I thought French president Nicolas Sarkozy couldn't make me any happier until Wednesday when he pissed off many with his announcement to the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France that faith has a place in the public sphere. He also suggested French schoolchildren should study the children who were victims of the Holocaust.
Like most people, I have a favorite person in the news. For some of you it may be Britney Spears or Warren Buffett or Condi Rice, but for me it is without a doubt Sarkozy. I read everything about him and he always manages to delight me -- marrying a supermodel, infuriating French unions, asking Bush to be best friends, telling the French to work harder. Now he wants more God in French culture?
Stop it Sarkozy, stop this wonderfulness!
I am however starting to wonder if this man is actually from France, where the the principles of secularism are law. Established in 1905, laïcité is at the core of French culture and state. Laïcité is a complex body of law and social thought but is essentially the notion that the state is above all a secular entity expressly free from interference from religious thought or organization.
Because of the strong commitment and belief in laïcité, France is one of the most dynamic places to watch post-global shifts of faith. It also has influences other countries such as Turkey, which has it's own form of laïcité. Only a thorough understanding of laïcité explains the national debate in 2004 over the wearing of Islamic hijabs, Sikh turbans, (large) Christian crosses and Jewish Stars of David in French public schools.
In the AP story, we learn that:
"Sarkozy has angered secularists with repeated praise for faith and references to France's Christian roots, and he told a French Jewish organization that the violence and wars of the 20th century were due to an 'absence of God....'"
"Sarkozy's recent speeches to Catholics and Muslims prompted charges he was violating France's separation of church and state. He was the first French president to address the CRIF annual dinner, a role the prime minister normally takes."
"Sarkozy says he is a lapsed Catholic. Previous presidents avoided talking about faith even if they were believers themselves."
All of this wouldn't be the least bit shocking for an American politician, which may be why the French have taken to calling their president "Sarko L'Americain." I look forward to seeing how far he gets with bringing not just a stronger work ethic to France but now, public faith.
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Comments (2)
Josef Sefton.I met you in ch ch nz.Do you remember..Email address Mumbs@woh.rr.com
March 4, 2008 8:37 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on March 4, 2008 20:37
Claire, nothing is potentialy of more importance for our spiritual health than an interest in history; for God is a God of history.
We see God interacting with Noah, we see God interacting with Abraham, we see God interacting with Moses and as we seek after Him by turning from evil He plants a heightened level of interest in us; so that we are truly desirous to get to know Him personally.
God. although from eternity to eternity. is a God of history and longs for us to study Biblical history, history and current events.
Children are in a learning phase and it is to their great advantage to study and learn about other children.
I believe it is praiseworthy for them to learn about the Holocaust as long as it is taught wisely. When we learn, as adults or children, gradually and sensitively about the true horror of the Holocaust it can be helpful in helping us understand God more fully; for many adults and children don't understand fully that God says that the human heart is deceitful above all things.
The purpose of studying history should be to draw us closer to God Our Creator.
He is intensely interested and involved in our "personal history" and longs for us to seek Him out with an exploring, heart, mind and soul.
A phenomenal resource called the holy Bible awaits our diligent scrutiny, Britney Spear's scrutiny and Nicolas Sarkozy's scrutiny.
History will show if we take our opportunities to seek, trust and obey God and His Beloved Jesus Christ seriously.
When the pure words of Jesus Christ become important to us, we will daily come before God to praise Him for His gift of life and for His treasured Saviour King; for He is the light of life.
February 16, 2008 8:22 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 16, 2008 20:22