I read the article on Page 16 of the recent mag with interest as a practicing Christian.
Its a great shame that some minority individuals will use faith text to justify actions, or choose to use it as a cover for abusive behaviour.
I think the article is good and it is important to have that dialogue with individuals to explore their faith. I know that as a 'faith person' whilst there are core beliefs, there are also areas where different views can be held and this is further complicated by individual interpretations, maturity, and teaching (or lack of).
I would also suggest that in such cases, time permitting that workers also try to establish:
It would then be possible to consider, if the individual was misinformed/unlearned and willing to accept correction from the faith leadership or to explore that for themselves.
I should imagine most faith leaders would be willing to talk to workers about such issues, and it may suggest areas of teaching and support which they can offer to their own communities.
Your third paragraph highlights the dilemmas - different groups have different interpretations, sometimes in the absolute evidence of scripture to support them.
A useful exercise would be look in the Bible for what a 'soul' can do and you would then struggle with the concept of an immortal soul.
The Pope sets himself up as being infallible so all Roman Catholics as true believers would have to oppose abortion and contraception.
This will just excite Stuart to come back again! There is an exisiting extremely lengthy and detailed thread already.
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/carespace/forums/respect-for-others-faith-538.aspx
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/carespace/forums/marvellous-4380.aspx
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/carespace/forums/should-we-ban-religious-worship-in-schools-3478.aspx#12374
Thread for fantasists.
Glad to see your contribution!!!
Peter Smith, (Archbishop of Southwark) just related a little tale of prudence, of how his mother wanted a washing machine and was told by her husband, she could not have it on HP because he would not go into debt. So they waited until they could afford it.
He could be right about the debt bit but what are the implications regarding feminism? Hardly a holistic man. (This was in the fifties so I am guessing as to who did the washing.)
This man is ministering to his flock and probably hasn't a clue as to what it's ALL about. Religion stinks.
Maybe if I had religion to guide me I would be more accepting of inequalities and less likely to be a troublemaker.
I think that's where I am going wrong.
That is a very profound comment 'Redana' - however in the Bible Jesus whilst accepting death when he had done no wrong equally threw out the 'money changers' - the 'bankers' of his day - from the temple.
It is about the right balance.
Rupert M: That is a very profound comment 'Redana' - however in the Bible Jesus whilst accepting death when he had done no wrong equally threw out the 'money changers' - the 'bankers' of his day - from the temple. It is about the right balance.
Wasn't Jesus all about forgiving?
I went to Sunday school and my only memory is of being hit on the knuckles by a ruler. So maybe this is where I went wrong. I'm a lost cause.
One of my children decided to go to the schools 'God Club' and went for 2 terms. They began to question some of the teachings, saw a fair few contradictions and decided it wasn't for them. I said nothing. (Not easy for me).
And why does there appear to be a "RupertM' filter on the 'site activity' list?
No-one is a lost cause - where there's life there's hope!
redana: Maybe if I had religion to guide me I would be more accepting of inequalities and less likely to be a troublemaker. I think that's where I am going wrong.
No, where you are going wrong is making snide and ill-informed comments like this (I don't find anything remotely "profound" about it, myself). Faith-based 'troublemaking' and resistance to inequality is as old as the Old Testament. prophets and then some I can think, off the top of my head and without any effort, of well over a score of campaigners [ both individuals and groups] for social justice merely in the last few decades whose radical roots lay in their faith (mostly Christian, which reflects my own Western-based knowledge, but I'm sure research would dig up some more), some of whom lost their lives (and many who suffered other losses) in pursuit of it. Too much I suppose to expect an apology to their shades?
And before someone helpfully jumps in with counter-examples, yes. I'm aware of those too. My point is, that the idea of religion as automatically conservative and quiescent is offensively incorrect. One might as well start quoting Darwinians on the subject of eugenics and the survival of the fittest as applied to human society and evolutionary ethologists trying to make excuses for infidelity and rape. The one does not imply the other.
By the way, the whole title of this thread is odd - the phrase Suffer [the] Little Children is taken way out of context (maybe it's intended to illustrate the point) - it's meaning is "allow them" (in that case, to approach Jesus and not be shut out)
Oh dear 'maryeldon' - "The gall of bitterness" springs to mind. There was nothing 'snide' or 'ill-informed' about 'redana's' comment - but rather perusing the concept of 'what / if' - you have leapt in with your own agenda I fear.
Where you are correct is the mis-informed understanding of the biblical phrase which you helpfully explained!
And, of course, there is no excuse for infidelity and rape other than giving in to sin and lust - but that also over-simplifies rape which is also much about power and dominace, even hatred. All religions I know would utterly condemn rape - the misuse of what some people think religion teaches is no reason to condemn those who do seek to follow 'true religion and undefiled.'
Maryeldon; I am sorry if I have offended you.
Rupert M: This will just excite Stuart to come back again! There is an exisiting extremely lengthy and detailed thread already. http://www.communitycare.co.uk/carespace/forums/respect-for-others-faith-538.aspx http://www.communitycare.co.uk/carespace/forums/marvellous-4380.aspx http://www.communitycare.co.uk/carespace/forums/should-we-ban-religious-worship-in-schools-3478.aspx#12374
Actually Rupert you misjudge me.
I'm afraid I can no longer be bothered with the circular and predictable waste of time that religion based threads on carespace quickly become.
You'll just have to muddle along without me.
Cheers,
Stuart
Visit my blog at http://stuartsorensen.wordpress.com/
Rather like the atheistic alternatives!!!
Anyway, Stuart, I think that you have a lot to contribute and this thread raises a really important issue of misuse of belief systems.
Rupert M: Rather like the atheistic alternatives!!! Anyway, Stuart, I think that you have a lot to contribute and this thread raises a really important issue of misuse of belief systems.
Not biting Rupert.
Sorry.