Compare and contrast

[Fjgrogan]

And the same to you, Maria. For the uninitiated it means Happy Friendship Day or something like that, and no I do not speak Finnish.

[mvgrogan]

...and neither do I!!!

Mx

[Fjgrogan]

You know that and I know that - I was carefully not revealing the fact to the rest of the world!! The fascinating thing - for the rest of you out there - is watching Maria's 3 year old daughter, Hanna, who seems to have no difficulty remembering which language to speak to which set of grandparents. And I still only know part of Insey Winsey Spider in Finnish!

[Jo]

Jo - an afterthought - how sad that you and I both seem to have nothing more exciting to do on a Saturday evening than discuss religion! And it is Valentine's Day - now there is a 'Saint' who has been thoroughly secularised! In Finland they celebrate today as Friendship Day - I like that idea.

I do hope I haven't offended you?

No Frances, you haven't offended me at all. Your views seem remarkably tolerant but discussions about religion do seem to press my buttons!

Yes, I am having a Saturday evening in - actually it's the first one for about five weeks so it's quite welcome. Himself took me out for lunch rather than dinner and then we walked it off setting a treasure hunt this afternoon, so I was ready for an evening curled up with alternate doses of the computer and a good book

Friendship Day does seem a nice idea. Give the card manufacturers a whiff of it and before you know it, it'll be a fixture on the calendar

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

I find this Topic fascinating --- Why shouldn't we discuss Religion ? Always, of course, that it is not confined to one particular Faith or Sect.
I have always admired the Friends (Or Quakers) who spend much of their Worship in total SILENCE !
As regerds the Established Church--- I do find it difficult to accept the practice of Bishops of the CofE having the RIGHT to sit in the House of Lords, other leaders of Faiths, may be appointed, but there is only one RIGHT.
I think I would except The Archbishop of York, for whom I have a great admiration, but I think if he were not in the Lords he might well have got himself elected as an MP !--------Watch out -- he is of the same mould as Tu Tu !

[Fjgrogan]

Whew! I am so relieved not to have offended you, Jo. Of course when I said that bit about it not mattering how you worship as long as you do, I was quoting from a sermon, so I was (literally - an overused expression, but here I mean it literally)preaching to the converted - I assumed that the people to whom I was speaking were there as believers, and therefore ought to be expressing their belief by worshipping the God in whom they claimed to believe, and doing so in any way that they were comfortable with.

Thanks Neill - I was beginning to get worried that I seem to be interminably banging on about religion - I don't think I do so in 'real' life. Ironically it is Sunday morning and I have not been to church.

[Mid A 15]

You carry on Frances.

I think it is important such issues are discussed with the proviso that due courtesy and respect is shown to those of different opinions.

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

I have noted the name Frances Grogan --- ex- communication is imminent !
I WAS in church, this morning, and was surprised to see that the place was FULL
I asked another person "Are we hosting another Curch, from the Village ?" asuming re-decoration or roof repairs -- but I was told it they were all of "Our" Church ----- I can only imagine that, having missed a few Sundays, because of the horrible weather--- a syndrome of Guilt had set it !
Of course, this raises the old question of whether you can be a Christian -- and not go to Church --- (Hang on Frances, I imagine it was a rare occasion , I am only Joking --- Honest !)
I cannot believe, that, on the many occasions when I was out in the "Bush" or the Desert, that I ceased to be a Believer because there was no "Church" within a day's journey. Conversely I remember a Pastor being upbraided for not wearing a jacket when he was preaching ! At that same Church Meeting, I remarked that I had heared many a good Sermon, preached in a string vest with the rain hammering on a corrugated iron roof ! ------ Collapse of Stout Party !
I look forward to the next Posts !

[Jo]

You carry on Frances.

I think it is important such issues are discussed with the proviso that due courtesy and respect is shown to those of different opinions.

I quite agree - and I'm sorry I went overboard a bit. I don't in the least mind discussing religion, actually in a dispassionate way I find it quite interesting, in the same way as classical and Celtic mythology. But my parents were always somewhat embarrassed that I always came bottom in scripture exams at CH (Dad was a C of E vicar) - and that was before I lost my faith !!