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Religion and Spirituality

TheCatWoman

I know this is a contentious issue, but I wnat to talk about it anyway and I hope people can be respectful to the beliefs of others. 

It seems to me that although we in the UK are called a Christian country, we're not, most people don't attend church, many are nominally Christian, church for hatchings, matchings and despatchings, maybe xmas and easter too. Many will attend church to get their children into a high performing church school. Our main bank holidays focus on a Christian festival calendar, Easter, Pentecost, Xmas etc, but I wonder if we should add the holy days of other faiths, like EId, Diwali, the Solticies?

We have so many faiths in this country and many people who don't identify with any particular faith, but are broadly believers in something.

I'd like to see bishops removed from the House of Lords and the Church of England disestablished, in a multifath society I don't see what their place is in the giovernance of the country, I think you either have to have representatives of all faiths or none and seeing as many faiths don't have an episcopal system I don't see how it would work where the representatives come from and which community would they be representing? I think the same is true of the current situation and bishops, there are many Christian sects that do not recognise and episcopal system.  

Parents

  • I thought I’d provide a quick update. I’m deciding to stick with being a Protestant but I still have interests in studying other religions. However I have become scared of Scientology, I was only intrigued because one of the voice actors from the Simpsons became one and I had also read that they believe in God and Jesus but instead of going to Heaven, they get reincarnated as another human (think I’d prefer Heaven tbh). But when I did more research into it I got really scared if I’m honest, I mean you have to pay for a religion? It sounds more of a money grab if you ask me plus it seems to be a modern and, I’m just gonna say it, made up cult and claiming it as a religion. I could be wrong and if so please tell me but please don’t be angry as I don’t really know that much. 

  • in reply to Elfilis

    I think that Scientology is undoubtedly something to be extremely wary of. I’d be wary of any religion that focuses very much on you giving them money. It’s also true that many established religions also have negative aspects to them in various ways - but they also have merit and can enrich people’s lives - and people with religious faith are statistically more likely to live happier lives than those with no religious/spiritual aspect to their lives. Aldous Huxley wrote a book called ‘The Perennial Philosophy’ that looks at different religions and examines their similarities and differences - and it’s interesting to compare them and see how much they have in common, and what they offer. I like to have an open mind - and having spent some time looking into different religions I have found that Zen Buddhism is something I connect with most and find less problematical than other religions because it’s not requiring me to believe in a specific deity or god in the same way that other religions do. For me Zen Buddhism is very down to earth, very connected to nature, and so peaceful and life affirming. Its focus on kindness and compassion is just beautiful. If you go on YouTube and look up ‘Plum Village’ or Thich Nhat Hanh you’ll find some very accessible talks on Zen Buddhism. I find it to be very autism friendly because it’s very gentle and kind, and also very calming. But I also enjoy going into Christian churches and cathedrals- I don’t think you necessarily have to choose one religion alone - you can explore them all and see what is helpful to you. For example I love Hindu chanting and singing (called ‘Kirtan’) - just because I’m Buddhist doesn’t mean I can’t feel spiritually uplifted by Hinduism. We are very lucky now that we can access so many culture and religions so easily. 

  • in reply to Kate Kestrel
    Kate Kestrel said:
    I’d be wary of any religion that focuses very much on you giving them money.

    They can be quite predatory.

    Here in Brazil there are a number of big evangelical churches that fleece their flock by insisting that 10% of their paychecks go to the church and they are always passing the collection plate around.

    In recent years they got into having their own TV channel which they use to point out how anyone not in their church is doomed to eternity in hell then they go on to have their own shopping channel section selling statues, rosaries, pictures of saints and so on at exorbatant prices.

    They have charismatic preachers (physically attractive one to please the eye wearing robes that don't quite disguise the muscles or cleavage) who have cult followings and coincidentally live in mansions with private jets, helicopters etc.

    Their influence extends to the police too so they are rarely prosecuted.

    I believe parts on the USA are like this too.

    It's a real shame the people they are fleecing cannot see it but then I guess they say faith is blind. You just need to be careful where you place that faith I guess.

Reply
  • in reply to Kate Kestrel
    Kate Kestrel said:
    I’d be wary of any religion that focuses very much on you giving them money.

    They can be quite predatory.

    Here in Brazil there are a number of big evangelical churches that fleece their flock by insisting that 10% of their paychecks go to the church and they are always passing the collection plate around.

    In recent years they got into having their own TV channel which they use to point out how anyone not in their church is doomed to eternity in hell then they go on to have their own shopping channel section selling statues, rosaries, pictures of saints and so on at exorbatant prices.

    They have charismatic preachers (physically attractive one to please the eye wearing robes that don't quite disguise the muscles or cleavage) who have cult followings and coincidentally live in mansions with private jets, helicopters etc.

    Their influence extends to the police too so they are rarely prosecuted.

    I believe parts on the USA are like this too.

    It's a real shame the people they are fleecing cannot see it but then I guess they say faith is blind. You just need to be careful where you place that faith I guess.

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