If the CofE was disestablished, who would be head of the Church?

[JockSporran]

If disestablished, the Queen would no longer be head of the Church, so who WOULD be? Would the General Synod elect one of the Archbishops as Supreme Pontiff, or might they elect a Moderator (like the Church of Scotland)?

[Theland1]

I don't bring about world events, only observe them, and try to change my little corner of the world for the better.
Are my words wasted then?

[Theland1]

How often do we hear politicians talk about the breakdown of society when discussing anything from crime and teenage pregnancies, to the education system and the economy?
They are not making their observations from a religious perspective, and, yes, some may exaggerate for their own political agenda.
But given and accepting some statistical distortions, who can deny that they are right? Society is indeed breaking down, and where to find more evidence for this than on failing, crime ridden sink estates where drugs and alcohol are rife, unemployment is high, literacy low, and vandalism is the main generator of the sad environment.
How prevalent is Christianity in these areas? I would suggest almost toally absent, yet it has been suggested that someow, my beliefs in some way contribute to this swampish existence. I fail to see it myself, but rather take the opposite view, that a turning away from God creates divisions, and contributes to the total sum of human misery.

[Octavius]

If you want examples of man�s inhumanity to man, then look to religion

No, you look to nations, individuals and your average 20th C despot. Yes of course that includes those who instigated the crusades and holy wars, but let us not forget the Mongols, the Vikings, 100 million deaths of Communism, Stalin, Pol Pot, Lenin, Ceauşescu, Chairman Mao etc etc.

Theland, welcome back.

[naomi24]

Theland, many of us here don't have religion, and don't want it, so how do you think we have managed to become respected members of society and to live respectable lives? A few of my friends and acquaintances are religious (especially our local Vicar), but of the many who aren't, none have ever been single teenage parents, and none have ever led a life of crime - and neither have any of their children - so how do you explain that?

Octavius, Did I say that only the religious were inhumane? No, I didn't, but when someone consistently insults non-believers by telling them that the ills of society are the result of the absence of religion, then I take issue and point out that religion is a far cry from what its followers claim it to be - and it is.

[Theland1]

I am most definitely not tarring every individual with the same brush - far from it.
What I am saying is that God wants a relationship with us, and the way to Him is through Jesus Christ.
Yes, people can live upright lives according to their own or generally accepted shared moral code, but without the influence of Christ in our lives, the result is what we witness today, a steady decline in standards nationally, and you could express this as a lack of blessing from God, as He gives us up to our own desires.
Regarding your friend the vicar, I wonder if he is one of the 11% of Anglican clergy who edit out the bits of the Jesus story that does not fit into contemporary thinking?

[naomi24]

Theland, our vicar reminds me of you in many ways. He's a bible thumper. He's the only person I've ever known who is totally oblivious to the fact that he might be upsetting people when he bangs on about sin, hell, and damnation at a funeral - and I tell him so! Some comfort to the bereaved! (Having said that, when he comes here to dinner leaving his vicar's hat at home (which is pretty much compulsory!), he's good company - and very funny).

You say the way to God is through Jesus Christ, but I say again, Jesus was a Jew, and if you truly followed his teaching instead of that of St Paul, you would convert to Judaism. Christianity wouldn't be an issue.

As for the steady decline in standards, I couldn't, and wouldn't express it as a lack of blessing from God. To say such amounts to off-loading your personal responsibility for your own life, and while you're thinking like that, you aren't looking at the problem squarely, nor with a rational eye. You're simply making excuses. You need to look in other directions to find the root of the problem, because, in truth, God doesn't come into it. If we have any sense, we all know right from wrong, and good from bad, and we choose our path in life. We are, in the main, the authors of our own misfortune - and of our own success.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Theland, please tell me you're not actually damning someone else for picking and choosing which bits of the Bible to believe?!!

Are you really that lacking in self-awareness?

[Theland1]

Ah yes Waldo, I thought you would get straight on to that one, sidelocks, kosher food, stonings etc.
The fact is Jesus gave a new covenant, and although the O/T is still important, it's teachings are fulfilled in the N/T through Christ.

[Theland1]

Yes Jesus was a Jew, who fulfilled the law of the prophets, and did away with the blood sacrifices in the Temple by His own atoning death on the cross.
His mission was not to encourage the outward signs of repentance through sacrifices and strict adherence to dietary law, but to change the hearts of men from within by bringing them into a new relationship with God.
St Paul converted from his orthodoxy to The Way and followed Jesus. He didn't initiate a new religion.
Your vicar sounds like he needs a course in common sense by the way.