Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Democracy
Our Nation, when free, should enjoy Democracy, the resident British citizens being able to take part in debating local issues, putting forward proposals and seeing the proposals of others, and finding solutions that are satisfying for the public good, to then decide by vote the preferred proposal. The same Democracy should be applied nationwide to national issues, by way of referendum.
The Constitution of basic citizens' rights, once established, could not be changed, however, as this Constitution has to guarantee the undisputed right of our Nation to Freedom and Independence, and the rights of British citizens to live and be able to participate in economy, to be assisted in time of need, and to be instructed in the ways of righteousness.
The Christian Faith is the only Faith that our schools should uphold and impart. Any attempt to prevent the Christian Faith from being made known and cherished within British schools must be combated with the law.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
from a personal point of view, i would like no religion in schools at all alexander.
the plethora of islamic, catholic, sikh, jewish, church of england and others just makes children feel different.
they have mosques, synagogues, temples and churches than can teach children about the religion they were born into outside of school time.
Again from my vantage point in Paris I have been enjoying the French churches. Mass in Notre Dame Sunday morning. Free concerts in others in the evening.
At no point have I been charged for entry. (Unlike most Cathedrals in the UK).
Cemeteries worth a visit too. Visits to Sam Becket who is a man of even fewer words now!
Schools secular and each flying a glorious tricolour. Citizens first and what your religion is is your own business.
Off topic it was quite amusing Sunday morning when I saw a group of black men running down the street chased by the police on motorcycles. Being public spirited I tied to trip up the first one.
It turned out that they were the leading runners in the Paris Marathon.
Hey ho.....off to the Gare de Nord and the Eurostar.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Bob, does that mean that in France they don't teach Christian religion at school?
Howard, I looked at the number of views I got here, and counting that some might be from the same readers, and about two are mine, if I halve the number as total estimated views, it seems that, on such a lofty matter, your view is the only one that disagrees, so, although I fully respect your views, the vast majority seem to agree with me here, not having opposed with a different opinion. Being such an important matter, I suppose they would have if they didn't agree. So I take it as a successful posting!
I agree with Howard.
Alexander. In France, the state recognizes no religion and does not fund religious education.
However I believe it would be impossible to teach the history of France (or indeed most countries) without taking into account the importance that religion has had in the development of the state.
e.g. It is a fact that Jeanne d'Arc was told by voices to drive the Brits from France.
The faithful would be left to interpret these as divine intervention by Saints Catherine, Michael and Margaret. Others, like me, would see them as recognisable signs of schizophrenia!
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Hi Bob! I know of a beautiful big church in Paris, it's of white stone, and a beautiful bell chimes above it. Somewhere in the centre, not far from Place Royal.
I think the church opposite Town Hall in Dover, that defied the elements of specualtion, is of French style, even though built much later. It seems to be of a kind of sand-stone, but has definitely a French element to it. I consider it rather unique, and sincerely am for it being re-instated as a church, with full honours!
Hi Alexander. Can't quite place the church you are talking about but suspect it was one of the many ones we visited!
I think that one of the things about France is that having avoided in the main part the split from Rome, which is much more a Northern European thing, rather than a multiplicity of churches for all the various 'sects' (Baptist, Methodist,C of E etc. etc.) they tend to have just one church covering quite a large parish and that church they do well. Plus, of course, as I have posted before the upkeep of the building is down to the State.
The RER/Metro map in the stations shows churches, synagogues and mosques and they are few and far between but tend to be fairly spectacular.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
i attend the church of the bending elbow at least once a week.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Bob, that's nice to know! It gives me an idea. If in France the State looks after churches, then in Dover we should ask the Town Hall Council to re-instate the church directly opposite that had been vandalised by specualters. I also believe that any tourists coming through seing such a beautiful building, and then suddenly seeing it as a block of flats, would turn-heel and go right back to the docks out of protest! So, may-be we can get somewhere after all! It might not be the Christchurch I was writing about along Folikestone Road, but still, a church in the towncentre to start with!
From WIKI:-
the French state continued to fund four official religions into the 20th century: Roman Catholicism, Calvinist and Lutheran Protestantism, and Judaism. It built churches, temples, synagogues and other religious buildings from taxes levied on the whole population (not just those affiliated with those religions).
The 1905 law put an end to the funding of religious groups by the state. (The state agreed to such funding in the Concordat of 1801 as compensation for the Revolution's confiscation of Church properties—properties from which the Church would have been able to fund itself.) At the same time, it declared that all religious buildings were property of the state and local governments; the government puts such buildings at the disposal of religious organisation at no expense to these, provided that they continue to use the buildings for worship purposes.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Well I'm all the more convinced now that in Dover we have a good chance of re-establishing the church opposite the Town Hall along the French lines. In fact, it's in the town-centre, and tourists coming from Europe might like to visit it as a church.
Thanks Bob, you have given me ideas, and have been generally among the most helpful. Howard though has given me a great deal of confidence, and also Phil and Paul Scothie.
I think I'll propose that Dover Town Council have the church opposite restored keeping intact its present facade and structure, and re-opened as a church, at least for tourists.
Thanks a lot Bob! I'm going now to my niece's house, I've prepared a great casserol of curry and brought it there, 'cause my place is too small for more than a few visitors. I've also got a freat barrel of cider in her fridge waiting!
Have a nice time in Paris! Right soon!
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Alexander/Bob
Is that big white church not Montmartre?
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Great barrel of cider, and..write soon!
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Just caught your message Andy. I think you might be right, but I'm not sure, however tomorrow I'll look on internet if I can recognise and define it.
If by "the church opposite the Town Hall" Alexander means the old Unitarian church, it is now in private hands. It closed due to lack of interest, as a number of churches have across the country.
As for getting DTC to fund church restoration, it ain't going to happen in a million years. They don't have the precept for it, and won't get it either.
If there is one organisation awash with money it is the church; I say let them fund building works. I prefer my taxes be spent on something more useful for the community.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
sid,you are slightly out in youre perception,the church alex is on about is the burnt out one iceland side of the town hall.
Nope Bob, that is exactly the church I'm on about. That is defo the ex-Unitarian which was being converted to flats when fire broke out. That was about three years ago now, and like most things in Dover, it's been left to rot.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
With reference to #12 Alexander, do tourists currently visit St Mary`s church, or the one at the bottom of Pencester? Though of course, I`m strictly non religious, I do go inside old churches, and I`ve taken picture`s, so they can be classed as a tourist attraction.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
sid,there is a unitarian church on the corner of york sreet/snargate street as well,right next door to the night club.