General Chat

Hal I think you must be going back a long time - we weren't given a bible when we left school and I'm going back nearly 30 years! We were taught RI though as a lesson once a week. The only place you were given a bible was at Sunday School and that's how I think it should be. Debby

I agree about the negative and downright stupid things being highlighted by the media etc. I dont know about anyone else but when i read this stuff i usually dont take it too seriously. I also believe that its a good thing overall that steps have been made to make things easier for 'minority groups'. Believe me its not a nice experience to be spat on - is that how you say it lol by youths when youre going into a shop for being a bit different.

Sorry to harp on again but yet another council had done the PC thing and banned Chrismas. Havant Borough Council removed the word from the turning on of the lights ceremony and at the same time scored an own goal by re-naming the ceremony the Festival of Lights. As can be imagine, this has upset the Hindus as this is the name for Dewali, which was celebrated on the 1st November. The have also closed and removed Santa's Grotto from the town shopping centre, with the excuse that it posed a fire risk. Local Christian leaders have warned that the move will have damaging consequences for community relations. When will it end?

To quote a very wise old lady (My Gran) 'Mark my words, it will all end in tears.'

We are taking things on the chin, its only a matter of time before we will all sit back and think, What have they done???

Jim and Roxanne, I am afraid that it is now only a matter of time before it will all blow up in someones face, big time too , and for all the wrong reasons. What is even more galling that we the tax and rate payer are actually paying these idiots to sit there and make these ludicrous decisions. I have just been looking at my companies DDA CBT course that we all have to take and pass and it is a complete joke, all bout being PC and using the correct words. Don't get me wrong but I am all for discrimination against disability, but this PC stuff is complete rubbish. Aparently there is no longer a definition of a disabled person, it will be for the courts to decide. Apparently if you are not sure if someone is disabled, then you must assume the are (just in case it goes to court) Do you know why all the train doors are painted in adifferent colour these days? To make them look attractive? To keep the flies away? No it is to prevent people who have impaired sight from walking into the side of the carriage. I rest my case.

Pat HOW DARE YOU ! The word porkies IS offensive to piggys !! lololololololololol !! Elaine x

Debby, When I began at my grammar school in 1960, I was given a Bible, a prayer book and a hymn book, and we were all expected to look after them and use them throughout the time we were at the school, then we were allowed to keep them when we left. However, it was a Church of England school, so maybe it wasn't common practice in all schools. --- I don't see that it's wrong to teach religion in schools, but I do think that all religions should be covered, as there are now so many people who practise different ones living in the UK these days. However, I think that any family that strongly adheres to any religion is duty bound to teach the children of that family their own religion, and not rely on schools for that. It's very important that children are taught some kind of moral code, and that's something that the main religions do. Maybe if more emphasis were given to teaching right and wrong in a general sense (and the 10 Commandments are a good example), we'd not have so many anti-social, amoral people around these days. CB >|<

My son attended the sixth form of of our city Cathedral School, Kings, which has its origins back to the time of Henry 8th It is without question a Church of England School of the first order, and no one pretends otherwise. However many of the pupils in the school today, which incidentally now has selection by ability only, are non-Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish Seikh, etc - and it is their choice to attend, knowing it is a christian school. Services are held regularly in the Cathedral and all are invited. Many non-christiands welcome the opportinity to attend and do so willingly. as they see this as a way of strengthening their own faiths, be learning mor about others. When they leave all pulips receive a Bible, or other book of their own faith if they wish. There is no racism, no one takes offence because of other's beliefs, or what they might say, and no one tries to impose their ideals on others. Surely this is the way we should live together?

I attended a multi faith Grammar school and left in 1986 - we got Bibles!

That's interesting HF as you're from Bradford aren't you? I attended Bingley Grammar 1972 - 1977 and don't remember receiving a bible! I'm beginning to wonder if my memories are failing me? Debby

Debby, I was born in Halifax and went to school there (moved to Bradford in 1993). Jacquie

Oops Elaine :-( Apologies to Piggy's I don't mean any offence to them, I quite like them, and I don't mean for dinner. lol. Pat x

Hi Ruby I didn't know about the Muslims having stories about Abraham & Isaac - you learn something new every day don't you:)) I didn't get a Bible when I left senior school either and that was a Church of England school. Hiya Sheila:) Do you think political correctness or whatever you want to call it has made things better in that sense? I think at least we have recourse in the law so it's got to have helped a bit hasn't it? Peter Havant Council haven't banned Christmas - that statement is worthy of a headline from the Sun:) They're calling the Christmas lights something different with the idea of making it more inclusive to non Christians. I'm sorry if they've offended Hindis but the intention was well meant wasn't it? I can't see that it's doing any harm myself given that we can hardly be called a Christian country anymore. I don't know which religion in this country has the highest weekly attendance but I'd be very interested to hear:) Am I the only person who actually thinks it's a good thing if train doors are painted different colours so that it's easier for people with impaired eyesight to find??? Are you suggesting it's a bad thing that life is made easier for people?!

David, 1. Havant Council and those like them have lost the plot, are wasting taxpayers money and are doing nothing to futher community relations. They should be censured by the audit comission. 2.Probably yes. How many people with impaired sight do you know who have benfited from having train doors painted orange? Do you know how many thousands millions this has cost the industry unecessarily? Money that could have been better spent on bringing real benefits to the people who need them.

David, Im sorry but as far as Im concerned 'Britain' is a Christian country!! and Im sure alot more people think like this, yes I do welcome other faiths but the religion of the country is 'CHRISTIANITY'!! I would like to see 'saudi Arabia' saying'well we have alot of Christians here so we arent really a muslim country anymore'!! You cant even walk down a street in saudi with a cross on, if you did you would be warned by the 'religious Police'.

Good subject, and for me , camberwell beauty says it all, well said CB.

Hi David that is why I said a while back that Christians have more in common with Muslims than they think or some care to acknowledge. I find it incredible that some people do not realise that Muslims hail Jesus as a Prophet His name in Arabic is Isa, and his mother Mary is Miriam. He is known as the divine honorable Prophet. A lot of the Bible stories are in the Quran & also in the Tanakh. Pat x

Pat, I actually know that, I also know that the Jews have alot in common with 'Islam' too, they both have a link to 'Abraham' or as the 'muslims call him'Ibrahim'.,:-))

Poscript to 'Havant It was actually the Daily Express which had the story, not the Sun. Headline reads:- Yes, it's hard to believe, but now Santa AND Christmas lights have been banned.