[Livia]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

We could just change the name to Xmas

Stop making trouble Niamh, or I'll come over there...

[ChristmasNeeve]

Originally Posted by Livia

Stop making trouble Niamh, or I'll come over there...

..for Xmas dinner? No problem

Lets go the whole hog and have triple xmas.

[GiRTh]

Xmas sounds good to me.

[In the Drunk Tank]

Well I guess Christmas as we know it has lots of different roots which are just as much cultural as religious, a lot of the celebrations have always been quite secular in a way, all the eating and drinking and extravagance is part of the reason it used to be the more godly sort who frowned on it so much

[Kizzy]

Witches were drowned..They said at the time 'Yule be sorry'..... *Maniacal laughter*

[arista]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Witches were drowned..They said at the time 'Yule be sorry'..... *Maniacal laughter*

Yes Evil Church.

[Kizzy]

Whatever you choose to put your 'faith' modern life has very little to do with the trappings of church for many.
Maybe too the likes of 'reverend' Flowers and the frequent exposures of the dark side of Catholicism make it hard for some to see the benefit?

[Stu]

I love celebrating the pagan bits .

[arista]

[Niall]

Given the often backwards and intolerant nature of the Church, I can't say I sympathise with them. Hopefully it'll push them in the right direction of modernisation, and to re-think the issues with which they are deeply misguided. Organised religion nearly always tends to be rather toxic anyway..

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Niall

Given the often backwards and intolerant nature of the Church, I can't say I sympathise with them. Hopefully it'll push them in the right direction of modernisation, and to re-think the issues with which they are deeply misguided. Organised religion nearly always tends to be rather toxic anyway..

The Church is not intolerant, it has beliefs and written scriptures that go back 2 millennia ....But it has compromised and we thankfully see gay people and women bishops now....the positives from the Church are simply enormous as they bring communities together, help feed and clothe the hungry and the charity and missionary work helps millions worldwide

[Niall]

Originally Posted by the truth

The Church is not intolerant, it has beliefs and written scriptures that go back 2 millennia ....But it has compromised and we thankfully see gay people and women bishops now....the positives from the Church are simply enormous as they bring communities together, help feed and clothe the hungry and the charity and missionary work helps millions worldwide

Coming from a Catholic upbringing I don't agree one bit. Women are still discriminated against at all levels of the clergy, and don't even get me started on how they treat LGBT people (granted Pope Francis made some positive remarks, but it wasn't exactly a firm step forward either). Not to mention the fact that the very same organisation until three years ago, still promoted unprotected sex despite AIDS being a huge issue for a plethora of countries.

So in my opinion, the Church may have come a substantial way, but it hasn't come far enough. There's a hell of a lot more it could stand to do to improve itself.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Niall

Coming from a Catholic upbringing I don't agree one bit. Women are still discriminated against at all levels of the clergy, and don't even get me started on how they treat LGBT people (granted Pope Francis made some positive remarks, but it wasn't exactly a firm step forward either). Not to mention the fact that the very same organisation until three years ago, still promoted unprotected sex despite the AIDS being a huge issue for a plethora of countries.

So in my opinion, the Church may have come a substantial way, but it hasn't come far enough. There's a hell of a lot more it could stand to do to improve itself.

Youre a Catholic and I agree with you on these facets of the religion , they need to keep on sorting that out, Im a Methodist so we veer off a little on these matters. I am 100% in favour of women , disabled, black, whatever Bishops, priests etc etc etc I also abhor the promotion of unprotected sex, yet another thing Christ did not teach.

[Kizzy]

Blessed be!

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Blessed be!

The great aneurin bevan who gave us the NHS and built 1 million social houses was a devout Christian as are so many other wonderful people... The Christian church feeds, clothes and saves millions of people worldwide. sadly all this is ignored in favour of a miniscule amount of perverts in the Church, a same level of perversion we see in every organization in the world. The good the Church does outweighs the bad by a zillion to one. The atheists can burn every Church down and celebrate their hatred. But the Christian beliefs will still live on in the hearts and minds of the billions of Christians

[Kazanne]

I find churches quite comforting and peaceful.i don't get caught up in all the religious hoo ha,I have my belief which I don't force on others, so for me a church is a place to reflect and think.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

I find churches quite comforting and peaceful.i don't get caught up in all the religious hoo ha,I have my belief which I don't force on others, so for me a church is a place to reflect and think.

Yes as a Disco it will have a Chill Section for you

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by arista

Yes as a Disco it will have a Chill Section for you

Stop it arista,otherwise I might have to incur the wrath of God on youhe IS a bigger force than you.

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

Stop it arista,otherwise I might have to incur the wrath of God on youhe IS a bigger force than you.

Which God?

Zeus? Mars? Hera? Horus? Athena? Dionysius? Heket? Ra? Thor? Acan? Ah Tabai? Gukumatz? Raven?

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Simple Minds

Which God?

Zeus? Mars? Hera? Horus? Athena? Dionysius? Heket? Ra? Thor? Acan? Ah Tabai? Gukumatz? Raven?

This one

Spoiler:

[Kizzy]

I don't see anyone rejoicing in it but it's understandable how it's happened, there will always be Christians, but maybe Christianity just won't be the multi million pound organisation it was?

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I don't see anyone rejoicing in it but it's understandable how it's happened, there will always be Christians, but maybe Christianity just won't be the multi million pound organisation it was?

Look at the world, most organizations need money....these wonderful buildings don't pay for themselves neither does missionary work....But ultimately the beliefs will ensure it rises again against the current mindless self defeating cowardice of Christian bashing

[Stu]

Read in Christian Bale's Batman voice it makes for quite the experience.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Stu

Read in Christian Bale's Batman voice it makes for quite the experience.

another non-contribution