Good old Scruton, he'll never pass up on an opportunity to mention the virtues of pessimism and take a shot at the optimists (he has a whole book on 'The Uses of Pessimism and the Danger of False Hope'). And quite right too!
However, I think he's a few decades too late regarding the Conservative Party's death knell. I'm with Hitchens (Peter) in believing the Conservative Party ceased being relevant long ago. However, I take his point regarding Cameron.
That's no surprise. I'm surprised they hadn't let him go earlier. It's not just the chopping up of Scruton's words and butchering the context, it's the spineless, non-conservative (one could call it anti-conservative) Conservative Party's complete capitulation to the new left's emotional/irrational narrative. No desire to look at or appreciate the context. No backbone.
Scruton is a national treasure to so many. A brilliant mind and a brilliant philosopher. Even non-conservatives who know how to think ought to appreciate him as a conservative thinker and philosopher It's the party's loss. Sadly it's the country's loss also. He was perfect for his role.
Thanks, Danny. Just out of curiosity, what's it like in the UK for conservative evangelicals (to say nothing of the Reformed)? I hear there aren't many conservative evangelicals left in the UK and that the numbers are shrinking. But do you think that's truly the case?
Also, I hear politically it's tough for conservative Christians too. Much worse than even in the US.
Sorry I realize these are such open ended questions, but I'm really just wondering what it's like for fellow Christians in your neck of the woods. Thanks!
Bewildering that link goes off for a walk on its own. The articles in the Spectator is titled Roger Scruton's Sacking exposes the Tories' cowardice. By Douglas Murray. My apologies.
Hey Epistle, leaving aside contemporary abuse and misuse of the term 'evangelical', I'd say there still exists a vast number of genuine evangelicals in the broadly agreed upon sense (among traditional definitions) of, to paraphrase Lloyd-Jones, those who begin with, and are utterly subservient to, the Bible, and appreciate the need to proclaim the gospel to sinners. It's very tempting to believe the traditional evangelical is a dying species given their relative silence in the face of the collective howling from the new left and its functionally leftist allies, where I believe many are silenced by fear of proclaiming their beliefs. So they go about their duties on a quieter level (what an utter indictment of contemporary Britain, by the way). So this silence is easily misconstrued as absence.
There aren't that many Reformed churches left in England. While this is not exhaustive, I think it's safe to say the above. I know of only one Reformed church in my area. Reformed Baptist. My hometown London has a few, and again mainly Reformed Baptist. Scotland and Northern Ireland I believe fare better in terms of Reformed churches and Presbyterian chruches.
Yes, conservative Christian views are very much frowned upon by the political elite. Double standards abound when it comes to religion in this country. Christianity is barely tolerated while Islam is celebrated and ought not be criticised at all.
The real 'Islamophobes' are those too afraid to criticise Islam and too afraid to allow others to criticise Islam. They are petrified of Islam being subjected to scrutinity and being exposed as an existential threat utterly beyond reform. If 'Islamophobia' is to be a coherent term at all then it is to be applied to those Muslims and non-Muslims alike who refuse to allow Islam to be criticised.
Thanks, Danny! :) I'm always interested in what's happening with Christians around the world and in particular across the deep blue waters to the white shores of Albion, Britannia, Logres! It's good to know not all hope is lost, though sad to see that hideous strength prevailing.
Wow, you might well be the only Americanophile in the UK! :)
I'm an Anglophile myself. I guess we should swap houses and nations?! ;)
To be fair, though I appreciate both, I think I might just prefer watching the premier league to the NFL. I guess I have to ask, as a Londoner, are you for Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Fulham? I've always liked Liverpool. Now that I've admitted as much, we may be forced to become frenemies. ;)
That's it, you've blown it! I'm a Chelsea fan, and I can't stand Liverpool and Scousers :) Oh well, not quite a hill do die on, but very close brother! :)
Good old Scruton, he'll never pass up on an opportunity to mention the virtues of pessimism and take a shot at the optimists (he has a whole book on 'The Uses of Pessimism and the Danger of False Hope'). And quite right too!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think he's a few decades too late regarding the Conservative Party's death knell. I'm with Hitchens (Peter) in believing the Conservative Party ceased being relevant long ago. However, I take his point regarding Cameron.
