Christmas begins with Christ...

What has come to be known as the 'atheist bus campaign' can be seen up and down the country now. This years message shows the picture of some rather happy and healthy looking kids, with the tag line 'please don't label me, let me grow up and chose for myself'. The irony is not lost on the fact that the happy and healthy chidren portrayed are from a prominant Christian family!

Personally I like these campaigns, as they get people talking about God and religion in a new way. Last years campaign, 'there is PROBABLY no God, now stop worrying and enjoy yourself', was a rather infantile attempt to undermine monotheistic religion, but it had a counter effect. 'Probably; is hardly a definitive statement, and not one I would have thought a hardline atheist like Dawkins would want to put his name to... but he did! Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?

This years campaign is a little more clever and wickedly subtle as it utilises the innocent (a child) and uses a subconscious weapon of attack on ones deeply held morals and fears. The hidden message here is of course, that to give a child a religious 'label' is to somehow take away the dignity of the freedom he/she was born with, and to take away a childs dignity and freedom is of course an abuse. So in this campaingn we have the subtle notion of abuse, together with the image of an innocent child used in a public advertising campaign aimed at undermining religion, but particularly Christianity. This is a campaign which is aimed at breeding suspiscion and fear (though subconscioulsy) in the minds of the unsuspecting public.

I need say no more, but read between the lines, the message is not what it seems and is I think dangerously damaging. Of course labelling a child an 'atheist' or 'humanist', is perfectly okay, is'nt it?

Father Ray Blake has a helpful comment here: http://marymagdalen.blogspot.com/2009/11/valueless-children.html

Countering this campaign, Churchads.net is running a superb national scheme aimed at putting the Christmas message on bus shelters, radio and other media. Their resources are excellent and can be found here: http://www.churchads.net/.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

A few weeks ago my microwave stopped working, it’s one of those built in ones so not easily or affordably replaced, so I decided to do without. What hardship this has caused me! Instead of zapping my ‘baked’ potato in 10 minutes, I have to really bake it for 90 minutes. Now, instead of ‘nuking’ my veggies for 3 minutes, I have steam them for 25 minutes. Now instead of sending millions of ‘micro-waves’ through my milk for my hot chocolate in 3 minutes, I have to simmer it on the hob for 10 minutes... What hardship indeed!

Don’t we live though, in a ‘microwave society’, where everything we want is available right now, where waiting is a great hardship and an unnecessary frustration, getting in the way of living and all the other things we could be getting on with? John Lennon said: ‘life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans’ – that wouldn’t sound out of place in the Wisdom of Solomon!

Advent is about recognising that life which so often passes us by due to our busyness, due to our desire to have things now, right this minute. Advent is about waiting, in silent expectation for the gift of the Christ-child at Christmas, who won’t be hurried, who will come in his own good time to make his home in our hearts once again.

As we wait for God and wait on God, we do so poised to hear the angelic salutation ‘Glory to God in the highest and peace to all people on earth’; we hear the excitement of the ragged band of shepherds; the lowing of the cattle and the gentle cries (or pitching screams!!) of the child in Mary’s arms; Emmanuel, the Prince of Peace born among us.

Advent is about the gentle simmering of our hope and expectation, fulfilled in the gift of God to the world. Will the ‘ping’ of our microwave lives make way during this holy season for a more authentic and gentle stirring of the Holy Spirit as we seek to greet the Son of Man who comes among us as the Babe of Bethlehem? O Come, O Come Emmanuel...

DISCLAIMER

The views represented on this blog which have been reproduced from other sources, or which Blog Followers may post in 'Comment' do not necesserily represent the views and opinions of the blog author, Father Gareth Jones.

The Passage and Stephen Fry...

I today received a phone call from Andrew Hollingworth from The Passage with regards to my email (see previous post) on the appearance of Stephen Fry at a catholic charity concert given his recent diatribes about the Catholic Church and faith.

I am told that he was invited in August and that little was known about his views at that time, and this was of course before his appearance recently on national television when he said that the Roman Catholic Church was a 'force for evil in the world.

Fry is well aware that The Passage is an orthodox Catholic charity and is apparantly keen to lend his support to it - all well and good. But what does this say about a) his intergrity if he really believes what he says about the Church and b) the integrity of The Passage in inviting someone who has indirectly labled himself as an enemy of the faith?

Obvioulsy it is very difficult to withdraw an invitation once it has been issued. The Passage has taken advice from Archbishop Vincent Nicholls who has told The Passage that no clergy will be able to attend if Fry is to appear. Good for the Archbishop, and a wise statement given that he may well replace the Cardinal as Patron before too long,

The Passage seem to recognise that a mistake has been made, and will hopefully be a bit more careful next time! Lets just hope that Fry does not abuse this platform to suffer us with another one of his outlandish and ill concieved diatribes against the Church of Jesus Christ!

Statement from the Bishop of Ebbsfleet: Plan A or B or A++?

Statement from the Bishop of Ebbsfleet:

I think we have to stand back from the conflict a little and remain in the desert of prayer. Anglicanorum coetibus (the Pope’s offer) is either a gracious gift from God, whereby Catholic unity is possible for those Anglo-catholics who have longed and prayed for unity with the Holy See or it is a distraction from the task of bringing the whole of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion safely into the ambit of Catholic Faith and Order.


If this second possibility is ruled out by the Church of England’s own actions – and that seems to be an ever stronger interpretation – then we need to accept the Holy Father’s offer, not as Plan B but as Plan A++. But, if we accept the offer, we need to be careful not to damage our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Church of England and the mission of Reformed Christians in this country – a mission which God also enables and inspires. And we must make the journey in humble faith and trust. + Andrew