Geri, in the case of my former meeting, saying marriage vows every week might not be a bad idea, given the 4 divorces they've had amongst them in the last 10 years, all resulting from the adulterous behaviour of lifelong Christadelphians (no converts). Clearly they didn't understand them, or somehow "forgot" them.
"Truth does not demand belief. Scientists do not join hands every Sunday, singing, yes, gravity is real! I will have faith! I will be strong! I believe in my heart that what goes up, up, up must come down, down. down. Amen! If they did, we would think they were pretty insecure about it."
The weekly meetings are needed as a form of group therapy to maintain a feeling of belonging to an exclusive club. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people, singing in unison, listening to mind deadening talks all reassure the CDs and stop their minds wandering. If it were possible to ban the meetings for a couple of months and hide their bibles and hymn books, I wonder how many would return afterwards after escaping the weekly monotony and sampling reality?
Mark, I think it depends whether it would trigger the "I'm being persecuted for my faith" instinct. If it did, I suspect that some might be scared away, but others would take every possible opportunity to secretly meet and study, and would find their faith strengthened by being forced to nail their colours to the mast.
Yes Jon, I think you are right. It would be an interesting experiment, but would create a kind of siege mentality which would only strengthen the feeling of "us against the sinful outside world".
Mark, Jon is correct, they always have believed themselves to be "The sect always spoken against", and if you read that pamphlet, you will smell the paranoia (even though they are actually "The sect nobody has heard of). I would much prefer the German approach, which I first learned of in 1991 whilst their learning the language...The "Church Tax", where the state collects 9% of income tax on all members of a church. The money does go back into the church, but does not return to the individuals. It would mean that declaring yourself a Christadelphian would immediately bring a tax bill with it. No escape, the thought of having to pay through PAYE a few £1000 a year would deter many of the tightwad Christadelphians I can think of.
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That's true. Imagine if you had to say your marriage vows once a week. Or sign an employment contact every Monday morning!
ReplyDeleteGeri,
Deletein the case of my former meeting, saying marriage vows every week might not be a bad idea, given the 4 divorces they've had amongst them in the last 10 years, all resulting from the adulterous behaviour of lifelong Christadelphians (no converts). Clearly they didn't understand them, or somehow "forgot" them.
"Truth does not demand belief. Scientists do not join hands every Sunday, singing, yes, gravity is real! I will have faith! I will be strong! I believe in my heart that what goes up, up, up must come down, down. down. Amen! If they did, we would think they were pretty insecure about it."
ReplyDelete- Dan Barker
The weekly meetings are needed as a form of group therapy to maintain a feeling of belonging to an exclusive club. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people, singing in unison, listening to mind deadening talks all reassure the CDs and stop their minds wandering.
ReplyDeleteIf it were possible to ban the meetings for a couple of months and hide their bibles and hymn books, I wonder how many would return afterwards after escaping the weekly monotony and sampling reality?
Mark, I think it depends whether it would trigger the "I'm being persecuted for my faith" instinct. If it did, I suspect that some might be scared away, but others would take every possible opportunity to secretly meet and study, and would find their faith strengthened by being forced to nail their colours to the mast.
DeleteYes Jon, I think you are right. It would be an interesting experiment, but would create a kind of siege mentality which would only strengthen the feeling of "us against the sinful outside world".
DeleteMark,
DeleteJon is correct, they always have believed themselves to be "The sect always spoken against", and if you read that pamphlet, you will smell the paranoia (even though they are actually "The sect nobody has heard of).
I would much prefer the German approach, which I first learned of in 1991 whilst their learning the language...The "Church Tax", where the state collects 9% of income tax on all members of a church. The money does go back into the church, but does not return to the individuals. It would mean that declaring yourself a Christadelphian would immediately bring a tax bill with it. No escape, the thought of having to pay through PAYE a few £1000 a year would deter many of the tightwad Christadelphians I can think of.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11380968/Compulsory-income-tax-on-Christians-drives-Germans-away-from-Protestant-and-Catholic-churches.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_tax
An interesting side effect would be that we would actually get to know how many CD's there really are.
When last I looked at CBM figures, I don't think there were many (if indeed any) in Germanay. Fancy that.