I was listening to Radio 4’s ‘The News Quiz’ on BBC iPlayer earlier this evening. As usual, it was laugh-out-loud funny, but I especially enjoyed a section about 12 minutes in. It was about the dear old Church of England and some of the activities of bishops in the run-up to Back to Church Sunday, especially the Bishop of Reading’s remark that Jesus would be more likely to shop at Aldi or Asda rather than Marks and Spencer.
Jeremy Hardy summed up the English experience of cultural Christianity quite well:
I was raised in the Church of England. I can’t say I’m lapsed. You can’t really lapse if you’re an Anglican. You don’t lose your faith, you just can’t remember where you left it.
Another panelist remarked:
He would shop at Aldi…. Jesus saves.
If you want to listen for yourself it will be available on iPlayer until Friday 2nd October.
The Vicar's Wife 
Hi
Jeremy Hardy is in fact a confirmed atheist, don’t know if you realised this. He wrote a rather unpleasant article for our Co-operative magazine one christmas that was very scathing of people who suffered from mental illness too. I’ll scan it and send it to you. Yes he is funny, but his beliefs on which this is based is quite dark.
Hi Icklesis. I didn’t know about Jeremy Hardy’s atheism. I’m really sad to hear about his magazine article – it sounds like he desparately needs God to show him where he ‘left his faith’.
Hi. Just found your site – like it a lot. Very much looking forward to reading more.
Am interested in reading the Jeremy Hardy article Icklesis mentions – as a sufferer of mental illness and an advocate for same. Also, (until now?) a fan of Jeremy Hardys.
Thanking you in advance and a big thumbs up on this site to The Vicar’s Wife!
Welcome to the Vicarage Sarah. I’m glad you enjoy the blog. I will see if I can get a copy of the magazine and pass on the relevant exert.
Sarah. You can read the article at the address below. Icklesis thought his joke about SAD showed a distinct lack of compassion. http://www.midcounties.coop/live/images/cme_resources/Public/Membership/Member%20publications/publication.pdf
I was very interested to read Jewemy Hardy’s article – thank you.
Persoanally, I found nothing in it offencive. Thought his remarks about SAD were quite apt and personally appropriate. From all I have heard him say – esp in comedy – he does not come across as a happy person and I am reading his remarks about SAD as, not a joke, but rather genuine.
Thank you again for posting it.
sarah