pie-eater 207 Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 Any ideas? Free beer and snacks perhaps. Christianity is just a “generation away from extinction” in Britain unless churches make a dramatic breakthrough in attracting young people back to the faith, the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has warned. Clergy are now gripped by a “feeling of defeat”, congregations are worn down by “heaviness” while the public simply greets both with “rolled eyes and a yawn of boredom”, he said. His comments at a Christian conference came as a stark report laid before the Church of England’s General Synod warned that its position as a “national institution” will be in doubt if numbers in the pews drop much further. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, also underlined the scale of the crisis telling members of the Synod they must “evangelise or fossilise”. In an impassioned plea for Church to adopt a new missionary stance, he told them that their constant internal debates were like no more than “rearranging furniture when the house is on fire”. He called for an ambitious campaign aimed at the “re-evangelisation of England”, on a par with the ministry of the northern saints such as Cuthbert, Hilda and Aidan who spread Christianity in Anglo-Saxon times. The Synod responded by voting to set up a committee. Lord Carey's warning came as he addressed the Shropshire Light Conference at Holy Trinity Church in Shrewsbury at the weekend discussing how the church could be “re-imagined”. The former Archbishop said while the church is doing much important work, it faces an existential challenge. “In many parts of Britain churches are struggling, some priests are diffident and lack confidence; a feeling of defeat is around. “The burden seems heavy and joy in ministry has been replaced by a feeling of heaviness.” He said that the reaction from the public was not so much hostile as dismissive. Looking ahead, if it comes to the worst, I hope they keep the buildings though, they are nice. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Do they not already provide free wine and thin savoury wafers? Albeit a stingy amount? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Some are coming up with novel ways of attracting parishioners. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Why save it? In fact, please don't save it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Time to ditch the hymns and pews and go full-on roller disco with Cliff. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Time to lock the doors for good Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Why save it? In fact, please don't save it. Couldn't agree more. The fact that people continue, in the 21st century, to believe in ancient myths about the supernatural and paranormal is utterly ridiculous. Deluded fools every last one of them. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Blasphemy Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 can only be blasphemy if you are a believer Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Blasphemy Thankfully we live in a county where there is separation of church and state and our secular laws don't include blasphemy any longer. Sure we have a long history though where those who didn't believe in religious fairytales were discriminated against, persecuted, incarcerated, tortured and murdered but those days are long gone in most countries and we atheists can finally speak out against the stupidity that is religion. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Profanity Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Why don't we get rid of all religions and be done with it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Why don't we get rid of all religions and be done with it. and no possessions too Link to post Share on other sites
surfarthur 22 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 No, we need some possessions (after all, my snowboard is a possession) Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Imagine all the people, living life in peace.... You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 You're a dreamer, Winter Vacation. But you're not the only one. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Why don't we get rid of all religions and be done with it. Amen brother!! Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Someday I hope you will join us, And the world will live as one. Link to post Share on other sites
surfarthur 22 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Sounds good WV. As long as I can keep my snowboard. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Ah people asking questions Lost in confusion Well, I tell them, there's problem Only solutions. Link to post Share on other sites
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