Totnes Council bans prayers so not to offend other religions

Britannist · 11-01-2007, 08:44 PM

Prayers held at council meetings in Totnes, one of the oldest boroughs in the country, have been scrapped after nearly 600 years - over fears the prayers would offend other religions.

From:

http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do...&obj_id=134460

Besoeker · 11-01-2007, 09:17 PM

I don't agree with the reason given for scrapping the prayers.
But I don't think any religion has any place in local or national government. It should be secular.

g hall · 11-01-2007, 09:19 PM

The south hams of devon have always been known for inbreeding
It's a shame that it was Eric Pickles who is the MP for Brentwood and Ongar picked this up as he has had a lot of local controversy with a local Christian sect infiltrating his local association (fat slug anyway)

John Carter · 11-01-2007, 09:22 PM

Not entirely sure why a council would need to have prayers at one of their meetings?

Unless they're praying for inspiration to find better ways to scalp the taxpayer.

Britannist · 11-01-2007, 09:33 PM

I welcome prayers.

Certain other religions make a big thing about prayers.

Time Christians went public with their religion.

We had prayers at the start of each day at school. And it did us no harm at all.

cookie65 · 11-01-2007, 10:08 PM

Tricky subject this.

I consider myself a Christian, in a Christian country.
I do not believe a person called Jesus existed nor a sentient being called God. I am agnostic ,I am prepared to accept empirical evidence that I am wrong, and support the rights of Christians to believe the Bible
IMHO Christianity provides the best set of rules for civilisation that there is. Which other religion provides the same framework for living your life without persecuting others?
So I am happy to call myself a Christian, I believe the Bible, just not literally.
Prayers are a way to express this, I always join in prayers at funerals( yes i am at the age where i attend more of them than weddings)As this shows respect for the person, and more importantly for the collected words of wisdom that the Bible is.
To stop a 600 year old ritual for some communist equal ops is a disgrace.

Britannist · 12-01-2007, 03:36 AM

Here's a report from today's Daily Express about the matter :shock: :

http://www.express.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=1030

Westcountryman · 12-01-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

I consider myself a Christian, in a Christian country.

I do not believe a person called Jesus existed nor a sentient being called God

Right, so you're not a Christian then :?

If the Council has decided not to have prayers anymore, then that's their choice. It is however, a great shame. Ho hum, it's all predicted in the Bible anyway.

rjt · 12-01-2007, 10:53 AM

Indeed it is.

Bluemerle · 12-01-2007, 11:07 AM

An athiest member of Totnes Council today said that he didn't want prayers to be banned as it started the meeting in a positive manner, and if it was good enough for Parliament, it was good enough for Totnes.

11-01-2007, 08:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 23,154	Totnes Council bans prayers so not to offend other religions Prayers held at council meetings in Totnes, one of the oldest boroughs in the country, have been scrapped after nearly 600 years - over fears the prayers would offend other religions. From: http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do...&obj_id=134460

11-01-2007, 09:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 23,154	Prayers I welcome prayers. Certain other religions make a big thing about prayers. Time Christians went public with their religion. We had prayers at the start of each day at school. And it did us no harm at all.

12-01-2007, 03:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 23,154	Prayers dropped by council at Totnes - Express full report Here's a report from today's Daily Express about the matter :shock: : http://www.express.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=1030

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11-01-2007, 09:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Besoeker Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5,116	I don't agree with the reason given for scrapping the prayers. But I don't think any religion has any place in local or national government. It should be secular.

11-01-2007, 09:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
g hall Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: erewhon Posts: 5,935	The south hams of devon have always been known for inbreeding It's a shame that it was Eric Pickles who is the MP for Brentwood and Ongar picked this up as he has had a lot of local controversy with a local Christian sect infiltrating his local association (fat slug anyway)

11-01-2007, 09:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
John Carter Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Sabbatical Posts: 5,110	Not entirely sure why a council would need to have prayers at one of their meetings? Unless they're praying for inspiration to find better ways to scalp the taxpayer.

11-01-2007, 10:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
cookie65 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: hyde cheshire Posts: 648	Tricky subject this. I consider myself a Christian, in a Christian country. I do not believe a person called Jesus existed nor a sentient being called God. I am agnostic ,I am prepared to accept empirical evidence that I am wrong, and support the rights of Christians to believe the Bible IMHO Christianity provides the best set of rules for civilisation that there is. Which other religion provides the same framework for living your life without persecuting others? So I am happy to call myself a Christian, I believe the Bible, just not literally. Prayers are a way to express this, I always join in prayers at funerals( yes i am at the age where i attend more of them than weddings)As this shows respect for the person, and more importantly for the collected words of wisdom that the Bible is. To stop a 600 year old ritual for some communist equal ops is a disgrace.

12-01-2007, 10:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
rjt Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Aldershot Posts: 5,767 Party: Other	Indeed it is.

12-01-2007, 11:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	An athiest member of Totnes Council today said that he didn't want prayers to be banned as it started the meeting in a positive manner, and if it was good enough for Parliament, it was good enough for Totnes.