A reader responds...
In general, in the US (I do not know about England) Christians are at the center of the vast majority of NGO's providing for the poor on a day-to-day basis (and not just two days a year as some diarist around here said)
I am not ashamed of the crucifix around my neck, nor of the Gospel it represents - nor am I generally ashamed of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Whether BA wishes to keep its employees secular or not has nothing to do with the public face of Christianity in particular - it has to do with the secularization of Europe and England.
Do I care if BA de-humanizes its employees (removes any traits which distinguish them as human beings) in order to keep their profits higher? Not really. Just do not blame this on the Anglican Church.
Thanks for your comments. However, there is much you misread in this piece.
Firstly, this is not about Anglicanism in particular. While I do not question that many Christians are sincere, I simply question why any of us should wonder why secular society takes issue with us. We consistently fail to realize that we are responsible for our own bad reputation in secular society. We simply cannot get our act together or learn from past mistakes. This article is less about the acts of individual Christians than it is about a serious public image problem which we all need to take responsibility for.
Secondly, please do not imply or assume per your comment that I am ashamed of the cross or of the Gospel. The Gospel of Christ is my life and the cross is a deeply moving symbol for me. I am, however, often discouraged with my brothers and sisters in the faith who consistently fail to learn that Christ's church and his message were deeply contrary to the aribtrary exclusion of others from the grace and love of God as represented by the Church.
We consistently find people to exclude and even more consistently end up finding ourselves (as we will ONCE AGAIN) on the wrong side of history when it comes to our positions on who and who is not welcome at the Table.
You open your article by stating that this has all become "a bit old." You are entirely right... it has become old. And it stays relevant because we do not learn from past mistakes. The need to question to the Church on this issue will remain as long as the Church continues to designate outcasts who for whatever arbitrary reason are found unworthy to share in the grace of God... freely given.