New Archbishop of Canterbury

I am an atheist but I do understand why some people have a faith.

As we go through life some people need to have emotional stability, a rock if you like. Marriages and friendships fail so may not provide that.

So I get why some people have faith in a religion that has been around for thousands of years.

What I don't get is why religious leaders want to change it. Isn't that the point? The idea that religions should move with the time and be more inclusive just doesn't make sense. That's the whole point of them, that the world we live in does change but your faith and your church don't.

No wonder so many people are leaving the COE for other faiths.
 
I couldn’t care less about this. There’s nothing that irritates me more than seeing a ‘quote’ from the AoC or any other religious ‘leader’ when they stick their oar into a discussion that has nothing whatsoever to do with them. The former AoC was a past master at it - as though any bollox he spouted had meaning. The new AoC is a woman, so what. Or is she? A proper one or one of the new ones, as that’ll be coming soon when the lefties realise that churches aren’t quite inclusive enough. (But not all churches. There are some religions that the ‘brave’ lefties are far too scared to call out or criticise).

However, for now, unelected church leaders and their respective churches (and by churches I mean any religious central command) are hardly the bastions of good conduct - claiming to hold the keys to a magical eternal kingdom where only the righteous (and a few folk that kill or abuse others, generally innocent, often children) can enter.

In my opinion (and I apologise for going a bit Swiss Toni here) Religion is like making love to a beautiful woman. You pick one that looks right for you, you dress up nice, you tell her she’s the only one you’ll ever love — and before you know it, you’re shouting at strangers in the street and starting wars over who gets to touch her first.

The difference is, when football fans kick off, it usually just ends with a few pints and a black eye. Religion’s more the “accidentally burn down half of Europe” sort of evening.
"I couldn't care a less" ...followed by a really long post...

Incidentally, the term "lefty" is bandied about a great deal on this site. I suspect each person who uses it means something different. I am curious to know how you define such a person?
 
I am an atheist but I do understand why some people have a faith.

As we go through life some people need to have emotional stability, a rock if you like. Marriages and friendships fail so may not provide that.

So I get why some people have faith in a religion that has been around for thousands of years.

What I don't get is why religious leaders want to change it. Isn't that the point? The idea that religions should move with the time and be more inclusive just doesn't make sense. That's the whole point of them, that the world we live in does change but your faith and your church don't.

No wonder so many people are leaving the COE for other faiths.
With you on that. You either believe the Book is the word or you do not.

All nonsense with a flimsy, unsupportive factual origin, of course, but I still have more respect for someone who genuinely thinks it all actually happened than those who think the obvious bollox like the Flood are allegory but all the bits you can't disprove (eg the unverified existence of Jesus) are true.

All a bit convenient.
 
"I couldn't care a less" ...followed by a really long post...

Incidentally, the term "lefty" is bandied about a great deal on this site. I suspect each person who uses it means something different. I am curious to know how you define such a person?
I know - lol - I thought that when I posted it.
 
With you on that. You either believe the Book is the word or you do not.

All nonsense with a flimsy, unsupportive factual origin, of course, but I still have more respect for someone who genuinely thinks it all actually happened than those who think the obvious bollox like the Flood are allegory but all the bits you can't disprove (eg the unverified existence of Jesus) are true.

All a bit convenient.
My elderly Irish Catholic neighbour genuinely believes in the creation as told by the bible. You cannot fault her faith she is rock solid in her beliefs. Meanwhile my COE neighbours are all over the place with their beliefs.
 
The idea that religions should move with the time and be more inclusive just doesn't make sense. That's the whole point of them, that the world we live in does change but your faith and your church don't.

History could show you twenty different interpretations of Christianity.....all very different from each other.

Everything from very pacifist to very violent. Very sexually permissive to very celibate. Very rich to very poor. and so on and so forth

New Archbishop of Canterbury ? i reckon they follow the currents happening in the rest of society.
 