Unfortunately Scruton was "sacked" today:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nationalreview.com/corner/roger-scruton-racism-smear
That's no surprise. I'm surprised they hadn't let him go earlier. It's not just the chopping up of Scruton's words and butchering the context, it's the spineless, non-conservative (one could call it anti-conservative) Conservative Party's complete capitulation to the new left's emotional/irrational narrative. No desire to look at or appreciate the context. No backbone.
DeleteScruton is a national treasure to so many. A brilliant mind and a brilliant philosopher. Even non-conservatives who know how to think ought to appreciate him as a conservative thinker and philosopher It's the party's loss. Sadly it's the country's loss also. He was perfect for his role.
Thanks, Danny. Just out of curiosity, what's it like in the UK for conservative evangelicals (to say nothing of the Reformed)? I hear there aren't many conservative evangelicals left in the UK and that the numbers are shrinking. But do you think that's truly the case?
DeleteAlso, I hear politically it's tough for conservative Christians too. Much worse than even in the US.
Sorry I realize these are such open ended questions, but I'm really just wondering what it's like for fellow Christians in your neck of the woods. Thanks!
Murray sums it up for me:
Deletehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/04/roger-scrutons-sacking-exposes-the-tories-cowardice/amp/
Bewildering that link goes off for a walk on its own. The articles in the Spectator is titled Roger Scruton's Sacking exposes the Tories' cowardice. By Douglas Murray. My apologies.
DeleteHey Epistle, leaving aside contemporary abuse and misuse of the term 'evangelical', I'd say there still exists a vast number of genuine evangelicals in the broadly agreed upon sense (among traditional definitions) of, to paraphrase Lloyd-Jones, those who begin with, and are utterly subservient to, the Bible, and appreciate the need to proclaim the gospel to sinners. It's very tempting to believe the traditional evangelical is a dying species given their relative silence in the face of the collective howling from the new left and its functionally leftist allies, where I believe many are silenced by fear of proclaiming their beliefs. So they go about their duties on a quieter level (what an utter indictment of contemporary Britain, by the way). So this silence is easily misconstrued as absence.
DeleteThere aren't that many Reformed churches left in England. While this is not exhaustive, I think it's safe to say the above. I know of only one Reformed church in my area. Reformed Baptist. My hometown London has a few, and again mainly Reformed Baptist. Scotland and Northern Ireland I believe fare better in terms of Reformed churches and Presbyterian chruches.
Yes, conservative Christian views are very much frowned upon by the political elite. Double standards abound when it comes to religion in this country. Christianity is barely tolerated while Islam is celebrated and ought not be criticised at all.
The real 'Islamophobes' are those too afraid to criticise Islam and too afraid to allow others to criticise Islam. They are petrified of Islam being subjected to scrutinity and being exposed as an existential threat utterly beyond reform. If 'Islamophobia' is to be a coherent term at all then it is to be applied to those Muslims and non-Muslims alike who refuse to allow Islam to be criticised.
Thanks, Danny! :) I'm always interested in what's happening with Christians around the world and in particular across the deep blue waters to the white shores of Albion, Britannia, Logres! It's good to know not all hope is lost, though sad to see that hideous strength prevailing.
DeleteHa ha. Thanks Epistle.
DeleteBeing a staunch Americanophile I pray for our cousins across the drink. But I believe the tide will turn within the next two decades.
My biggest long-term concern for you guys is that uou'll never snap out of American football. I mean look, it's time to just stop :)
Wow, you might well be the only Americanophile in the UK! :)
DeleteI'm an Anglophile myself. I guess we should swap houses and nations?! ;)
To be fair, though I appreciate both, I think I might just prefer watching the premier league to the NFL. I guess I have to ask, as a Londoner, are you for Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Fulham? I've always liked Liverpool. Now that I've admitted as much, we may be forced to become frenemies. ;)
That's it, you've blown it! I'm a Chelsea fan, and I can't stand Liverpool and Scousers :) Oh well, not quite a hill do die on, but very close brother! :)
DeleteAh, we'll have to see what happens in a couple of days when Liverpool plays Chelsea! :)
Delete