came back onto your blog today to read what your reaction was to Clegg's declared non belief in God. You seem to have done little more than say it is of concern to you 'as a Christian'.<BR/><BR/>I stopped visiting your hitherto excellent blog some weeks ago after your frankly embarrassing posted of your views about how you had a problem with anyone who did not believe in God. Indeed Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-59093769037131826732007-12-20T08:58:00.000+00:002007-12-20T08:58:00.000+00:00Looking forward to the post Paul, perhaps you can ...Looking forward to the post Paul, perhaps you can also include whether you consider other none Christians ie Muslims, Buddhists are lesser politicians too.<BR/><BR/>Are none Christians, lesser people too?<BR/><BR/>And if being a Christian really does makes you a better politician - what the hell happened with Bush and Blair? Or will you point at their longevity rather than their death tolls.<BR/>Steve Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00949825546042555594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-23543891731646152632007-12-20T02:32:00.000+00:002007-12-20T02:32:00.000+00:00I agree with Ourman. I think it's refreshing for a...I agree with Ourman. I think it's refreshing for a politician to declare he's not religious. We've had quite enough religious zealotry from our leaders, both here and across the pond. What they've managed to demonstrate is that devout Christians certainly don't have the monopoly on morality.<BR/><BR/>I do however look forward to reading your post on the topic when you get around to writing it.<BRDavide Simonettihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14115396395336706535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-80984225721474862542007-12-19T23:25:00.000+00:002007-12-19T23:25:00.000+00:00I think that last question deserves both an answer...I think that last question deserves both an answer and its own post. At some point between now and Christmas Eve, I will try to answer it. But yes, I do believe it makes him a lesser politician, for two reasons I will seek to explain.Paul Linfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977920120772282561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-28688733476710440242007-12-19T22:46:00.000+00:002007-12-19T22:46:00.000+00:00"concerning for me as a Christian"Why? As a non C..."concerning for me as a Christian"<BR/><BR/>Why? As a non Christian I have had to suffer Christian leaders and for the most part put up with it with relatively decent grace.<BR/><BR/>What is there to be concerned about? You worried that without religion to guide him Clegg might...well the mind boggles.<BR/><BR/>Then again when Blair, with God as his co-pilot, uses religion as an excuse to bomb Steve Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00949825546042555594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-74243761361636592072007-12-19T22:44:00.000+00:002007-12-19T22:44:00.000+00:00I am sure he'll come out with something at some po...I am sure he'll come out with something at some point, but I have yet to hear anything interesting never mind appealing from Clegg. Seems like he's little more than a safe pair of hands.Praguetoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16520923731691837948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-45860798970922273632007-12-19T22:41:00.000+00:002007-12-19T22:41:00.000+00:00Why is it exactly we need a specific English Parli...Why is it exactly we need a specific English Parliament? I can understand excluding constituencies unaffected by legislation from votes, but why the rigmarole and expense of further complicating a system some people obviously find it hard to engage with?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03109951687667398737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-71248253666095008512007-12-19T21:40:00.000+00:002007-12-19T21:40:00.000+00:00Is someone cloning all these haters of England?it ...Is someone cloning all these haters of England?it makes me despair.We have a hard fight ahead of us Mr. Linford,only if Scotland breaks away will England have any chance at all .<BR/>Surely there is an Englishman in Westminister somewhere who is a patriot!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com