As an agnostic

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Luckygirl, I doubt that they were prime plots in the days when Churches were built. The wealth in the Church of England appears to be quite complex set up as there are funds for repairs etc coming from different organisations.
Anniebach, I am finding the "people making choices" argument at the moment. My cousin did not choose to have Schizophrenia, my sister did not choose to have cystic fibrosis or the cancer that killed her, my brother made choices about how to counter the problem which he didn't ask for which was anxiety and my 3 year old innocent grandchild didn't choose to have autism. Maybe all those things were sent to test the family around them but I am finding it difficult to understand how a compassionate God could act this way. And it's not just us, look at those all killed in a Tsunami.

It is not their house to share , no one is allowed in there, with the exception of an electrician etc , this is what an enclosed order is.

icanhandthemback sorry not sure what you mean. If you mean God strickens people with illnesses I disagree.

- “if god is all-powerful he cannot be good, if god is good he cannot be all-powerful!”-

This conundrum has been debated since the dawn of time. All possible answers demand a shift in logic. They demand faith - indefinable and incomprehensible even to those who have it.

It seems to me that Jesus was saying loud and clear: do something practical for the poor. Hiding away in a convent is a huge cop-out and the antithesis of the message.

Anniebach - I know that at the Poor Clares convent in Lynton, Devon, the public can attend their mass

I understand all the practicalities annie - I am talking about a principle that says it is OK for people devoting their lives to Christianity (with its emphasis on caring for others) to live in excessive luxury when people are sleeping on the streets just up the road. The organisation backing this convent subscribes to that view - are they therefore by definition not Christian in their outlook? Seems to me they are not. They appear to have missed the point.

Luckygirl they are not hiding away they believe in the power of prayer, you don’t.

I don't suppose that these nuns will be taking in any of the homeless then?

You can believe in the power of prayer, but at the same time do as was asked at the dawn of this religion - get out there and help someone! And you can do powerful praying in an ordinary house and not a massive luxury mansion with acres of grounds whilst others starve or go to food banks. Unfortunately so far their prayers have not ended the appalling poverty to be found on the streets just a few miles away.

It seems to me that the teaching of Jesus was to get out and do stuff!

Some are called to pray, some are called to do practical things. We are all different with different skills and aptitudes. I am sure the nuns will be living simply with regard to food and bedrooms/ bathrooms etc.

Yes it seems to you, study the gospels and you will find he said more .

Because the convent is a beautiful building you assume the people living there and you don’t know are living in luxury

Christ also said ‘judge not less you be judged ‘

Even if they are living a spartan lifestyle, they have a roof over their heads, food, sanitation and medical care.

Not bad for a few prayers.

If that's judging then I make no apology. The world has moved on a great deal since these orders were created.

But we need a balance of doers and pray-ers. Both have value. Often nuns are composing services or prayers for others to use. We are all different.

Yes. They usually make their way to the Houses of Parliament nowadays.

I believe in the power of prayer to comfort, uplift, give hope etc., but there are people who live and work in the real world I would rather turn to than a few nuns who are cloistered from reality.

I am so grateful when I am told ‘ I will pray for you’ , means so much to me.

Annie Luckygirl those nuns don’t own that property , they have no say in what happens to it.
Actually in many cases the nuns do own the land. Convents were often established to provide a safe place to stash an inconvenient female family member and the land was given. The Bar Convent in York has records showing how the original land was purchased. Katy Perry had an interesting time when she tried to buy a convent in the USA. and 2 of the nuns objected. The modern concept of poverty was not always rigorously applied and many houses held rich women

In many cases ?

trisher I meant - you know The Poor Clares convents are owned by the nuns who live in them and not the mother house ?

I can't believe this vocal ping-pong about prayer and a Jewish guy who walked around with his cohorts who were fed and housed by the very people he implored others to help.
It's all a myth, a tale straight out of Hans Anderson or, more likely, the Brothers Grimm.
People cling onto something, anything as a crutch and a whipping boy, and religion fills both criteria.
'It's X's will', when things go wrong or tragedy strikes and, when things turn out well, it's put down to prayer, candles and French water.
Unbelievable.
If all the world fell on it's knees tomorrow and prayed for all those suffering ill health to be cured and peace on earth, it would have not the slightest effect, I guarantee that.
It's convenient to have something to which you can ascribe the world's ills and goodness.
Nuns who give their lives (marry Christ) to prayer...what results do we see, what difference are they making to the world? Absolutely none. Not one iota.

I believe Gabriella and you won’t change that by calling my religion a myth or saying it’s unbelievable. I believe because of what I feel inside and it may be a crutch but I thank God for it because at times it’s been the only thing that’s got me through.

It is only ping pong when the service is returned and the ball batted to and fro. Stop replying and the exchange will fade away.

The nunnery will be owned by the Catholic Church Luckgirl, the nuns will have no power over its use.

You are entitled to your view Gabriella but many millions throughout the world have different beliefs.