With you on that. You either believe the Book is the word or you do not.

All nonsense with a flimsy, unsupportive factual origin, of course, but I still have more respect for someone who genuinely thinks it all actually happened than those who think the obvious bollox like the Flood are allegory but all the bits you can't disprove (eg the unverified existence of Jesus) are true.

All a bit convenient.
The Old and New Testament bear little relation to each other.
The former is a semi historical work with ancient origins which inserts God in to explain unusual or significant events.
The latter is selling Jesus as a Demi God and saviour, offering an afterlife to all those who sign up.

It's interesting in an academic sense, but that is about it.
 
The Old and New Testament bear little relation to each other.
The former is a semi historical work with ancient origins which inserts God in to explain unusual or significant events.
The latter is selling Jesus as a Demi God and saviour, offering an afterlife to all those who sign up.

It's interesting in an academic sense, but that is about it.
Indeed, I don't see how the old testament is anything to do with Christianity. Christ clearly refuted it and I tend to think it's only there because rulers wanted it to be. A bit like most religions too. People are easier to organise and control that way.
 
the startup of many big religions is a) a charismatic cult leader who b) may or may not have had mental health problems and c) got a ton of fellas to follow them , even long after they died.


Most religions will scorn and scoff at the Competition.....but they hate it when you scoff at them. Same as football clubs.

Religion has probably got more people killed than Heroin and Cocaine combined.
 
Indeed, I don't see how the old testament is anything to do with Christianity.
I'd say quite a bit.

The Ten Commandments
adam and Eve
Monotheism

one husband with one wife.......

We are special and going to heaven.......all of that lot are losers and doomed.

---------------------------------------------

the old testament is only rarely at loggerheads with modern christianity. Unlike the Viking religion, druidism or Islam. You dont believe me ? Anybody ok with having a ton of wives ? enslaving a few people ? or making some human sacrifices ?
 
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I'd say quite a bit.
The Ten Commandments
adam and Eve
Monotheism
Yes, but not anything to do with Christ. The other religions have that - Islam and Judaism. Leave it to them, whilst Christians should concentrate on Christ. It's kind of in the name.
As I say, it's a power thing - it is not reality. The Ten Commandments are not followed at all by the Catholic church or most churches when you consider it. It's meaningless blather.
 
The Ten Commandments are not followed at all by the Catholic church or most churches when you consider it. It's meaningless blather.

even as an atheist i like the idea of "thou shalt not kill". But yes, as you say.....most of the rules are only there in the breach than the observance.....crusaders or jihadists, all still at it. ( the Bible says 'thou shalt not kill' , i really cannot comment on other religions )

David koresh had a bible in one hand and a Kalashnikov in the other. And he's not the only violent religious nutter. Impregnating all the women on behalf of God his Father.

Most religions becomes toxic, if unregulated and unbridled.


 
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Yeah but tbh so is far right 💁‍♀️
True.

Right has an economic definition and a socio political meaning.

Low taxes, small government, an emphasis on enterprise and free movement of economic elements and working for what you get etc.

The other groups in nationalism, policies on police and the justice system, border control, reproductive rights etc.

I support much of the economic with appropriate balance. A government cannot completely abrogate all its responsibilities.

The latter has a lot more scope for nasty things being done. And I suspect opinions are more a spectrum than a clear delineated right/left axis.

The vectors definitely intersect. But not always. E.g. addressing free movement through voting Leave was always a right vote to support a left policy.
 
I'd say quite a bit.

The Ten Commandments
adam and Eve
Monotheism

one husband with one wife.......

We are special and going to heaven.......all of that lot are losers and doomed.

---------------------------------------------

the old testament is only rarely at loggerheads with modern christianity. Unlike the Viking religion, druidism or Islam. You dont believe me ? Anybody ok with having a ton of wives ? enslaving a few people ? or making some human sacrifices ?
That's because Christians re-wrote the Torah as one very long prelude looking forward to the New Testament.
 

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