The Turner Prize

[Khandro]

Did anyone watch this, 'let's pretend it's art' annual event? Apart from the risible quality of the competitors, the staging of it in an English Cathedral (Coventry) left me filled with incredulity.

Against the backdrop of the large Graham Southerland alter-painting of Christ in Majesty, an assorted group of rowdy weirdos, lounged around at tables in the body of the church, drinking and sporting their egos & sexual proclivities.

How could an bishop ever allow such a thing to happen? I can find no mention of this grotesque spectacle in any of today's media and wonder if this is through timidity or embarrassment.

[naomi24]

Churches are being used more and more for exhibitions, etc., unrelated to religion. Perhaps it was held there because Coventry is UK City of Culture 2021. A few years ago Tim Peake's spacecraft was on view to the public at Peterborough Cathedral. It's one way of getting more people into the church so perhaps that's why bishops agree to it.

[naomi24]

This might interest you, Khandro.

https://www.coventrycathedral.org.uk/wpsite/hold-your-event-here-2/

I guess it's all about money.

[bednobs]

the church has to survive.
It is also is full of people with egos and everyone has a sexual proclivity (even you!)

[McMouse]

I thought the C of E had problems getting people to go to churches.

[andy-hughes]

McMouse - // I thought the C of E had problems getting people to go to churches. //

What it has - as all Christian churches have - is the problem of getting in the people that it believes are suitable to go to church.

They need a deep-seated sense of entitlement, a smug self-satisified attitude to their faith, with the ability to cluck and hand-wring at people who don't share it.

And a large fose of hypocrisy that allows them to see faults in others writ large, while casually ignoring their own, and those of the individuals who run religion in the modern world.

Of course, people like this are fortunately becoming a dwindling minority, and their suffocating, moralising, dull, pious, fearful, shameful attitudes to the people around them mean that the majority of people find far more joyful and enlightening ways to spend their Sunday mornings than gathering in cold characterless mausoleums to worship a God who clearly does not care for them.

[Canary42]

/// people like this are fortunately becoming a dwindling minority, ///

Sadly not the case - they're just adopting a different worshipee (Mammon).

[naomi24]

That's spiteful, AH - and in the main, untrue.

[douglas9401]

"...the majority of people find far more joyful and enlightening ways to spend their Sunday mornings than gathering in cold characterless mausoleums to worship a God who clearly does not care for them."

I'm confused, does Mrs Hughes know how you really feel when you're supporting her at worship?

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // That's spiteful, AH - and in the main, untrue.//

You post what you want, and I will do the same.

We can take disinterest in each other's opinions as read.

[bednobs]

and andy, you forgot apparently they must sit up straight and not sit at a table! It's probably more religious that way.

[New Judge]

//...the church has to survive.//

Why? If it has too few followers the Church of England needs to do what all businesses have to do if they are in trouble - economise and rationalise. There are far too many churches in the UK. Most of them could be sold off, leaving a few "hub" churches. The NHS has done it (and that's far more of a religion than the CofE is for many people). All the cottage hospitals and small town hospitals have been closed and the land sold off to developers. Patients now have to traipse up and down the country to get their treatment where the NHS sees fit to provide it.

I caught a glimpse of this bunch of exhibitionists on the news. Quite honestly if churches are reduced to letting out their premises to such a circus they really do need to reconsider their business model.

[andy-hughes]

douglas - // I'm confused, does Mrs Hughes know how you really feel when you're supporting her at worship? //

We've been together for forty-one years, and married for thirty-five of those, what do you think?

[Mamyalynne]

Having just perused current and upcoming events at the Cathedral it's easy to see that without the revenue coming in from these there could easily be another crumbling ruin for all to admire.

Bringing the local and wider community together is an important role too.

If nearby then I would have loved to see Jethro Tull tomorrow.

[naomi24]

AH, hate-filled bile from a man who accompanies his wife to a Roman Catholic church regularly and happily accepts blessings from the priest. Hypocrisy doesn't cover it.

[douglas9401]

The passage of time means nowt if you're keeping your true feelings hidden.

Anyway, enjoy your mausoleum visit this weekend.

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // AH, hate-filled bile from a man who accompanies his wife to a Roman Catholic church regularly and happily accepts blessings from the priest. Hypocrisy doesn't cover it. //

My post is not 'hate-filled', nor is it 'bile'.

It is my reaction to Khandro's typically lofty condemnation of people whom he deems unfit to spend time in a church because he has decided that their conduct is unbefitting.

Hardly the 'come one come all' ethos of his faith - but that points to my response.

If you want to shoot accusations of hypocrisy around the thread - maybe you think about starting there.

[andy-hughes]

douglas - // The passage of time means nowt if you're keeping your true feelings hidden. //

My feelings are not 'hidden' at all, but thanks for your concern over my relationship, it means a lot, really.

[douglas9401]

Go with God my son.

[AuntPG]

Naomi, you seem better these days at abusive responses than those which put forward a sensible and thought-out opinion. I also notice you disappear off a thread very quickly when proved wrong. Maybe time for a short break, and FWIW if your post disappears its because I've reported it, not because of any other 3rd person interference.

[naomi24]

AH, //My post is not 'hate-filled', nor is it 'bile'. //

Your failure to recognise it for what it is makes it even sadder.