Not only do I find it odd that a Christian TV channel would want to give a platform to the BNP, but the organisers of the debate have sent out an email which includes this:
Churches across the UK have been advised of the debate and asked to urge members to tune in to listen, especially where we know BNP are putting up Parliamentary Candidates or running in local elections.
“We hope this debate, which will be recorded and available for use in churches and by community groups, will ensure that voters in the country concerned about the erosion of our national identity, particularly as a Christian nation might see that the BNP are not the answer but the Christian party is.”
So its partisan and aimed at promoting one political party as well as being deeply ill judged. Who will they be giving a platform to next?
Update:
Revelation TV have confirmed that this debate is taking place via their facebook page. It is going to be on their second channel "Genesis TV". I have updated the links above to point to the correct channel.
Apparently its going to be conducted at a secret location.
Christians worship Jesus who was a Jew. Nick Griffin has authored anti Semitic literature. See this article for evidence http://alassmithandgraham.blogspot.com/2008/01/nick-griffins-anti-semitic-mindbenders.htmlI am not sure how the two mix. It should just be a case of strongly condemning the BNP. No need for a debate.The real issue is that many fundamentalist Christians are drawn to the BNP because of its anti Islamic position. Many others are drawn to UKIP because it panders to the conspiracy theorists (sorry the prophecy watchers although in actuality there is very little difference except one lot tag God onto the end of the conspiracies).Also, the Christian Party have entered an electoral pact with the Jury team to not stand against their candidates which means there will not be Christian Party candidates in every constituency:I think this shows the sort of opportunist political set up that the Christian Party is. Its just as fringe as the BNP and just as publicity seeking. In fact a vote for the Christian party might be enough to let the BNP win in some constituencies.Here are some arguments against having Christian parties:
The 22nd March debate between the BNP's Nick Griffin and George Hargreaves of the Christian Party is now available on youtube. The first part is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BipZuCMzdM
Update 25th March 2010:
A great article on the debate can be found here which pulls together quotes from different articles written after it had taken place:
http://blog.echurchwebsites.org.uk/2010/03/24/revelation-tv-debate-nick-griffin-george-hargreaves/
I left the following comment on it which I think sums up my feelings after a few days of reflection:
I read your previous article and have been following the story as it played out. You have done a good job of summarising it.
Here were the things that stood out to me:
Both parties have quite similar right wing agendas. In fact its difficult to squeeze a playing card between them on most issues.
None of the questioners pushed Nick Griffin on his previous public anti semitic statements, which I found odd given the pro Israel position taken by that channel.
I thought the quote from the Kingston Guardian about abortion was telling. The root of the issue is that the Christian Party represent a dominionist grouping within Christianity. If they were in charge of the country life would be very difficult indeed for non believers or people of other faiths (think – Oliver Cromwell or the Taliban). In this sense they are actually very similar to the BNP.
I would actually hate to live under an evangelical christian governement of that sort as I would feel that my value as a human being was diminished. Thankfully not all Christians are like this. I just have to keep reminding myself of this.
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3 comments:
Perhaps the guys @ Revelation TV (many black pentecostals amongst them) are more frightened of the reality of clerical fascism in the form of Islam and it's bastard twin liberal fascism than they are of the traditional "hard right" nationalism (whatever that means) of Griffin and the gang.
This is lunacy indeed Gordon! As you know they don't speak with the same voice as the majority of Christians in this country. Hargreaves has tried a number of times to stand for election as a Cristian (what a nonsense) candidate and almost every time he came last!
This is disgrace, and I don't think they read the same Scripture as most of UK Christians. Hargreaves would be better to go back to his macho song writings!
Vote for The British National Party if you really care about OUR country and save us from the repressive Islamic ideology that will take us back to the stone age!
I would like to see more Christians standing AGAINST the horror of Islam than kow-towing to it!
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