Comments on: Government Appoints “Faith Advisors” To Bring Religion Further Into Policy-Making

By: OtherMike

OtherMike — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:33:49 +0000

@Sarah Brown do you have an interest we should know about I completely agree with your points though.

I’m not sure which bothers me more – the vague remit of a group of people brought together to “do religion”, or the absence of Roman Catholics from that list. I have a very very low opinion of the Catholic Church, but it does have a lot of people doing a lot of good works within it, and it has been and remains a major formative influence in British culture – more so than some of the others represented. So it’s hard to think of any scenario in which one of the possible reasons for this group to exist includes any good reason to exclude the RCs. Same goes for Wiccans and Pagans to a lesser extent.

By: andy c

andy c — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:09:04 +0000

“it would be a very dull world if we all believed the same thing.”

yeah, there’s nothing like someone deciding the law of gravity doesn’t apply to relieve the monotony.

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:37:05 +0000

Lot of people making the point that religion causes problems, and only rationalism and science can solve them….fair enough, but isn’t that all the more reason to engage with religious communities to try and understand where their similarities and differences are; what their perceptions and concerns are? Nowhere does it say that policy decisions will be made based on religion; what it does say is that the impact of policy on various faith communities will be thought about and understood. Seems pretty sensible to me, especially if we’re arguing that it’s those religious communities who are most likely to cause conflict. We can wish for a world where everyone’s reaction to policy is based on rationality rather than religion, but the reality is we’re not there yet and pretending that’s not the case doesn’t help anyone.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:38:40 +0000

All for people believing in what they like, it would be a very dull world if we all believed the same thing. However, religion has absolutely no place in government policy making. Deciding such things based on religious viewpoints, no matter which religion, is a terrible idea.

Clearly a last ditch effort to secure some votes before the election.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:18:09 +0000

So religion, which cannot even accept the evidence for the observed age of the earth and the universe, is going to be intervening in climate change policy? Superb logic from the labour government.

BTW, LOL @ Sarah Brown (comment above) defending Gordon Brown – anyone else think it is the real wife of the PM defending him?!!!

By: John

John — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:57:44 +0000

Yet another bunch of unelected n0bs jockeying to influence policy, while the government spend ever more on consultations and advisors they have no intention of listening to. I naively thought that we elected MPs to represent us… OK, they’ve been p1ss poor for the last century or so, but they are – or should be – the least worst option.

By: GT

GT — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:01:18 +0000

Maybe they also need some “gay advisors”, because it seems more people are less informed about civil issues than secular ones, which are, in effect, less important anyway.

By: Sarah Brown

Sarah Brown — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:54:47 +0000

What on earth does Gordon Brown’s country of origin or disability have to do with his ability to fulfil his role as Prime Minister?
Those kind of ridiculous, think you’re clever, remarks are just as intolerable and unecessary as the overtly religious input into legislating. Especially when the current alternative is greasy crowd pleaser who doesn’t know his a*se from his elbow.
Engagement of different groups within the community in political activities is positive, and if varied opinions is the extent of it then it should be welcomed. However, law based upon religion is abhorent and completely ignorant of the progressive scholarship on community formation and legal community.

By: liamtip

liamtip — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:50:20 +0000

but rob, many more people watch eastenders than are religious. should we also appoint a minister of eastenders? also, many of us signed up to the religion ‘Jedi’ on the old census as if more than 10,000 people did it became an official religion (better than scientology lol), does this mean i should also get representation?

many more people do drugs in the UK than are religious, yet are criminalised.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:37:11 +0000

Taking into consideration the interests and beliefs of all members of our society is democratic. Many members of our society have a faith perspective. They need to be considered, therefore this action of employing these advisors is not merely pandering to nonsense but actually trying to meet the needs of a diverse population. if they start to make policy decisons based on faith (for example, invading the middle east to meet the prophecies in the bible) that is different.
Oh wait, they already did that.