Friday, September 13, 2013
God is a 'liberal' says Minister
It is often said that it is not polite to talk about religion or politics. Well that has not deterred Liberal Democrats MP, Steve Webb who according to the BBC believes in God and thinks he is a liberal, but not a Liberal Democrat.
It is an important distinction and one that Steve Webb outlines very comprehensively:
Mr Webb has received much press coverage in recent weeks for claiming in the foreword to Lib Dems Do God, that God "must be a liberal".
He explained his statement to The House Magazine, saying: "What I say in the foreword is God is a liberal, not a Liberal Democrat. I haven't checked the membership survey, but you'll appreciate the distinction."
He added: "All I was saying essentially was that if you believe the Christian gospel, you believe that freedom really matters. It's about freedom of choice; it's not about being forced to do things. And therefore that's a natural fit for people like us.
"I work very closely with Christian colleagues in other parties but I feel as a Christian very at home in the Liberal Democrats. I feel the faith values and the political values mesh very well and we haven't always given that impression.
"Because we are, I was going to say, a secular party but that's not the right word. But we certainly wouldn't want to discriminate on faith grounds and give faith an unduly privileged position, that's sometimes been understood by people as being hostile to faith. And part of what we are trying to do is say that's not where we are."
Echoing Mr Mulholland's sentiments, he said: "Just as if you are a passionate socialist or humanist or whatever, you just don't disentangle all those things and then do your job. It's part of who you are, your values, your lifestyle, your priorities.
"I don't expect people who don't come from my faith background to accept my faith justifications for things. I have to have other reasons to persuade them."
It is an important distinction and one that Steve Webb outlines very comprehensively:
Mr Webb has received much press coverage in recent weeks for claiming in the foreword to Lib Dems Do God, that God "must be a liberal".
He explained his statement to The House Magazine, saying: "What I say in the foreword is God is a liberal, not a Liberal Democrat. I haven't checked the membership survey, but you'll appreciate the distinction."
He added: "All I was saying essentially was that if you believe the Christian gospel, you believe that freedom really matters. It's about freedom of choice; it's not about being forced to do things. And therefore that's a natural fit for people like us.
"I work very closely with Christian colleagues in other parties but I feel as a Christian very at home in the Liberal Democrats. I feel the faith values and the political values mesh very well and we haven't always given that impression.
"Because we are, I was going to say, a secular party but that's not the right word. But we certainly wouldn't want to discriminate on faith grounds and give faith an unduly privileged position, that's sometimes been understood by people as being hostile to faith. And part of what we are trying to do is say that's not where we are."
Echoing Mr Mulholland's sentiments, he said: "Just as if you are a passionate socialist or humanist or whatever, you just don't disentangle all those things and then do your job. It's part of who you are, your values, your lifestyle, your priorities.
"I don't expect people who don't come from my faith background to accept my faith justifications for things. I have to have other reasons to persuade them."
