Christian Grans

I clicked on the link and got the gist but I am waiting until tomorrow, when I am fresh, to go over the article in detail.

I clicked on the link and got the gist but am waiting until I am fresh tomorrow to read it properly. Looks interesting.

Oh, two posts where I only meant one.

Well I'm on hols for a week. I hope I can keep up with next batch of pages when I return.

Have a good break, Mice. Perhaps when you get back, this thread might have run its course...

Just had an email from DGS1 to say that a string ensemble he plays with, (GU Pro Musica), is performing along with the Chapel Choir next Tuesday, playing Vivaldi's St Luke Magnifcat. It'll be in the Chapel, so the webcam www.chapelchoir.org/live-webcam.html will be on, so you can see him playing! He will be in the 3rd desk of the first violins, and in full-on dinner suit, white bow tie etc, (plus ponytail) which will be interesting.... He is now off out to get hinself a white bow tie.

They will probably also have the dress rehearsal there earlier in the day, so there are two chances to catch it.

Last February the Kelvin Ensemble, which he also plays in, gave a rousing version of Fingals Cave and Land of the Mountain and the Flood from the chapel. I managed to post about it just in time for several Gners to watch the webcam.

Unfortunately, both their concerts this year are being played elsewhere. However, it seems every Tuesday the Chapel Choir are doing 'Choral Contemplations' in the Chapel: www.chapelchoir.org/calendar.html

I haven't read the whole thread (but I will go back and read) and I apologise if it has, as was said, run its course and do not intend to rake it up butI am also someone who is shocked in general, in day to day life by the vehemence of atheists, or non believers or whatever they describe themselves as, towards believers of any faith, especially Christians. It almost seems that Religious Faith is looked upon as some form of mental illness and that it is something that children should be shielded from at all times. I've seen many a post on mumsnet almost boasting that 'religion is banned in this house' and yet they all go crazy when people tell their kids Santa isn't real. I don't get that.

I am a little puzzled. You say you do not want to rake up this thread, which has long since been settled - so why are you?

Bit sharp, Greatnan?

The post Greatnan was responding to was a bit sharp too. And there's another sharp post on another thread by the same person

Besides, the penultimate sentence about Santa in non-religious households is tosh.

It's fine to resurrect a thread if you want to.

Anyway, this one has a seasonal twist to it.

Not sure I would link Father Christmas and God if I were a Christian though, since at least one of them is a fictional character .

Luckily this is the season of peace and goodwill!

Nice one, Petallus!

Is it, petallus, or is that just what we're told? Can't say I've noticed any difference from other times of the year, except perhaps for more stories about family members falling out with each other

Both the god that is being talked about (what about all the others?) and Santa are fictional characters.

Well I intend to behave as though it is Bags.

As an atheist I would agree about Gods being fictional of course but I like to leave a small space because I'm adamantly certain about very few things in this life.

My point was that there is agreement (unless you are a young child) about the fictional nature of one but this is not the case for the other.

It isn't the season of peace and goodwill yet. It is the season of penitence and preparation (or will be very soon). Christmas used to be a 12 day festival and is now apparently 12 weeks. I really, really like Christmas but I'm finding this prequel makes me anything but peaceful and well-disposed.

In spite of often discussing contentious issues and putting forward views that disagree with others, I aim to make my whole life one of peace and goodwill. This period of the year is no different from any other as far as that's concerned. I find all seasonal tat (religious and otherwise) a bit annoying at times, but I just ignore it as much as possible.

Likewise repentance does not need a special season. If I realise I've done something wrong, I'm sorry for it straight away.

Obviously one doesn't need to prepare for the birthday of a god one doesn't believe in so that bit doesn't affect me one way or the other. I presume that's what you meant by preparation, lily?

Great Scot! How did this thread get resurrected from the dead? I thought it had been gently laid to rest along with most other threads involving robust debate.

Lilygran - I thought my question was perfectly reasonable. Why would anyone want to resurrect a thread that has been dormant and has the potential to cause dissent? Especially somebody who claims to be a member of a religion devoted to spreading harmony and peace.
It has been repeatedly explained that some of us regard most religions as not only fallacious but frequently harmful, but nobody has ever been personally aggressive towards any other member. Why not just leave it at that?
I think I am the peacemaker here!

Oh. I should have looked back a bit.

I'm with petallus . As long as a thread is still there in the long list, it can't be considered dead. And there's no rule against resurrection. Although some posters might not believe in it.

Bags, I am humbled. I can only aspire to achieve the high morality which you embody on all occasions in your everyday life.

As I've remarked before, the church is a church of sinners, that's why I'm there.

Perhaps we need an archive? For dead or moribund threads.

The difference between Santa and God is that children, sooner or later, outgrow their belief in one of them. Many of us also outgrow (or never had) belief in the other.

Unless anybody posts something which personally attacks any other member I will no longer post on this thread, as I think everything has been said that could be useful.