I'm not a Telegraph reader nor do I like where the present stream inside the Church of England is heading us towards. The collar isn't about being collared
I'd have thought you'd be delighted that someone in the Church is trying to get a new generation of church goers to go through the door. What's the alternative? Doing the same as they've always done, alienating would-be worshippers? Being a staid, po-faced institution has already seen the decline of the number of churches; why do you think they are closing? Where I work, I see two former churches. One is now a charity shop, the other a buddist temple. Why have they closed as churches? Because lesser numbers want to get bored half to death listening to an old codger droning on.
@jackieash Nah, I'm just living the good life here. I'm sure that you're young and experienced enough to be fooled. Go ahead. You have your day and that will pass too. Give it a go. I'll be still here working away at actually helping people
If she is more competent in child safeguarding, community relations and basic governsnce than the average CofE incumbent, she should be welcomed as a positive step in the right direction of reform and restitution for historical abuses.
The Telegraph is well known for disliking any cultural change that came about after the end of conscription and even before that was reeling from the death of servants knowing their place. It's good to know it has something else to upset people who don't set foot in church between Christmases and give them an opinion at the sherry parties or the Lodge.
@FreddieUK It reminds me a bit of the 1960s, when I were but a lad in my teens.
All those Disgusteds of Tunbridge Wells, and the likes of Malcom Muggeridge* on Any Questions, pontificating about the world ending thanks to all these long-haired layabouts and their dreadful "Beat Music". I don't recall them criticising girls for wearing these 'ere new-fangled miniskirts though.
Years later I realised some of those embittered old men were probably jealous, really, as well as unable to cope with change anyway.
They'd come from years marked generally by dull uniformity, limited choices, poor health, polluted air, bad teachers, bad working pay and conditions, men dying only a year or so after retiring; then of course a World War in which many had served, seen and done truly dreadful things; and the Austerity Years.
Now all of a sudden they saw teenagers enjoying life in their own ways!
Obviously those getting all hot-and-bothered here about a priest having long hair and loosened dog-collar had nothing like that horrible background (at least I hope they didn't); but still hint at disliking change and youth.
Of course, the real reason for their dislike might be that the priest in question is a woman.
A few years ago one female SW user was right ratty with me, simply because I'd admitted having attended the ordination to deacon of a long-time friend who happens to be a woman. As if I run the Church of England.
.......
*Malcom Muggeridge. 1903 -1990. Journalist, author, satirist. Initially holding Communist sympathies he reported from Moscow, but later succeeded in revealing the USSR -forced famine in Ukraine. Became a Roman Catholic, at least rather nominally; and came to dislike intensely "pot and pills" (cannabis and the contraceptive pill, as if some sort of link).
@ArishMell I remember Malcolm Muggeridge well. He used to appear on television a lot, as you say and comment on modern culture as it was then. The irony was that he boasted about not having a television set but still felt able to comment on what was the main cultural expression of its time. One of his expressions was, "I've had my aerials removed." Very droll.
I think the older generation complaining about the younger generation has been a thing since Socrates. It's also true the other way around. The younger generation knows that they know far more than the older generation who were very stupid to do what they did. Then one day, quite unexpectedly and by surprise, they find they ARE the older generation and people are saying the same thing about them. That's my experience anyway.
You are doing it again:you are judging her without knowing anything about her.
Stay focus on the topic of discussion between you and me. We are not talking about a specific third party. We are examining your clarity of perception and ability to think.
Your last sentence openly states you believe she has no professional standing; despite having already said you don't care about her.
My last sentence was "I doubt she has any grasp of divinity". If you disagree, then tell me what divinity means to you. I believe that it is possible to judge a book by its cover. The picture of that slut with a loose collar spoke volumes to me. Does she reflect divinity to you? If she does, then tell me what divinity is all about.
I don't know anything about her either, so I don't try to "validate" her theological knowledge. I know only she likely knows far more about Christianity (and possibly other faiths) than I do.
Leave her out of this conversation which is a disagreement between you and me about divinity.
She will have studied it. I haven't. Have you? Are you a priest?
I did study the teaching of Jesus when I was in the novitiate studying to be a Jesuit.
You have nothing to attack the woman for, yet you delight in doing so. Why?
I was not attacking anyone. This conversation is about divinity and sacrilege.
Thank you for saying you have studied at least some theology, and I respect your having chosen to do so, but you are the one accusing anyone - a priest at that - of "sacrilege" for no reason and with no evidence.
Thank you for saying you have studied at least some theology, and I respect your having chosen to do so, but you are the one accusing anyone - a priest at that - of "sacrilege" for no reason and with no evidence.
@FrugalNoodle TOTALY agree with you!!! On this part of subject matter, ALL churches have the evil born in them. WE are the church. The buildibgs decay, tge doctrines get twisted and God gets left out so yes the devil is already in " churches"
@BritishFailedAesthetic The Church of England fully permits women to be ordained as deacons, priests (pastors/vicars), and bishops. Women have been able to serve as priests since 1994, and as bishops since 2014
@BritishFailedAesthetic Julian of Norwich, or even Hildegard of Bingen and Teresa of Avila. Plenty of women in that thick layer of faith history. Somehow you forget that God is actually whispering more too
