Paganism and Christmas

This is worth a listen - it's an episode of Radio Four's Beyond Belief about Christmas and paganism.

I caught it this afternoon when I was, as usual, escaping from Steve Wright (it's that pathetic clapping by three people that drives me homicidal towards the twit) and then found out it was actually Aled Jones I was escaping from.

Goodbye blasphemy

I hope today's move in parliament marks an end to the blasphemy laws. As a faithful Anglican, I have long thought it is ridiculous that the Church of England has special protection under the law. I see that even Lord Carey agrees with this.

If there are going to be any blasphemy laws, then they should protect all Christian denominations and all religions. Or there should be no blasphemy laws at all.

A fellow from the Evangelical Alliance was on Today saying that the law should remain, even though he accepted it was unworkable, because it reminded society of what is sacred. That is ludicrous. An unworkable law as a "reminder"!

In fact the opposite is the case. The blasphemy law is an unhelpful reminder of the implication that the Church of England's faith is so fragile that it needs to be protected a bubble by the state.

No doubt Henry VIII will be turning in his grave at all this. Good.