A New Church

By archiew - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Religion & Spirituality

Sunday, November 16, 2003

Pagan Churches

Pagans don't have churches, per se, but they do cast circles wherever they want to conduct a ritual or cast a spell. It could be a circle cast in their living room, or in the back yard, or even outdoors somewhere. A circle may be of any size, from one to hold just a solitary practitioner, such as... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by archiew at 2:52 PM | add or view comments (2) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Churches like Heroin Dens?

Religion can be a strong addictive influence in people's lives, making churches equal to heroin dens, full of abusing addicts. It is religion, sometimes known as th"The Church" that has done morre damage to the advancement of mankind than anything. Sign in to see full entry.

posted by archiew at 10:23 AM | add or view comments (2) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Televised Churches

How many people attend televised church services in their homes. I was looking at the television guide this morning and there is a fine choice of services to "attend." This is not church in the normal sense of the word, but what is it? Is it laziness that keeps us in front of the telly instead of... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by archiew at 5:41 AM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Thursday, November 13, 2003

A Family Church

What if a family declared itself a church, complete with a pastor drawn from the family, a church secretary drawn from the family and a treasurer drawn from the family? Then it could set up its own services, rituals, theologies, etc. and cater only to that family. No one outside the family would be... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by archiew at 7:01 AM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Churches and Taxation

It still grates on me that churches and non-profits do not have to pay taxes. I am, in effect, supporting private organizations that I may not agree with. Tax the churches, and tax them at the same rate I am taxed, and do not allow deductables for contributing to any non-profit or religious... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by archiew at 8:35 AM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Sunday, November 9, 2003

Church Misgivings

There is much discourse on the power of the church, sometimes narrowed to the power of the Religious Right. It is altogether impossible for such power to be significant when the "power of the church" is spread so thin among so many differing congregations. Even those of the Religious Right are too... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by archiew at 3:21 AM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Saturday, November 8, 2003

Government Sanctions

Most churches are "approved" or sanctioned by the government. For a church to be sanctioned by the government, it has to follow a few rules. Does this place it under the control of the government, and, thus, not a free church? Are there any churches that do not "register" as such with the government... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by archiew at 10:00 AM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Thursday, November 6, 2003

Church Ettiquette:

What differences there are among the various religious groups when it comes to how to behave in church! We have, on the one side, the stodgy, serious worshipers, and on the other, singers, screamers and hollerers who raise the roof every service. Talking also varies, with a strict code of silence as... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by archiew at 9:48 AM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Wednesday, November 5, 2003

Symbology of Church Architecture:

Way back when, in the olden days, church buildings, particularly Cathedrals, were religiously symboloic inside and out. Fewer churches today are like that, unless it is very well hidden. Many new church buildings are going for the modern sweeping lines and lots of glass, perhaps the cross in a... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by archiew at 8:21 PM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Tuesday, November 4, 2003

We think we have it bad!

In the process of reading a book about Henry VIII, the churches in his day were more corrupt than the politicians. Today, I believe, the gap has narrowed, with the politicians out front, barely. Sign in to see full entry.

posted by archiew at 7:29 AM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

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