By Peter Hitchens, Mail Plus
I am not much troubled by Muslims praying in Trafalgar Square. In general, I am comforted and encouraged by any strong belief in God, as I have such a belief myself.
I have some big differences with the teachings of Islam, especially its attitude towards women. But I would rather share my country with people who believe in divine justice and mercy than with people who couldn’t care less about such things.
All that is good in our civilisation, in my view, is founded on such a belief.
All our greatest deeds, our best music, our finest buildings, our most beautiful literature – and our powerful support for charity – are based upon it.
My only regret is that, at the moment, it is British Muslims, rather than British Christians, who believe most strongly. So, while I wish the new Archbishop of Canterbury well, and suspect her of being a genuine and good person, may I offer her some words of advice? Put simply, they are: ‘Please stop being so soppy.’
She has instruments of immense power at her disposal. All the most magnificent buildings in England are in her charge, in the shape of the great cathedrals.
And hundreds of the most beautiful ones are too – country and city churches so lovely that it breaks my heart to see so many of them empty and forgotten.
There is a tiny revival going on the Church of England. I do not know how important it is. But a lot of it takes place in those churches which are the most traditional, the most austere and the least wet. They use the robust, lovely old prayers, polished in use by centuries, that date from the brave days of the first Queen Elizabeth, when our language was at its richest. And they read from a Bible that was translated about the same time.