Thursday, 30 September 2010

Ed Miliband and religion

It has been much commented that new Labour leader Ed Miliband is an atheist.  Some humanist sites have rejoiced that two of the three party leaders now describe themselves as non-believers.  Both Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband have spoken of their respect for people who do have a religious faith, and Nick Clegg even implied that he wished he had a faith.

The truth about Ed Miliband's beliefs, however, seem more nuanced than that.

Mouse was rather struck by last night's Newsnight interview with Jeremy Paxman.  Paxman asked Miliband about his upbringing and faith.  In response Miliband said a number of really interesting things.  "Yes I'm a Jew" was his first response.  He then explains that he is not "practicing" (a phrase that Mouse hates and is only ever used by atheists) because it was not the tradition in which he was brought up.  

However the point which really made Mouse sit up was when he explained that he does not believe in God, but has "great respect" for those who do, adding "I think, in a way, it might make life on earth easier if you do".  It was hard to read the body language at this point.  Both he and Paxman had broad smiles on their faces at this time, with Miliband looking slightly embarassed by the whole thing. 

This does, of course, ask big questions about the role of faith in our lives.  Some would argue that it does make life easier, and others would say that life is just as hard with a faith as without - its just that some of the difficulties are different.  Mouse would be in the latter camp.

It struck Mouse that Miliband was probably attempting to follow Clegg's line that in some ways he wished he did have a faith, but unfortunately doesn't.  This is designed to make believers feel that they are resepcted and valued, whilst making non-believers feel that he's also on the side of reason and rationality, no matter how nice it might be to believe in these fairy stories.  

Patronising all round really.  If the truth is that he looked at it and decided it was not true, Mouse would rather he just said that.

You can see that part of the interview at about 0.53 into this video.
Posted by The Church Mouse at 08:49

14 comments:

  1. I'm sorry, but what do you mean that the phrase "practicing" is only ever used by atheists? Would you have Milliband say simply that he was or wasn't Jewish? What happens to someone who is culturally a Jew but not in any way "religious"? Which word would you prefer other than "practicing"?

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  2. I don't like the word "practicing" in this context because it implies that 'real' people of faith are identified by the extent to which they follow the rituals - i.e. practice their faith - rather than by the strength of their faith.

    For me, I was brought up by agnostics, but became a Christian. It would be laughable for me to say that I am culturally agnostic, although I recognise that clearly the cultural ties in the Jewish community are rather different.

    To answer your question, if you don't believe in God then you are an atheist. I would expect the answer to the question "Are you a Jew" (which is the one Paxman asked) to be answered along the lines of "well I was born into a Jewish family, as you know, but I am an atheist".

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  3. I taje your point Mouse but I thought Milliband was simply trying to explain that he is racially a Jew but not religiously as quickly as possible.

    As for his comments about "wishing he did have faith" I'm inclined to agree with you. I have come across that one before and generally it seemed to mean "Don't bother me and I won't bother you." In Milliband's case I think he is (sadly) just being a modern politician and saying enough to appease either side of an argument. I presume he has a good set of tweezers though because sitting on the fence for that long gives you splinters.

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  4. I agree with Crimperman. Judaism is an ethnic identity as well as a religious one.

    Compare with Disraeli, an observant Anglican from the age of 13 (hey, I dodged the word 'practicing') after anti-semitic taunts from Daniel O'Connell - 'Yes, I am a Jew, and when the ancestors of the honourable member were still painting themselves blue with woad, mine were priests in the temples of Solomon.'

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  5. Why are you spelling "practising" in this aberrant way? Is the word the same word if it is spelled differently? Is it the wrong word or just a mistaken spelling? Is Word the same as word? Personally, I think so.

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  6. I take your point CM, but am with the other posters here. I have a very good friend who is a very staunch atheist but will always identify first and foremost as a Jew. I think he has to go back three generations to find anyone who identified in a more "religious" sense.

    And you have to admit that he did clarify his beliefs fairly immediately after the question of his Jewishness.

    That being said, I am definitely with you and the other posters re. his attempts to insincerely appease everyone.

    Thanks CM!

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  7. "If the truth is that he looked at it and decided it was not true"

    I'm speculating a bit here, and I may be doing the guy a bit of a disservice, but I suspect that he is one of those who hasn't really looked into it because his background ("a left tradition") didn't encourage him to. Am I reading too much into what he said.

    That said, I thought he came out well from some, at times, rather snide questioning by Paxman.

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  8. All

    You are all quite right! I just don't like the word "practicing".

    Hugh - I think you can spell it both ways http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/practising is one an American spelling or something!?

    revsimmy - his high point was definitely when Paxman praised the way he dodged the Rubik's Cube stunt!

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  9. 'a practice' in (British) English is the noun, 'to practise' in (British) English is the verb, so 'practising' is correct in the UK. Spelt 'practise' for both noun and verb in American English.
    Think Milibands identify themselves as culturally Jewish (he referred to family history of escape from Nazi Europe in his speech) but not from religiously observant family, like many brought up by left wing Marxists of Jewish extraction.

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  10. I just wish he'd blow his nose. I can't bear listening to him.

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  11. Does Paxman say 'Tony Blair, Thank-you' at the end?

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  12. Lesley - it does rather sound like it!

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  14. But he would be considered a Jew by the Chief Rabbi!

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Thank you for your comments.

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