In a speech in Oxford on the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, the prime minister called for a revival of traditional Christian values to counter Britain's "moral collapse".
He said "live and let live" had too often become "do what you please".
The PM said it was wrong to suggest that standing up for Christianity was "somehow doing down other faiths".
Describing himself as a "committed" but only "vaguely practising" Christian, the PM admitted he was "full of doubts" about big theological issues.
'Don't do God'
But he staunchly defended the role of religion in politics and said the Bible in particular was crucial to British values.
"We are a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so," he told the audience at Christ Church.
"Let me be clear: I am not in any way saying that to have another faith - or no faith - is somehow wrong.
"I know and fully respect that many people in this country do not have a religion.
"And I am also incredibly proud that Britain is home to many different faith communities, who do so much to make our country stronger.
"But what I am saying is that the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today." » | Friday, December 16, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: David Cameron: the Church must shape our values – David Cameron warned the Church of England that it must keep to an "agenda that speaks to the whole country" as he said Britain should be proud to be a "Christian country". ¶ In a landmark speech on religion, the Prime Minister said that the country had been "unwilling" to "distinguish right from wrong", but warned "moral neutrality is not going to cut it any more". ¶ He said that Britain was at a "pivotal moment" in the wake of the riots and the financial crisis and that the Church must play a central role in reshaping the country. ¶ But, in a coded attack on the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Prime Minister warned that the Church must "keep on the agenda that speaks to the whole country". » | Saturday, December 17, 2011
