Imperator said:The original poster made the point that membership of unions is down; some ArchBishop or othermade the point in the last few weeks that participation in society in general is down, which is seen in union, church, and political sectors seeing a loss of membership. This is not down to the Indo demonising unions, this is reflective of something deeper in society in general.
pricilla said:There was an article somewhere recently saying that the big shopping centres are the new cathedrals, and that loads of people end up in them on a Sunday, since not so many are going to mass anymore. Was at B&Q on Sunday (after mass) and the place was packed full of people.
Well, seeing that the local clergy (Catholic and CoI) actually blessed the Dundrum Town Centre as part of an ecumenical service when it opened it's hardly surprising. Wonder what This post will be deleted if not edited immediately would have made of that sort of carry on...pricilla said:There was an article somewhere recently saying that the big shopping centres are the new cathedrals, and that loads of people end up in them on a Sunday, since not so many are going to mass anymore.
I hate malls at the best of times but I would never be so presumptuous as to feel sorry for fellow shoppers just because I (probably mistakenly) assume that their presence there reflects the fact that their lives are somehow hollow or lacking something. People like shopping. Probably more than attending religious services in many cases which are often meaningless to them. So what? That's their prerogative. I'd have more respect for somebody who shopped til they dropped because they enjoyed it rather than somebody participating in some hollow (to them) religious service by rote or just to keep others (e.g. family, community etc.) happy.I walk through a shopping centre I always think of that song "No religion" I think it's Van Morrison, and I always feel a bit sorry for the people, not because they don't have religion, but because they seem to be wandering around aimlessly, and are not being part of anything. And in this type of a society if someone needs help or guidance or somebody dies belonging to you, shopping is of no use to you then it just makes you feel empty.
This must be the most meandering post ever, so to get to the point, yes, Sunday is a great day and it would be lovely to go to something productive of a Sunday if you're not religious that makes you feel part of a group, so that you could make friends, contribute and build up a support group for yourself.
I interact with my family, friends, colleagues and neighbours most days of the week. Sunday is no different or special in that regard.CCOVICH said:Does anyone else who doesn't attend mass/service/whatever at the weekend do anything else that affords them the opportunity to interact with their community/neighbours, or even take a half hour to refect on their lives(note-I am not advocating any of this, I don't do it myself, but these are what I believe to be the 'valuable' aspects of mass)?
ClubMan said:All I remember from mass going as a child before I had adopted/developed my own belief system was one of people doing things by rote, superficial familiarity (e.g. I remember the winces when it came to the sign of peace in particular)
How did you answer? Assuming that this was a Catholic mass then, as any good Catholic will know, at first it isn't and then it is. However, in my experience not many Catholics have even heard of transubstantiation never mind understand the significance of it.Murt10 said:Last Sunday during mass in a local church I was asked "Is that really God's blood or is he making it up?"
by CCovich
or even take a half hour to refect on their lives
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