Prince William - future Defender of the Faith

You're so right, Greatnan. Religious leaders often complain that some of their followers 'cherry pick' what to believe or not, but when you think about it, almost all believers do that.

Otherwise we'd still be doing stuff like stoning adulterers to death. Oh and catholic women would be dying in middle age from overworked uteri - or living in celibate misery.

As for Willie - he has no choice but to look like a believer. We can't expect him to actually live it though!

Some people do seem able to square the circle when it comes to their religious practices. Cherie Blair is a devout Catholic, but she was reported to have taken part in some odd rituals with crystals, etc.
Perhaps William will take the oath with his fingers crossed.

It is so difficult to tell really isn't it anno whether people are conforming or sincere. Also, who would think that C and C, aristocratic anglicans to the core, one would have thought, would be so keen on all the alternative hindu hippy stuff?

William made his marriage vows in church before a god, so presumably he would have no qualms about doing the same about a coronation. His father said he wanted to be 'defender of faith' (not THE faith) which caused some consternation at the time.

Mind you, joan Will does not have to be elected!

I think William is one of those people who would feel he has no right to reject religion, given his position in life.

We will never know if he is a believer, agnostic or atheist. He is simply not in a position to make waves. I would bet he never gives it much thought.

I would think the same is true of American politicians - whatever their state of belief or non belief, they'd better pretend to believe - or else!!

I'm just making the observation that many people probably would give a fig Greatnan

Not saying I agree with them.

Certainly time to disestablish and if the church of e keeps tying themselves in knots about women bishops and gay marriage it could yet happen. If the next PM happened to be an agnostic of Jewish ancestry maybe But not likely under the present queen.
Prince Charles seems to be a closet member of the dippy hippy new-age (not sewage you silly spell checker) brigade. So no knowing what he will do once his mama shuffles off. Replace holy communion with a Hindu aruvedic cleansing and rebirth experience perhaps.
I predict a showdown with Kate though. Bet she is not going to want to use homeopathy instead of conventional medicine for her baby. Bring on those vaccines Kate.
Or go through any yogic detox rituals to prepare for the birth. Or let Camilla to chant in the corner during her labour

I believe that Henry VIII was given the title by the pope - how ironic!

I thought historically the King or Queen was defender of the faith ?

Why should they, Petallus? Surely it is nobody's business but his own. He either believes or he doesn't - he can't be forced to believe just because he is in line for the throne. (I have no idea whether he does or not, of course.)
I suppose it would cause a constitutional crisis if he refused to take the oath in the coronation - hmm, interesting times ahead, perhaps!

Time to disestablish then William's belief or non-belief becomes no-one else's business but his own.

Lots of other reasons to disestablish of course.

Loads of people do bags

Yep. Disestablish. Then who gives a fig whether William goes to church or believes anything religious at all?

So true! Disestablish!!!

I think the church and state should be completely separate, then the Royal Family would have the same rights as everybody else, to accept or reject religion according to their conscience.