The beauty in religion

[explod]

Humans need direction/order/compassion and authority.
Many societies/communities exist without religion.
But none that I know of without direction/order/compassion and Authority.

It is even true of the smallest communities--- schools/workplaces/sports teams/families/partnerships and or relationships.

An insightful post.

The dilemma of course, in my view, is leadership. It would appear that there may be some real soul searching in Rome at this time and our own Cardinal seems uncomfortable.

With hard times, poverty on the increase a good cleansing of the church would be timely.

 

[Tink]

Agree, great post tech, thanks

 

[Tink]

An important time in the Christian faith is Easter, which is coming upon us now
Today, we commemorate the day that Jesus Christ died on the Cross.
We reflect on his suffering and death, his Passion and points us to a new way of living.
Infinite love for humanity.
Silence until Sunday, then the bells start ringing
The eggs symbolizing new life and celebrations.
The Passion of Christ was an excellent movie with Mel Gibson.
Hope you all have a wonderful and safe Easter

Whatever happened to MS+Tradesim?

 

[antares]

“Passover and Easter are the only Jewish and Christian holidays that move in sync, like the ice skating pairs we saw during the winter Olympics.”
~ Marvin Olasky.
So I'm needing a broker for forex, because for binary options i trade with Vault Options.

 

[Tink]

Religion has a rich history of inspiration for art, architecture and music.
There is simply too much here to cover.

http://www.all-art.org/contents.html
http://www.worldandi.com/subscribers/feature_detail.asp?num=24673

http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/
and some of our own
The Ladye Chapel at St Francis Church, Melbourne.
St Francis is Victoria's oldest Catholic Church (built 1841) and was Melbourne's initial Catholic cathedral. The Ladye Chapel was constructed between 1856-8.

St Patrick's Cathedral is the mother church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Centenary of its official opening and Consecration was marked in 1997; however, the first Mass was celebrated on the site in February 1858 in a former partially completed church, some of which was incorporated into the south aisle of the present building.

 

[Tink]

Well, now that we have come to the conclusion that education is best in the Christian schools, I think its the right time to write in this thread

Religion has always been the basis of ethics and principles, and it shows that people are still choosing religious schools over the public system

http://www.smh.com.au/national/educ...g-the-faith-20130217-2el4a.html#ixzz2UshUIzxO
Thanks McLovin for the link

Excellent posts cynic

 

[DocK]

Well, now that we have come to the conclusion that education is best in the Christian schools, I think its the right time to write in this thread

Religion has always been the basis of ethics and principles, and it shows that people are still choosing religious schools over the public system

http://www.smh.com.au/national/educ...g-the-faith-20130217-2el4a.html#ixzz2UshUIzxO
Thanks McLovin for the link

Excellent posts cynic

If you're insinuating that people are choosing Christian schools for faith-based reasons you clearly haven't interpreted the article correctly. The overriding reason parents are choosing religious-based schools is not for the religion, but in spite of it. A lot of parents simply don't want to send their children to State (public) schools, and the alternative private education arena is dominated by schools with a religious affiliation. IMO the major reasons for the increasing shift away from the public school system is for reasons of discipline - which naturally private schools can administer with less restrictions. It's also often the case that tertiary outcomes from private/religious schools are higher than those from the alternative state school in many areas - many non-religious parents who prioritise education and can afford the fees will often choose a Catholic/Anglican/Lutheran etc school only for the enhanced likelihood of a higher OP/ATR etc, and see the religious stuff as the price their kids have to pay for the good education. I'd be interested to know how many children attending a religiously affiliated school would be doing so were there a non-religious private school option available - often the local catholic school is simply the "least bad" option.

 

[Tink]

Thanks DocK
Well going by the census, I wouldnt say its too low, and the intake is 5-8% non religious.

Christianity (61.1%)
No religion (22.3%)
Undeclared (9.4%)
Buddhism (2.5%)
Islam (2.2%)
Hinduism (1.3%)
Other religions (1.2%)

Nice to see the new generation of academics coming through

 

[bellenuit]

Well, now that we have come to the conclusion that education is best in the Christian schools, I think its the right time to write in this thread.

