Posted on 11/27/2006 9:22:32 PM PST by NormsRevenge
LONDON (Reuters) - Offering a telling twist in Britain's highly charged debate about religion and integration, the two Anglican leaders most vociferously defending British traditions are originally from Pakistan and Uganda.
Many Church of England clerics tread warily through a political minefield as the country reflects on the value of multiculturalism, especially after last year's London suicide bombings by British Islamist extremists.
But Archbishop of York John Sentamu and Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali seem less inhibited than most.
Robust spokesmen for their Christian faith, the two have both taken very public stands on issues ranging from Muslim veils to what the monarchy stands for. They are not shy about standing up for their adopted culture either.
"When I was in Uganda, everything that was British was the best," said Sentamu, a former judge and outspoken critic of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin before fleeing his homeland.
"But now this country disbelieves itself in an amazing way. It almost dislikes its own culture," said Sentamu, the second most senior cleric in the Church of England and Britain's first black archbishop.
The question of how to integrate Muslims into European society, which has Christian roots but is increasingly secular, has become a burning issue, with Britain now reflecting on its traditional attitudes to ethnic minorities.
DEFENDING CHRISTIANITY
Nazir-Ali, Pakistani-born son of a convert to Christianity from Islam, argued that many Muslims suffered from a "dual psychology" that led them to desire both "victimhood and domination."
He urged Britain to filter out imams who might whip up extremism.
"Characteristic British values have developed from the Christian faith and its vision of personal and common good," he said in a newspaper interview.
Nazir-Ali, Britain's only Asian bishop, also said heir to the throne Britain's Prince Charles should not try to dilute the monarch's traditional role as head of the Church of England.
In a nod to multiculturalism, Charles has expressed a desire to be called "Defender of Faith" rather than "Defender of the Faith" when he is crowned.
The straight-talking Sentamu is already being touted as possible successor to Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
As spiritual leader of the world's 77 million Anglicans, Williams has fought an uphill battle to stop liberals and conservatives from tearing the church apart in escalating rows over gay priests and women bishops.
"The Archbishop's days are numbered," declared the Daily Telegraph in a weekend article that decried what it saw as Williams's prevarication over sensitive issues on which Sentamu has not hesitated to speak out.
Sentamu launched a stinging attack on British Airways for banning an employee from openly wearing a crucifix necklace at work. He was forthright in a national row over Muslim women wearing veils, saying no minority should impose its beliefs on the rest of society.
COMMON GROUND
Religious controversies, once little noticed in Britain, now seem to erupt weekly over such questions as faith schools, veils and the British Airways case.
Some see faith as fighting a losing battle against rampant consumerism and materialism. Atheist scientist Richard Dawkins has hit the bestseller lists with his book "The God Delusion."
Many experts fear the focus on Islam could cause Britain's 1.8 million Muslims to feel under attack.
But there is common ground.
Christian and Muslim leaders joined forces this month to tell city officials to stop taking the Christianity out of Christmas, arguing that to do so only fueled right-wing extremism.
They attacked local authorities who, fearing they might offend minority groups, had used non-Christian terms like "Winterval" for their Christmas celebrations.
The Christian Muslim Forum, bringing the two faiths together, argued: "The desire to secularize religious festivals is in itself offensive to both our communities."
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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15
We need a Counter-revolution against contemporary decadance and irreligion.
Is Anglicanism still considered a religion or has it become more of a cult?
... 'would cause the Muslims to FEEL under attack.' That would be as opposed to actually BEING attacked, as in 9-11 and 3-11. Can't hurt the Muzzies' feelings.
There are some among us that would argue that only certain provinces in the Anglican Communion are really just cults with nice real estate and expensive vestments...
read later
Shhhhh.....
I'm all for it! Viva Revolution!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Sentamu pro-gay? Good to see he's right on at least one issue. I wish I could say the same for his American counterparts.
Nah, more of a sideshow really.
So they're afraid of conservative Christians, but not of radical Muslims? Sounds warped to me.
Amazing isn't it.
Bishops from basically 3 rd world countries are the ones standing up against the left elite homosexuals and pro Islamofascists in and out of the media.
Do some research. Anglicanism is growing and thrives in Asia, Africa and South America, where it is solidly orthodox in belief and practice. It is only dying in the US, Canada, England and South Africa and Brazil.
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