[Angus]

Originally Posted by InOne

I think I was probably on about the more hardcore values, such as the nuclear family, views on homosexuality the many Christians differ on today. I agree about the myth of Multiculturalism and clearly it does not work, but letting it happen was probably more the goverment than the church. And it's not all cultures and religions that have problems adapting. Catholics, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs ect have flourished over here, fitting in and contributing to society. And i'm talking about the immigrant Catholics, not the English ones.
The Church is at a major decline anyway, with attendances and all that, plus with the introduction of women vicars, many clergy are leaving and the younger generations are simply not interested. Also the new wave of American fundamentalist that has swept over here. But you are almost making it sound as if the Church actually has a say in what goes on in the UK today, it really doesn't, it is confused about it's own vaules and Christians are torn between all sorts of things. It could be easy to say that is has all happened because people stopped going to church or lost their 'Christian values' but that would be assuming that there was a golden age of religion, where almost everyone went to church, which is simply not true, obviously the numbers have increased but only because we've started recording them.
So the church does not and never will speak for the UK, the reason we have multiculturalism is not because of good christian values, it is because of the goverment, and the economy in the 40's 50's and 60's. Since then there has been a steady increase and we are left where we are today, a pretty much godless nation, faced with problems we never thought would arise.

The Church for me is merely the symbol of organised religion, whereas Christianity is a way of life. I live by christian values, the main one being
"Do unto others as you would be done by". That basically encompasses what christianity stands for in my view.

You are correct that mass immigration has been a result of political manipulation and ideology which has resulted in a fractured society in which cultures are living independently of each other and far from integrating are drifting further apart. How on earth was it ever considered possible for cultures that subjugate women and condemn homosexuality could co-exist happily with a culture that promotes women's rights and sexual equality? Furthermore the necessity to learn the English language in order to facilitate integration, and promote better understanding has been completely overlooked, and the provision of interpreters and translators has only resulted in immigrants excluding themselves from the ability to blend in with the indigenous population.

Again you are correct that over the centuries many cultures have successfully integrated into society, but this has been because they have been willing to embrace their host culture and assimilate it with their own. The recent influx of immigrants seem unwilling to do so and indeed are perceived (rightly or wrongly) to demand favoured treatment, which only causes resentment not only amongst the indigenous population but also amongst other more historically established immigrants.

Failure to think through the consequences of an open door policy have led us to the brink of anarchy in this country. I don't think it's too far fetched to state that multiculturism has resulted in most people in this country living in a constant state of fear and suspicion since no common ground has been established between the different communities.

As a christian (not a church goer) I treat people with respect and consideration, and would hope that they will reciprocate in the same way. Sadly this has not always been my experience.