Not too fast there. How do you account for the much higher standard of education in Scandinavian and many Asian countries. Both groups would be predominantly secular.

 

[McLovin]

I'd be interested to know how many children attending a religiously affiliated school would be doing so were there a non-religious private school option available - often the local catholic school is simply the "least bad" option.

The Catholic option is also usually significantly cheaper than all other private schools in the area. Somewhere like Marcellin in Randwick will cost ~$4k/annum, Waverly costs about ~$10k. The non-Catholic private schools in the Eastern Suburbs will cost between $25-$30k/annum. So for many families it's just not an option.

I have to take the 61% in the census with a grain of salt. It seems like a lot of people will nominally call themselves Christian as long as they don't have to do anything. The gap between those identifying as Christian and Church attendance seems to make that point. Here's some research for anyone interested.

http://mccrindle.com.au/the-mccrindle-blog/spirituality-and-christianity-in-australia-today

Over 50% say they either are not now religious or never have been. Only 27% say they are committed to the religion they were brought up in.

27% of those who identified as Christian say they are not at all active in practising.

47% Do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead. 50% believe that he was not born to a virgin. 53% do not believe he walked on water.

61% believe Jesus either did not exist or he if he did he was just an ordinary person with no divine powers and was not the son of God.

And not surprisingly, 82% said they were only slightly open or not open at all to changing their religious views.

Those sort of statistics put the census into number into relief.

 

[Ruby]

Well, now that we have come to the conclusion that education is best in the Christian schools, I think its the right time to write in this thread

I don't think we have............ you have come this conclusion Tink. Education is best in private schools - whether they are affiliated with the church or not. I have a friend who has removed his children from the local catholic school and moved them to another, non-religious school, because the education standard is much higher at the latter. Other parents in the area have done the same thing.

 

[Ruby]

Thanks DocK
Well going by the census, I wouldnt say its too low, and the intake is 5-8% non religious.

Christianity (61.1%)
No religion (22.3%)
Undeclared (9.4%)
Buddhism (2.5%)
Islam (2.2%)
Hinduism (1.3%)
Other religions (1.2%)

Nice to see the new generation of academics coming through

This 61% of people who ticked "Christianity" includes those who:-

• are 'lapsed' catholics, who openly do not believe, but who are convinced they cannot actually leave the church (such is the power of its indoctrination). These are the 'once a catholic, always a catholic' non-believers.
• were baptised as babies by parents who weren't christians, for no other reason than that it is 'what people do', and into whose lives religion has never intruded. They have only a vague idea of what Christianity is about.
• call themselves Christians because they feel a need to belong, but who, once again, don't know what Christianity is.
• need to tick a box on the form, and since we live in a 'Christian' country, it is an obvious box to tick.

There are probably lots of other categories as well.

I have a friend who insists he is a Christian, but in the same breath will say he believes when we die we rot and that is the end of it. Neither does he believe in the Christian doctrine.

I also heard someone quoted on television as saying "Christianity is a way of life" Well.... no...... Christianity is a faith; and if you don't have that faith you are not a Christian.

So........ I too take the 61% with a grain of salt.

 

[Tink]

Not too fast there. How do you account for the much higher standard of education in Scandinavian and many Asian countries. Both groups would be predominantly secular.

We were talking about Australia, werent we? That a majority go to the Christian/private schools for a good education?
Well you all agreed.

God, is this twitter and the outraged

 

[DocK]

We were talking about Australia, werent we? That a majority go to the Christian/private schools for a good education?
Well you all agreed.

