| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Anubis |
Posted - 16/10/2009 : 11:18:03
We learn from the Evening Argus, last Friday, that the evangelical Archie Coates is moving into St Peters Church to set up his version of the ‘Holy Trinity’, from where he and his band of disciples we take steps to transform the alleged “most Godless city of Britain” into a Christ-loving fellowship. That only one and a half percent of local residents attend a church is something Reverend Coates is determined to tackle.
As one who has consistently campaigned against religion in Brighton and Hove for many years, I was delighted to read the attendance statistics offered; it would have been even better had the percentage been reduced to nothing…… Needless to say, I added my vote to the Argus questionnaire – ‘Godlessness’ should be categorized as a compliment!
As a newcomer to Brighton in the mid 1960s, I purchased copies of the then weekly Brighton & Hove Herald, being surprised to find each edition dominated by local church reports. I mailed several letters to the Herald (and Argus) expressing surprise, given that “the majority of people today never go to church and don’t believe in Christianity – doctrines that are false and based on the rambling and contradictory mythology known as The Bible”. In a follow-up letter, I added, “ the vast majority of young people realize that Christianity has no solution to offer a world where one-third of the population goes hungry, while at the same time enormous sums of money are squandered on war and war preparation and where everywhere the church remains silent. Most people do not show their rejection of religion by writing letters to the press – they simply ignore its existence; really the most sensible response!”
More than a dozen replies to my letters were published by both papers, several expressing trepidation that ‘a young man with such dangerous ideas had moved into the local community’. These responses illustrate the extent to which general attitudes to religion have progressed during the last forty years – my early letters would now be recognized as reflecting the general view. Today, the Christ myth is only seriously believed by an even smaller minority, yet the world’s evils continue, largely ignored by the Christian community.
Probably the best encapsulation of the change ‘in general attitude’ finds voice in that marvellous Matthew Parris article, describing his unscheduled ‘meeting’ with Tony Blair before the displayed relics of a truly Catholic environment: see The Times: 15 September 2009, “In the cathedral I saw a sign. God help us.” (get it on Timesonline)
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| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Anubis |
Posted - 14/11/2009 : 17:14:28
quote:
Originally posted by Anubis
"Freedom of thought" might be OK IN THEORY -- and the evidence might indeed indicate that an increasing majority of people REJECT God mythologies -- but when it comes to the indoctrination of Sussex children, only "believers" are acceptable for teaching and advising on the topic -- even in 'non-faith' schools:
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4738826.Atheist_snubbed_in_attempt_to_join_Sussex_education_board/
What a disgrace! Don't miss the correspondence following the article .....
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| Anubis |
Posted - 13/11/2009 : 18:18:56
"Freedom of thought" might be OK IN THEORY -- and the evidence might indeed indicate that an increasing majority of people REJECT God mythologies -- but when it comes to the indoctrination of Sussex children, only "believers" are acceptable for teaching and advising on the topic -- even in 'non-faith' schools:
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4738826.Atheist_snubbed_in_attempt_to_join_Sussex_education_board/
What a disgrace! Don't miss the correspondence following the article .....
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| Anubis |
Posted - 24/10/2009 : 14:55:02
The 'good news' is that Brighton might NOT be unrepresentative of the country as a whole!
After a few days in London, I collected a copy of the London Lite (23/10/09) at Victoria Station on my way home -- and found this small, interesting article on page 3 -- here it is verbatim:
"A POLL to promote Christianity backfired when 96 per cent of respondents said they didn't believe in God. More than 88,000 answered posters and adverts urging people to consider evidence before completing an online Alpha Course survey. Three percent said they did believe with one percent unsure about God's existence."
As readers will recall, the results from the much smaller survey conducted a week ago by the Argus produced similar findings -- but the Alpha evidence comes straight from the enemy's mouth !! |
| Daveb |
Posted - 19/10/2009 : 13:03:51
The diluded ramblings continue, with the twisting of your own words.
"Religion only flourishes in the gaps which are left by the lack of education and knowledge." Anubis
"We were then delighted to receive your informed observation that Islam was filling the gaps no longer taken by the Christian proletariat." Anubis
I simply agreed with your first statement by adding that Islam appears to spread in countries that have a poor education sysytem. What fact your statement was based on I do not know. |
| Anubis |
Posted - 19/10/2009 : 08:47:07
quote:
Originally posted by Daveb
Once again you get the wrong end of the stick.
"Religion only flourishes in the gaps which are left by the lack of education and knowledge." Anubis
Nothinhg to do with conversion.
I am so appreciative, Daveb, for your drawing my attention to once again "getting the wrong end of the stick"!
I opened the site referring to the 'godlessness of Brighton' -- the same theme was mentioned by the next poster -- and I returned to the topic by citing another poster writing to the Argus on 'godlessness in Brighton'.
We were then delighted to receive your informed observation that Islam was filling the gaps no longer taken by the Christian proletariat. Now if, like everyone else, you were also writing about Brighton (and the Argus article) then again I am appreciative for your knowledge sharing; in my ignorance I don't know of this huge mosque in Brighton & Hove catering for all these 'new Muslims' occupying the space that would have been filled by Christians. I look forward to learning its location from your goodself.
If instead, you were discussing the general UK landscape (contrary to the other postings) that was also of great interest. But as I spend almost half of my time in Tower Hamlets, where in many areas there is an Islamic majority, I am again amazed that as I mix with this local population, I never run across these vast numbers of old time British descendants who have adopted the Islamic beliefs and costumes. I look forward to learning from you where I should be looking for them -- you see, in my total ignorance, I had thought the growing number of Muslims in the UK arose from immigration and the normal sexual reproduction process rather than their "filling the gap' arising from the secularization of Christianity. Silly me! |
| Daveb |
Posted - 18/10/2009 : 07:44:36
Once again you get the wrong end of the stick.
"Religion only flourishes in the gaps which are left by the lack of education and knowledge." Anubis
Nothinhg to do with conversion. |
| Anubis |
Posted - 17/10/2009 : 22:45:21
quote:
Originally posted by Daveb
Hence the spread of Islam.
There is no correlation, Daveb. On several levels your assumption is invalid -- the increase in Islamic membership is not the consequence of 'conversion' --- ex-Christians are not converting to Islam .... |
| Daveb |
Posted - 17/10/2009 : 17:01:19
Hence the spread of Islam. |
| Anubis |
Posted - 17/10/2009 : 11:52:24
quote:
Originally posted by sweeny todd
the rev has got some job on his hands ,dont know why he"s bothering realy as you say abs this is a godless city ! that is if you believe in god in the first place !!
The perfect answer to the enlightened "change" in Brightonian opinion on matters 'spiritual' during the last century is provided on the Argus site following the article itself, where Elfinbrighton writes, " ... there's a good reason Brighton is "godless" - good school and university education; freedom of thought and creativity; excellent access to knowledge. There is no longer room here for ... simplistic little Iron Age myths. This horse is dead, however much you continue to flog it. Religion only flourishes in the gaps which are left by the lack of education and knowledge. Most people here .. view you (the priest) and (his) particular god as quaint but ultimately irrelevant."
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| sweeny todd |
Posted - 16/10/2009 : 11:46:08
the rev has got some job on his hands ,dont know why he"s bothering realy as you say abs this is a godless city ! that is if you believe in god in the first place !! |
