EUROPE - Europe is undergoing a seismic shift in its politics which will see the next century defined by conflicting views over the role of religion in public life, the continent’s chief rabbi has said. In an interview with Express.co.uk Pinchas Goldschmidt said politicians would find it increasingly difficult to walk the tightrope between their own personal views on faith in policies suited to a secular society.
He linked a number of political phenomena globally, from the rise of the far-right in Europe to the election of Donald Trump in America, to a growing influence of religion on politics. His comments came after the Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron resigned earlier this week, citing questions about his Christian attitudes towards gay sex as a key factor in his decision.
Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, the daughter of a vicar, is also a Christian and has seen her own private views subject to much media questioning and scrutiny. In a telephone interview from Moscow, chief rabbi Goldschmidt, said what was a predominantly secular 20th century has given way to a new age dominated by questions about how religion affects the global order.
He said: “The last century, the 20th Century, was the secular century. Then this century started with the most important moment, 9/11, which was a religious moment, because it was a war declared because of religion. This century is going to be more and more religious and religion is going to play a much more important role in its politics than during the last century.”