Machiavellionia wrote:In Britain, other than some opposition to same-sex rights, I don't think the Church has too big an impact on the state (even with the Lords spiritual).
If I remember correctly, the Church offered other Churches places among the Lords Spiritual. There was a Rabbi but when he retired (from the Lords? Doesn't sound right does it. Why would anyone do that? They have to turn up once a week or something, enter the Lords, leave again ... hang out having free booze and snacks if they feel that way inclined ...anyway) and a Mullah. I think the Mullah is still there, a place is open for any Rabbi who wants it ... something like that.
You mentioned the House of Lords, so I am duty bound as a Socialist and Republican to make fun of them.
The Lords don't get to Consent any more, and all the Advising they do could be done by emailing
junkmail@number10.gov.uk"Lords Spiritual and Temporal in This Place Assembled" lol. And Sea Lords, what's with them? I'll bet they're all Men.
This is why I thank my lucky stars I don't live in the US, where separation of Church and State doesn't really occur. The irony is that, with our Monarch the Head of State and head of the CofE, we still seem to be less governed religiously than the USA.
Yes, that was my point.
CoE has gotten better due to it's
privileged position with respect to government. Some of the democratic will to liberalism over the last couple of centuries has "rubbed off" on the CoE.
I'm not religious myself, nor do I believe that you have to be to have decent morals or ethics, but I do feel that the Church in England is on the whole a good thing. We're lucky, in that we tend to have cuddly Christians, generally, as opposed to the "God hates fags" (didn't know he felt that strongly about smoking) across the pond.
Still, it's only one example.
"Established Churches" include Shia and Sunni Muslim ones (Sunnis seem less intrusive on the state, think CoE in England v. Catholic in Ireland). Christianity in the Philippines. Something to do with saunas and lots of healthy safe bumsex in Sweden. I don't by any means claim to be making a general observation about all Established Churches.
It's just that one example which really struck me.
Anglican is a closely related Church to Church of England I think. Probably the same thing, but they changed the name so people would stop throwing rocks and breaking their windows.