How do UK atheists feel about the Monarchy?

[vorlon13]

   

[vorlon13]

Princes Elizabeth also received firearms training and carried a weapon at times.

And a popular quote from her mother after being advised to take Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret to Canada during the Blitz:

"The children won't go without me. I won't leave the King. And the King will never leave"

[Pat Mustard]

What burden? Yes I know her family are a bunch of inbred idiots, but that's her own fault for marrying a man her cousin twenty times over.

She doesn't have to work a day in her life, is above the law, has everything done for her and never known any form of want or displeasure.

I dunno about the displeasure thing.

Here's some  pictures of her folks in front of their home after the Germans bombed it, and some other views.

  

A) that was one of their houses, a one they don't use all that often. B) they weren't left effectively destitute until the mid 50's like what happened with quite a few Londoners who didn't have six palaces in the country.

[Ben Davis]

---

Just musing.  I was watching "The Crown" to escape the hideousness that religion and stupidity have foisted upon Amurikka.

I respect Queen Elizabeth II - seriously.  The woman has borne a huge burden with class her entire life.  Sure, she never has to worry about
where to live and picking up groceries for dinner, but she didn't get to choose.  She isn't actually "free".

And she has that role because she - or at least the system - is built upon the idea that the sovereign is literally chosen by god.
AND she is defender of the faith!  (Why Henry VIII's actions didn't create an atheistic country is a bit of a puzzle.) 

She doesn't actually RULE.  She's pretty much ceremonial.  It's gorgeous, absolutely, but . . . 

So my questions for the day (primarily to UK friends) is:  Does your atheism impact how you view the Monarchy?  Do you think that the Western European
trend toward atheism will eventually abolish the Monarchy?  What changes do you see coming?  (Whatever atheism will change over here in 'Murikka can't
come fast enough.)

Fuzz

---

I have no tolerance of the Monarchy as an institution. It's the basis on which the UK is a Democratic Theocracy and I would see it end with the creation of a Great British Republic.

In political terms, the relationship between Crown and Parliament is a tenuous one. The Crown is officially the ultimate authority represented by Her Majesty's Government and protected by Her Majesty's Armed Forces. As a result of Cromwell's uprising and the creation of our democratic constitution, the Crown promises to authorise Acts of Parliament on the basis that Parliament continues to request authorisation for them. This effectively removes power from the Crown as it does what Parliament says however this is the ultimate 'gentlemen's agreement'.

In religious terms, the Crown establishes The Church of England (Anglicanism) as the state's official religion. No other religion has legal status in the UK except by various forms of Civil Rights legislation which have developed over the past ~150 years; only the CoE has constitutional protection, other religions can have their recognised status overturned on parliamentary whim. Establishment impacts us in many ways: state funding for religious institutions, enforced religious education, tax exempt status for profit-making religious organisations, reduced financial and regulatory governance compared to secular organisations, lifetime Peerage in the House Of Lords for church leaders, similar advantage being sought by other religions and granted...

In financial terms, the Crown draws out tens of billions of pounds, tax free, which would otherwise go to the government but instead goes to fund the Royal Family and their personal interests. Although some of this is brought/given back in by investment in industry and tourism, the costs are far greater than the returns. Further, schemes that are regularly touted as 'royal investment' aren't; the Duke of Edinburgh schemes/awards are financed in the main by 'participation fees' and only partly by funding from the royal coffers. The Crown earns more and more, year on year and even maintained growth during the recent financial downturns. It's clearly a profit-driven organisation.

I hear the claims that the Royal family are conditioned to this 'service' and that we should feel empathy for their plight. Well, maybe that was true in the past but it's not true today so I feel far less for their loss of freedom than I do for mine; we're all conditioned to give up our freedom for the sake of our place in society and in their case, the demands are far smaller than in mine with far larger rewards. Also, they have the option of leaving and their privilege would ensure that they would never face hardship. They have it easy. I don't feel sorry for them in the slightest.

[vorlon13]

The CoE as a major schism in the body of Christ counts as a net positive to me.

And with their additional included heresies, the CoE guarantees for all it's members eternal hideous torments and damnation.


Is this not sufficient ?

[vorlon13]