Post-Christendom debate ignited by Cardinal welcomed
-13/01/06
A debate ignited by cont
Post-Christendom debate ignited by Cardinal welcomed
-13/01/06
A debate ignited by controversial comments made by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland has been welcomed by Christian leaders.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien caused controversy by telling other faiths that they needed to realise they live in a Christian country.
He also said Scotland should be “re-Christianised”.
Scotland’s most senior Catholic, appointed cardinal in 2003, insisted the country’s “core faith” was Christianity.
The remarks, to be broadcast in a radio interview this Sunday, were condemned as “obnoxious” by the Hindu Temple in Glasgow, and criticised by the Muslim Council of Britain for “showing impatience with other faiths”.
However the leader of some of Scotland’s evangelical Christians said he “welcomed the debate” raised by the 67-year-old cardinal. Mike Parker, general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland, said: “Talking too much about Jesus is not our biggest problem in Scotland; a lot of Christians keep it quiet.
“A lot of our friends from other faiths don’t keep it quiet. That’s why I’m glad of the conversation.”
Freddy Gray, deputy editor of the Catholic Herald newspaper, said he believed Catholics would be “delighted” by the Cardinal’s remarks. He said: “Too often we compromise the Catholic Church for the sake of other faiths.”
The Cardinal’s remarks for Christian leaders raise a number of important questions.
Jonathan Bartley, co-director of the religious thinktank Ekklesia, who has just finished the third in a series of books looking at the changing relationship between religion and culture said; “The Cardinal’s comments raise all sorts of important questions. Many would see the historical influence of the Christian religion upon Scotland in negative as well as positive terms, and so the prospect of “re-Christianisation” will set alarm bells ringing for many.”
“Others will point out that often the historical Christian influence through power and special privilege has been at odds with a Christian message of equality and justice” he continued.
“Given the post-Christendom context in which we all now live, it is inadvisable to pursue the language and approaches of Christendom with the language of “re-Christianisation” implies.”
Morag Mylne, of the Church of Scotland, said: “The Church and other faiths have an interest in, and a concern about, the way in which parts of society show a lack of understanding about the place of faith. We share that concern.”
The cardinal’s remarks were defended by MSP Michael Matheson, the SNP’s culture spokesman. He said: “A major part of Cardinal O’Brien’s role is to spread Christianity.
“It is reasonable for the leader of Scotland’s Catholics to call upon Christians within the country to take greater recognition of their heritage.”
However, Dr Mona Siddiqui, head of the department of theology and religious studies at Glasgow University, suggested the Church faced a struggle in its battle to revitalise Christianity.
She said: “The concern for many Christian churches, especially the Catholic Church, is how to make religion a vibrant, living reality in people’s lives.”
The interview by Sally Magnusson is on What I Believe, to be broadcast by Radio Scotland on Sunday, 15 January at 8am.
Jonathan Bartley’s book: “Faith and Politics After Christendom” is due for publication in July through Paternoster publishers. It is the third in the ‘Post-Christendom” series.
Post-Christendom debate ignited by Cardinal welcomed
-13/01/06
A debate ignited by controversial comments made by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland has been welcomed by Christian leaders.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien caused controversy by telling other faiths that they needed to realise they live in a Christian country.
He also said Scotland should be “re-Christianised”.
Scotland’s most senior Catholic, appointed cardinal in 2003, insisted the country’s “core faith” was Christianity.
The remarks, to be broadcast in a radio interview this Sunday, were condemned as “obnoxious” by the Hindu Temple in Glasgow, and criticised by the Muslim Council of Britain for “showing impatience with other faiths”.
However the leader of some of Scotland’s evangelical Christians said he “welcomed the debate” raised by the 67-year-old cardinal. Mike Parker, general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland, said: “Talking too much about Jesus is not our biggest problem in Scotland; a lot of Christians keep it quiet.
“A lot of our friends from other faiths don’t keep it quiet. That’s why I’m glad of the conversation.”
Freddy Gray, deputy editor of the Catholic Herald newspaper, said he believed Catholics would be “delighted” by the Cardinal’s remarks. He said: “Too often we compromise the Catholic Church for the sake of other faiths.”
The Cardinal’s remarks for Christian leaders raise a number of important questions.
Jonathan Bartley, co-director of the religious thinktank Ekklesia, who has just finished the third in a series of books looking at the changing relationship between religion and culture said; “The Cardinal’s comments raise all sorts of important questions. Many would see the historical influence of the Christian religion upon Scotland in negative as well as positive terms, and so the prospect of “re-Christianisation” will set alarm bells ringing for many.”
“Others will point out that often the historical Christian influence through power and special privilege has been at odds with a Christian message of equality and justice” he continued.
“Given the post-Christendom context in which we all now live, it is inadvisable to pursue the language and approaches of Christendom with the language of “re-Christianisation” implies.”
Morag Mylne, of the Church of Scotland, said: “The Church and other faiths have an interest in, and a concern about, the way in which parts of society show a lack of understanding about the place of faith. We share that concern.”
The cardinal’s remarks were defended by MSP Michael Matheson, the SNP’s culture spokesman. He said: “A major part of Cardinal O’Brien’s role is to spread Christianity.
“It is reasonable for the leader of Scotland’s Catholics to call upon Christians within the country to take greater recognition of their heritage.”
However, Dr Mona Siddiqui, head of the department of theology and religious studies at Glasgow University, suggested the Church faced a struggle in its battle to revitalise Christianity.
She said: “The concern for many Christian churches, especially the Catholic Church, is how to make religion a vibrant, living reality in people’s lives.”
The interview by Sally Magnusson is on What I Believe, to be broadcast by Radio Scotland on Sunday, 15 January at 8am.
Jonathan Bartley’s book: “Faith and Politics After Christendom” is due for publication in July through Paternoster publishers. It is the third in the ‘Post-Christendom” series.