| Author | Message | ||
     Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.143.178.131 |
Because I just know how you guys hang on my every word with deep, rapt attention, here is my new blog: http://www.jonoliverwriter.blogspot.com/ | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.161.160 |
Interesting blog, Jon. Interested in one point you made: >>>and I was always stuck by how the message that my Dad brought to a community that was utterly on its arse was one of hope Was the message one of spiritual salvation? Or did it have a proactive, physical component (eg, economic conditions will change, etc)? Hope that's not a leading question. If so, let me ask more simply: what message was this? | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.143.178.131 |
Hi Gary Spiritual salvation is, of course, one of the messages of the church, but it was also about a hope to be found in community, the comfort and aid that can be garnered from coming together in the face of adversity. The church in Huthwaite (which is the town I'm talking about in my blog) played a really important role in reaching out to the community and enabling it to come together. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.161.160 |
Cool. Anathema to Big Society, one expects. It's certainly what the world needs a good dose of now. | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.143.178.131 |
And it's actually what the Church is good at when it's at its best. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.161.160 |
In your opinion, does the church bring something extra to these problems that, say, a communal-minded organisation without religious paraphernalia would not? | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.143.178.131 |
Oh this is all my personal experience of the church, it must be said. I'm not at all suggesting that secular institutions can't bring the same kind of community spirit, cohesion into the mix. Naturally, they can. I think the Church when it's on message shows the very human heart of Christianity. Also, on the whole, most Christian I know are pretty non judgmental. Although I appreciate that some people's experience of the Church may be quite different to mine. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.161.160 |
Sure, Jon. I was just wondering whether you felt that secular groups might - oh, I don't know - lack some essential binding agent (in this case, shared religious faith). All too often that binding agent is projected out-group hostility, of course. I'm wondering about positive alternatives - that is, how to be inclusive in such a diverse world. This issue interests me at the moment. Was just wondering what your take on it was. | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.66.23.11 |
Unfortunately, for far too many people, the only things they know about thechurch is what they see in the tabloids. So, as far as they know the only people you find in churches are either paedophiles or right-wing intolerant nutters who believe everyone will burn in hell if they wear a skirt above the knee (especially guys wearing skirts above the knee). They don't realise that these are the tiniest minority. The vast majority are good Christian people (as long as it's a christian church). |