tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-769237935430750989.post6641412082482467811..comments2024-02-09T23:01:58.528+00:00Comments on The Invisible Province: Faith, the Secular State and May 6thUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-769237935430750989.post-59711283812310237632010-04-08T20:56:57.070+01:002010-04-08T20:56:57.070+01:00It seems that political leaders from Harold Wilson...It seems that political leaders from Harold Wilson through to the current three who are quoted have a more instinctive grasp of the subject than the New Statesmen, even if their comments are lacking a little in analytical precision. It is not surprising that as politicians they should be stronger on the rhetoric than the analysis.<br />Quite simply, there is no mysterious dividing line between state and society because the ‘good’ state exists to serve society and the people – its citizens – who make it up. Those people have many different beliefs but it has to be some consensus of those beliefs that shapes the state and informs its actions. If society derives its core ethical beliefs from faith then surely those beliefs will infuse the state.<br />Once the state becomes separated from society and acts in a way that hasn’t derived its authority from its citizens then conflict is inevitable. Sadly, there are all too many examples around the world of dictatorial states where dislocating and often bloody conflict exists because state and society have become separated. <br />So, the New Statesman’s initial premise is wrong but so is some of what follows. Where does it get the idea that there is a booming interest in science and metaphysics? The numbers of people studying these subjects in our schools and universities doesn’t offer evidence to support this.<br />I think it is back to the drawing board for the New Statesman if it wants to tackle this subject again.DavidHWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05952744571800257804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-769237935430750989.post-12658026044442473932010-04-08T19:54:20.925+01:002010-04-08T19:54:20.925+01:00By the way, about them having something to say: th...By the way, about them having something to say: that was sarcasm.Sean Wrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-769237935430750989.post-25948825510228633252010-04-08T19:54:20.926+01:002010-04-08T19:54:20.926+01:00Glad to see that those guys had something to say.....Glad to see that those guys had something to say... Though Cameron's promises to the Catholic Herald (reported in todays Telegraph) are interesting...Seán Wrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-769237935430750989.post-86332742321396919962010-04-07T21:44:50.373+01:002010-04-07T21:44:50.373+01:00I vote for the Dean of Brentwood Cathedral!I vote for the Dean of Brentwood Cathedral!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com