Excellent God and Mrs Thatcher: The Battle For Britains Soul
Fascinating and well written book. For the Thatcher fan or the Thatcher critic this book provides a measured and detailed analysis of the changing relationship between the Anglican church and the state, the bishops and the Thatcher government and the church's diminishing influence on British society over the last four decades. Anyone who is interested in politics should buy this book it's thought provoking, incredibly well researched and a great read. God and Mrs Thatcher: The Battle For Britains Soul Bought for a present and looks a quality product God and Mrs Thatcher: The Battle For Britains Soul An entertaining and illuminating look at the often fraught relationship between Mrs Thatcher and the hierarchy Church of England. Despite having lived through the period, I was unaware of the Christian ideology behind Mrs T's politics, though not of course of the political ideology behind the C of E's doings then and since. While Mrs T's beliefs were hardly theologically nuanced, they have a refreshing directness: responsibility, self discipline, and a reverence for tradition are among the old fashioned virtues on show. There is much food for thought here for readers of all political and religious persuasions. Mrs Thatcher emerges as perhaps Britain's last (ever?) conviction Prime Minister, whose libertarianism extended from religion, to education, employment, health and almost everything else. Filby has an engaging, readable style, and no particular knowledge of politics or religion is required of the reader.
By their fruits shall ye know them. The transmutation of the established church from a religious body to a left leaning social reform group has led to dwindling congregations, while the Conservatives are still winning elections. As someone who is neither a Conservative nor an Anglican, I found Mrs Thatcher's way of thinking as presented here positive and inspirational than anything from the bench of bishops. God and Mrs Thatcher: The Battle For Britains Soul As the author explains, this book is about shifting religious, social and political trends in England of the '80's with reference to Margaret Thatcher's influence amidst those dramatic times. God and Mrs Thatcher: The Battle For Britains Soul God & Mrs Thatcher is ostensibly an analysis of the part religion played in Mrs T's life and politics, but quickly becomes a critique of the role and influence of religious belief in politics in the UK from about 1950 onwards. What is startling is how much has changed. The church had a large part in formulating divorce reform laws in the late 1960s. Today they would barely be invited to comment. The odd thing is that Mrs Thatcher's own policies were a major contributor to the decline of religious influence yet her intention was the exact opposite. She believed that it naturally followed that once one had achieved wealth and success one would assume the responsibilities that went with that position. To quote one commentator, She aimed to create a society in the image of her preacher father and actually created a society in the image of her son. This is a totally refreshing take on Thatcherism and a must read for anyone with an interest in recent political history. God and Mrs Thatcher: The Battle For Britains Soul
A woman demonised by the left and sanctified by the right, there has always been a religious undercurrent to discussions of Margaret Thatcher. However, while her Methodist roots are well known, the impact of her faith on her politics is often overlooked. In an attempt to source the origins of Margaret Thatchers conviction politics, Eliza Filby explores how Thatchers worldview was shaped and guided by the lessons of piety, thrift and the Protestant work ethic learnt in Finkin Street Methodist Church, Grantham, from her lay preacher father. In doing so, she tells the story of how a Prime Minister steeped in the Nonconformist teachings of her childhood entered Downing Street determined to reinvigorate the nation with these religious values. Filby concludes that this was ultimately a failed crusade. In the end, Thatcher created a country that was not Christian, but secular; and not devout, but entirely consumed by a new religion: capitalism. In upholding the sanctity of the individual, Thatcherism inadvertently signalled the death of Christian Britain. Drawing on previously unpublished archives, interviews and memoirs, Filby examines how the rise of Thatcher was echoed by the rebirth of the Christian right in Britain, both of which were forcefully opposed by the Church of England. Wide ranging and exhaustively researched, God and Mrs Thatcher offers a truly original perspective on the source and substance of Margaret Thatchers political values and the role that religion played in the politics of this tumultuous decade. God and Mrs Thatcher: The Battle For Britains Soul