Christian faith and politics
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There was a time – mainly during the Bush Presidency – when to profess that you, as a politician, believed in God was something you tended to hide. It is probably a little unfair to just blame Bush because I believe there was a bit of a view that you were slightly wacky to have faith.
I do not know that has necessarily changed but, like David Cameron, I believe in God. In fact it says a lot about the man that he is prepared to be open about this aspect of his life in a way which Tony Blair was not. Unlike David I go to Church very regularly. In fact I would say that my faith is a very important part of who I am and my belief in the power of politics. This does not make me odd or wacky. In fact I could argue that very many people have a faith or belief in some kind. It might not be God but people do crave, from time to time, a spiritual presence.
How does it affect my politics? Well, it probably grounds me in a sense that I do strongly believe in the importance of marriage, or commitment of some sort, between families. I also hope it helps make me do what is right. I have been bought up in a somewhat traditional understanding of the Church and what it is to be a Christian and have a personal preference to steer away from the more Evangelical wing of the Church. I frequently despair of the Church of England and its somewhat arcane double standards and inconsistencies but then maybe that is man creating himself in God’s image – inconsistencies and all.
Does Gordon Brown ‘do God’. Well, he goes on about his Presbyterian roots but then I am not sure what that means. Nick Clegg says he does not believe in God.
I am currently reading The Shack which if you do or do not believe in God I would urge you to read, in part because it is such a well written book.
BBC NEWS | Politics | Cameron speaks of Christian faith
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Kevin
Thank you for a frank and honest statement.
Whilst I believe that one's religious beliefs are a matter for the individual isn't there a danger that any potential candidate for local or national selections will be expected to profess some form of religious spiritual belief?
I have been involved in numerous selection processes at local level and for the London Assembley and invariably the question of what one believes manages to creep in somewhere which makes me cringe.
How should we approach thsi personal subject?
Hi,
I agree there is a danger that sometimes it is difficult to know where the line should be drawn between what the public should know and the politician is prepared to have known.
Ultimately what people will want to know is how I will represent them in Parliament but is is impossible for me to say how I would vote in every possible circumstance. It therefore means that understanding my beliefs and my experiences is important in framing the person they are electing. The fact I have a family and have experienced quite a range of public services frames my beliefs. Religion is another area where my experiences can reveal something about the way I might represent the people of Yeovil.
There are times when my opponents will criticise me for my beliefs but I am determined to be as open as possible - people now demand this of their politicians and I hope my opponents will be as open.
Kevin, thankyou for this clear and honest statement of your beliefs, I hope we're moving into a time when politicians don't see the need to hide whatever faith they have, but at the same time not playing the religious card simply to get votes. Agree with you completely about the Shack, incredibly creative and powerful bit of work. I was glad David Cameron felt able to say what he said about his faith too.
I too hope that time is coming. I had faith before I was a politician and I know the relative importance of both.