Absolutely

You've got to pick your battles Irene and stop getting outraged on other people's behalf. It's a massive waste of energy.

I notice with some amusement that it is always the atheists, agnostics and other assorted "non-believers" who seem to be the ones with all the ideas about changing religions.

Yes that is exactly why church attendance has diminished to an all time low.

Why do you assume that I am any of the above and am outraged fighting "other people's " battles?

My synagogue's never been busier.

I am not assuming, the clue was in the words you wrote. The church should change, everyone should be allowed to marry or do whatever they want, divorced people are being discriminated against... Isn't that what you're saying then?

Sorry I was referring to the Christian faith .

Oh I see. So Judaism is okay then? Not marrying gay people... it's just the Christians you're mad at?

I know very little about the Jewish faith I am from a christian background. I am not qualified to comment.

From that you assume I am agnostic etc. etc.? So you believe that everyone but the church should be heartily "discouraged" from discriminatory actions?

Right. So you think that the Christians should be a special case and that legislation should make them marry gay people. But Judaism, Islam and all the other religions should be treated differently? Surely if one religion is forced to do something the others are not, then you're discriminating against Christians?

No, I think you should know a little more about what it is you're discussing before you engage in a debate. It's you yourself who are championing discrimination against Christians.

I do not believe that any religious sect should be allowed to discriminate. As my studies have never encompassed any of the religions you mention I am commenting on the" faith" that I was subjected to.

You are entitled to have an opinion and express yourself however you wish irene, I thought it was the LGBT christians that wanted the changes made, so they could marry in church?
Why that suggests atheists and agnostics are exempt from comment I don't know...

Sorry Kizzmas you have lost me. I seem to being accused of some weird stuff here.

No one is suggesting you aren't entitled to your say, Irene. It's just rather amusing that by demanding Christians change their rules and not that all religions do, you make your argument look a little weak. I have never studied Islam but I think if one religion is made to allow gays to marry, then I think all religions should, including Islam. Or your are discriminating. Isn't that kind of clear to you?

I'm sorry but your argument does not seem rational. Are you saying that all the worlds religions should have identical dogmas? I really do not understand what you mean. The disparities between different religions are many fold surely? For instance when I have attended our local synagogue the ladies were all seated separately to the gentlemen. This is not so in Christian churches. C of E accepts divorce, Catholics do not. Please try to discuss this without being aggressive because I am genuinely interested and found your sarcasm quite off putting.

I said the same last night on this issue, nobody can or should change an existing religion.
Politics has no place meddling, however everyone is entitled to an opinion, I am not a christian but that should not mean that my view on this means any less.
As a democracy everyone is equal regardless of what their beliefs are.

The many offshoots of Christianity can and have changed down the centuries.

Will you tell me why my last post to Livia has been deleted?

Yes they have, and some are more tolerant than others, fair play to them.
However, why should westminster stamp on those who are not, it's not a faith then is it?
it becomes an enforced regime.

:suspect:

Well I suppose the problem is that the CofE are still technically the official Church in this country and we don't have complete separation of church and state, that makes the gay marriage question even more difficult because they are seen as conducting marriages on behalf of the state, and if they're against marrying same sex couples than it's problematic to legalise it

No I believe they become less discriminatory. A majority of congregants are for this change just as they are for women priests.

The funny thing is though. It's often Atheists that have more knowledge on Religion than the so called Religious people (Not on about you). I don't like to engage in Religious debates anymore but often in ends up in Theists deflecting, that's why I don't bother.