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Islam could be our national religion, says cathedral cleric
Michael Brown Religious Affairs Correspondent UNLESS Christians start taking their faith seriously, Britain could become a Muslim nation, a senior cathedral cleric is suggesting.
The warning was sounded by Lincoln Cathedral subdean Alan Nugent in this week's Chapter Letter, distributed to members of the cathedral congregation yesterday.
Canon Nugent says that during the demonstrations by Muslims following the publication of cartoons characterising the Prophet Mohammed, "much was made" of some of the "brutal and violent" posters carried by protesters.
But other posters were not commented on – and to Canon Nugent they were "significant".
He says: "They warned that Britain would before long become Islamic. There is no doubt Islam is a missionary faith and the conversion of unbelievers is a major factor in its spread.
"It is not surprising many Muslims may well harbour the hope that this country could be converted to the faith of the Prophet – especially when so often they encounter a Christian faith which could well be characterised as uncertain and in decline."
Canon Nugent adds: "What is needed for Britain to remain a Christian nation is for Christian people to take their faith seriously and never assume that a Christian Britain is a given which will never change."
Recent figures have suggested that by 2012 there will be more people worshipping in mosques in England than in churches.
In an interview last weekend in Sudan, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams tackled such predictions, and described church attendance as "stable" with signs of growth.
He added: "However many people there are in the mosque in Britain, there is still a question, I think, as to what is the religious institution of first resort for the British people. Now culturally and historically I don't see that being a mosque in five years' time."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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