Spoke at a U3A discussion group yesterday. I decided to reflect on the issue of religious freedom in the light of all the discussion with regard to the Equality Bill which is going through Parliament at the moment.
I began with the fact that at the heart of why the Baptists came into being was the issue of religious freedom and I quoted from 'The Mystery of Iniquity' by Thomas Helwys -
"For men's religion to God is between God and themselves. The king shall not answer for it. Neither may the king be judge between God and man. Let them be heretics, Jews, Turks or whatever, it pertains not to the earthly power to punish them in the least measure".I also quoted some words spoken by the Archbishop of York when speaking recently in the House of Lords.
“Successive legislation over the past 35 years has always recognized the principle that religious organizations need the freedom to impose requirements in relation to belief and conduct that go beyond what a secular employer should be able to require.
“Noble Lords may believe that Roman Catholics should allow priests to be married; they may think that the Church of England should hurry up and allow women to become bishops; they may feel that many churches and other religious organizations are wrong on matters of sexual ethics. But if religious freedom means anything, it must mean that those are matters for the churches and other religious organizations to determine in accordance with their own convictions. They are not matters for the law to impose.”Same sentiment from different eras and from men of different church traditions.
And on a very different subject. Annette and I had a walk today to Harlow Carr, a snack at Bettys and a stroll home through the pine woods and Valley Gardens into the town and home. Then there was time to watch the final 30 minutes from Ibrox. Another 3 points in the bag to add to last Sundays brilliant result.
