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Britain is vulnerable to a 'tempest of extremism' warns the Archbishop of Canterbury |
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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has warned that the recession could make Britain more vulnerable to a 'tempest of extremism' and contribute to a rise of the British National Party. Rising unemployment and falling house prices were among factors that could contribute to xenophobia and prejudice, he said.
Dr Williams, speaking at a seminar of Christian and Muslim scholars in London, warned that the recent election of a BNP councillor in Kent was a 'straw in the wind'. He said that people were feeling angry because of the financial crisis. 'I think we do ignore, at our peril, a very high risk which history should have taught us if it teaches us anything: a very high risk of financial stringency leading to political extremes - anger finding its expression in xenophobia, prejudice, rivalry, all the tactics that both sociologists and psychologists remark on as the displacement of unease and fear.' Pray:against extremism in any form and pray for the church as it endeavours to support people who, in times of difficulty, look for someone to help. (Ps.9:9) Source: Prayer Alert |