God, is this twitter and the outraged

No, not outraged, just a little annoyed. You seem to be implying by this statement:

Religion has always been the basis of ethics and principles, and it shows that people are still choosing religious schools over the public system

that people are choosing religious schools over the public system because they are the basis of ethics and principles, and the natural inference is that those schools are being chosen for religiously-based reasons. I often become frustrated when religious people just assume that all good things done in the name of religion could not possibly occur without the religious backing - such as private shooling, charity work etc. I just want to make the point that sometimes those options are chosen in spite of the religious affiliation, and not because of it. I send my kids to private school, and if there weren't a non-faith based one in my area I'd sooner send them to the local Catholic school than any of the State schools in my area - and I would regard the religious stuff as a price to be endured in order for the superior discipline offered. I often give to charities run by various churches and religions - not because I have any belief in the various faiths backing them, but because I approve of the underlying purpose. I don't think I'm part of the minority in this regard.

I'm not saying religious schools don't offer a good education - just making the point that imo they'd be even better without the religion

 

[bellenuit]

We were talking about Australia, werent we? That a majority go to the Christian/private schools for a good education?
Well you all agreed.

God, is this twitter and the outraged

I clearly wasn't when I spoke of Scandinavia and Asia. And what you made was a generalised statement on Christian schools which is incorrect when a proper sample is taken that includes all demographics. There are specific historical and current reasons why this might be the case in Australia, as many have pointed out to you.

Not in the least bit outraged, but I certainly won't let pass you trying to imply that we all share a common viewpoint that is an extrapolation beyond what we we conceded and specifically when what we conceded was in relation to a specific situation.

 

[Tink]

Thanks for both your posts, abit of balance is good

I agree DocK, that the standard of education is higher and the superior discipline wins hands down, I havent met too many that didnt have the faith as well from the schools, but I am not saying there isnt.
Of course there are decent people in all, be it religious or not.

I do think having a firm grounding from home and school works together.

 

[explod]

Thanks for both your posts, abit of balance is good

I agree DocK, that the standard of education is higher and the superior discipline wins hands down, I havent met too many that didnt have the faith as well from the schools, but I am not saying there isnt.
Of course there are decent people in all, be it religious or not.

I do think having a firm grounding from home and school works together.

Great post there Tink.

What I ponder, as an artist, is first the architecture and from that point the psycological power of the churches; placed usually on a high hill they draw the people, or used to anyway, like Collingwood supporters to the MCG.

The power of a symbol is so bright that it can blind one.

But yes the home support of children to launch into life is the area lacking. Education, education, education.

 

[Tink]

Thanks for your post explod.

They are beautiful, arent they
Dont get me started on architecture and Churches, I will never leave this thread lol
The love, determination, blood, sweat and tears that were put into building those Churches says so much from so many people. They are exquisite.
How could anyone not admire them, their beauty and elegance.
They speak volumes.

The steeple points to the heavens. heavenly thoughts, and the Churches were all high on the hill so that everyone could find them in the Community and gather together.

As MS+T mentioned in a post, the rich history of architecture, art and music in religion is endless.

 

[Tink]

Yoga, TaiChi, Reiki - all buddhism
I have probably missed some
Spiritual healing, mind body and soul, meditation.

The benefits for many speak for themselves.

 

[Tink]

This week has brought to the front, footy players that use their faith in helping others, which makes me think of the person that was most involved in the Club I am a part of, Melbourne, and Jimmy Stynes.
A wonderful man that gave alot in the Community, through his faith.

Through God, and living through the teachings of Jesus, that through this journey, we are a part of each other and helping others is what its all about.

Gary Ablett has come forward this week which has caused abit of hoo-ha in this forum. He says he feels blessed to be where he is today.

Gary Ablett becomes the first Gold Coast Suns player to win a Brownlow medal. He says he wants to be a good role model for kids.
http://video.cairns.com.au/v/134738/...model-for-kids

I think its a wonderful thing, not that I know him personally, but through his faith and his achievements, he has set out to help others in the footy with their journey.
This was reported on the footy show as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlNkWSfdym4

I say good on him for being there and speaking out in what he believes in, helping others in the Club, talking through issues if they feel they need to and using his achievements to try and keep kids away from drugs and to work spiritually with them.

A good role model and mentor.

I dont remember ever seeing him in trouble or on the news hurting someone.

If he is helping one person along the way, then good for him.