The Religion Effect
August 15, 2008
It has been said that at a dinner party you should never discuss religion or politics as it will always end in an awkward dispute with at least one person offended. I am not sure of my exact beliefs, though surely there must be something after this life. Who is to say it is not reincarnation or heaven or the next dimensional level?!
What worries me is that every single devastating war that the World has seen is down to religion. Why is it such an issue that we have differing beliefs? Why can we not respect each other’s cultures and live in harmony? Surly after all religion is about love and living together?
I always think; are we really so different? Is it not better to have beliefs than no beliefs at all? As a child I was brought up a protestant, though I find some aspects of all religion unbelievable; especially with the scientific knowledge we now have. How exactly could God create the World in 6 days when we are told by some of the most intelligent people in existence that the big bang theory is how it actually came about?
I think to a certain extent religion is what drives a divide amongst us. We should have a ‘no religion day’ to celebrate everyone, irrespective of beliefs. Surely as long as we live with good ethics religion is irrelevant.
Church Backs Female Bishops
July 8, 2008
Yesterday the Church of England’s Synod voted in favour of Women becoming Bishops.
Though many in the Church of England (over 1,300) signed a letter of petition to the Arch Bishop of Canterbury and York; many of these were retired rather than practicing clergy.
Any compromise of there being a two tiered bishop hierarchy, as traditionalists have asked for would have caused institutional division and made women second class clergy.
Monday saw six hours of debate by the Synod, where both the proposal of super bishops and a preferred option of new dioceses were denied.
The Fellowship of Confessions (FoCA) a new break away sector of the Church of England, for those who are against homosexuality in the church, will soon set up their own bishop council too. The conservative sector set up and officially established in Jerusalem last week has caused concern that the church may become further divided in the future.
Reverend John Broadhurst who is The Bishop of Fulham concurred with the traditionalists saying;
“I think a lot of us have made it quite clear if there isn’t proper provision for us to live in dignity, inevitably we’re driven out and it’s not a case of walking away.”
Though, there are many liberals that are happy with the reforms. Robert Key, Tory and Synod member was in favour of women Bishops and said;
“It is a good day for the Church of England, and it is a good day for the country because our national church, the church by law established, is actually now in step with most of the country and what people feel.”
The Church has moved into the same century as the rest of us and I think it is about time.