The Sun Adds To The Words Over The Falklands
The Sun has taken out an advert in an Argentinian paper to put their version of the British view on the Falklands direct to the country.
It’s an interesting tactic, but I don’t think it will soften the Argentinian view that the Falkland Islands are theirs.
I think we are right to say that the Falkland Islanders have the right of self-determination.
On that basis, does that mean that say the Isle of Wight has the right to do what it wants? It might ban people from wearing yellow socks for instance.
That may seem a silly example, but various religions and political factions in this country, would like to create enclaves, where they do what they want.
Can we have it both ways?
The Archbishop Is So Out Of Touch
I shall be sitting down to Christmas lunch with two same-sex couples in long term relationships. So what right does this dinosaur of a churchman have to condemn gay marriage?
None! In my view.
I don’t know the scriptures well, but I do seem to have read that Jesus opened his ministry to all. He is said to have healed a Roman centurion’s servant in both Luke and Matthew. I don’t think that Roman soldiers were the most popular people at that time.
Let’s face it too, but unmarried priests really know nothing about how a marriage is a real strength in human life. As someone, who was married for nearly forty years, I have a lot more experience than he has.
Is Norwich The Most Godless Place In Britain?
The 2011 Census results have started to be published and this report on the BBC, asks if Norwich is the most godless place in Britain.
This surprised me, as I always thought the city had more churches than most conurbations of its size.
But then there are plenty of people from Suffolk, who would suggest reasons for this statistic. Many would not be repeatable.
Liverpool, Glasgow And Belfast
These three cities in the UK have for centuries had their troubles between Catholics and Protestants.
I grew up in London, which before the Second World War wasn’t without its religious troubles. But that generally involved anti-Semitism and those on the far right. My father was a staunch anti-fascist and claimed he was at the Battle of Cable Street. I suspect he was, and I know he used to write Cockney poetry about the war. Sadly none has srvived although, I can remember a few phrases.
He didn’t like Catholics because of the Pope’s support for Hitler in the War and my mother being of a Huguenot line didn’t like them either. But it was nothing more than the odd barbed comment, when say a new Pope was elected. I don’t think either of my parents ever saw the inside of a church except for the odd wedding.
This lack of religion, probably helped to push me towards being agnostic and of course now, I’m someone, who doesn’t believe in any religion. But that is not to say, I don’t follow the humanist principles of most of the major religions.
Going to Liverpool in the early 1960s, was the first time, I really came across religion in tooth and claw. With the massive Anglican Cathedral and the new Roman Catholic one under construction, I couldn’t avoid the fact, that I was in a city that took its religion seriously. In those days, there were parades by both Catholics and Orangemen. But any trouble had dropped off in the previous few years. Was it because the people of Liverpool developed healthy interests in music and football? But other factors were also at work inside the Anglican and Catholic churches. Although this pre-dates the partnership between Archbishop Derek Worlock and the Bishop David Sheppard, I think in the 1960s, the people of Liverpool thought they’d had enough of religious rivalries, that got out of hand.
It was then that I met C’s friend, Maureen, who was the daughter of a Presbyterian Minister and missionary from Belfast. Her tales of her home city painted a very different picture of life in Northern Ireland.
It was at that time too, that I had my first experience of Scotland, when I went to Glasgow to see Spurs play against Celtic in the Glasgow Cup. It was the first time, I saw serious football violence, as a Rangers supporter appeared in the non-segregated crowd and was promptly thumped by most of the Celtic fans around me. It’s not to say there wasn’t violence in England at the time, but in matches at Portman Road, White Hart Lane, Anfield and Goodison Park, I’d never experienced any at first hand.
Over the years, I’ve visited Belfast a few times and been rather horrified at all of the flags and religious symbols. I once went into Shorts factory in Belfast and couldn’t believe the bigoted displays I saw. If I were to put up similar posters and flags on my house attacking any religion, I’d be arrested.
In Glasgow it’s not so open, but read any forum about Rangers and Celtic and you’ll find language you never find on similar forums involving say Spurs and Arsenal or Liverpool and Everton.
I go to Liverpool regularly and even went to see the Olympic torch in the city, where the Archbishop enjoyed the parade with everybody else.
So how come Liverpool has come to terms with its religious divides and in Belfast and to a certain extent, Glasgow, they seem to be getting worse?
Taliban Condemn Bishop Vote
This is the headline over a humorous picture in the Sunday Times, showing three fully covered-up women from Afghanistan, with a speech bubble saying, “It’s appalling how the Church of England treats its women”
Should The Church Of England Have Women Bishops?
As someone, who normally only goes to a church for funerals and weddings, to look at the architecture or have acupuncture, I’m not the right person to decide.
I have been to two funerals with women celebrants and I don’t think it makes any difference to the average sombre funeral. It would of course make a difference, if the celebrant was useless or unsympathetic, but then I’ve never been to a funeral like that.
So personally, it doesn’t matter to me what sex a priest is, provided they do a good job.
As in any job, to restrict your choice by not allowing one sex to do it, is silly. And all jobs need the best person who can do the job. Perhaps the only place where a female priest might not be suitable is ministering to male sex offenders in a prison. On the other hand, a woman priest might be better at it. To use a way out example, to set out how you will vote, is a bad idea.
I also think that a vote not to allow women bishops may turn many away from the church.
Bu
Hurricane Sandy
It would appear that Hurrican Sandy has got people all worked up in the United States.
I’ve just read this piece by Mark Mardell. All well thought out stuff, but it was this comment that I noticed.
John: Obama is the Antichrist from Revelations
How does anyone know he is or isn’t?
If you believe in God and the Bible you know some day its going to happen
Ever since Obama it feels like all Hell is breaking loose upon Earth
Perhaps its overdramatic but something feels uneasy
Do people really believe such rubbish?
The sooner the people of the United States and the rest of the world as well, realise that religion is just a con trick to extract money from their wallets, the better.
By the way is Sandy of the hurricane fame, male or female?
The Republican View Of Rape
Some Republican candidates in the US Elections seem to have very distorted views about rape. Look at this piece on the BBC about Richard Mourdock. My only suggestion is that God is feeding him views that make him look an idiot, so she can have a quiet laugh with the angels.
And then there’s Todd Akin who believes that women’s bodies have ways of avoiding pregnancy in legitimate rape.
Imagine what would happen to a politician in mainland UK and most of Europe, who stood at an election and spouted these scientifically incorrect views for a start.
Faith Healers Claim HIV Cure
BBC London is leading with this story this morning and giving it the due respect it deserves. In other words, saying it’s a load of old religious bunkum and the best thing you can do is take your anti-retroviral drugs. The BBC is also saying that there have been at least three deaths, because people stopped taking their drugs.
Romney Drops Himself In It!
Mitt Romney has some interesting views on those who vote for Obama. Read about them here on the BBC.
Now Mormon Mitt is the sort of politician, I wouldn’t vote for. But lets hear his views on Iran, the death penalty and that viral video attacking Islam.
But with a few more gaffs like yesterday, I suspect he’ll lose the election.
The Anonymous Widower 