Anglican schism

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
* DinoDoc ignores the stupid spam from Bkeela and Kuci

I'm curious who will blink first since it still seems that a real split isn't inevitable. The part I'm also interested in is how the various American churches respond to this especially the ones that follow established church doctrine and were rebelling against the appointment of Gene Robinson.

I think the question of blinking first is interesting. As homosexuality is more tolerated, you will probably have more of such issues cropping up. Can the heirarchy keep things from boiling over? I don't know the answer, but it should be fun to find out (well, from an outsider perspective).

[Heresson]

Bkeela and Kuci...
You are iving proof of that You can be ignorant agnostics/atheists as well.

As for the case, I have mixed feelings:

- ordaining gay bishops
- ordaining gay bishops as result of fresh reading of Jesus' message
- ordaining gay bishops as result of allien of Christianity ideologies
- the traditional splitters joining RCC --> bigger RCC
- more conservatism in RCC
- survival of Christianity
- survival of the anti-sexua...
OK, I'll stop now.

Anyway, it all comes of the problem of sexuality in Christianity. Ir may be questionabe if from the start, but for a very very long time, up to today, sexuality was dismissed as something dirty and sinful. I do not agree with that. On the other hand, Jesus did consider prostitution a sin, and yet I do not see anything wrong in that. And St Paul (and Od Testament) did find homosexuality wrong. It's not a big problem with me, Old Testament I don't care about, and St Paul didn't have to be right in everything, but it's not what a decent Christian church can say.
On one side, I see ordaining a gay bishop as a progress to some extent, and on the other, I feel such decision does not come of Christian roots, and even if it does, it will soon be used by Christianity(all or just some denomination)-bashers as a comfortable attack opportunity.

[Whaleboy]

Bishop Robinson should never have been confirmed, not because he is gay, but because he is having sex outside of marriage.

As far as I recall, his relationship, while previously sexual was now platonic.

[Elok]

Okay, no matter how I try, I can't seem to find a nonbiased study of recent church growth in the US. Does anyone here know of such a site? Everything I've heard indicated that the RCC is losing people FAST, the traditional Protestants are beginning to wither, and evangelicals/fundies/whatever are exploding in new membership. I just can't find any actual demographics to prove or disprove it...Google got me a lot of obscure churches bragging about their membership.

[DanS]

I welcome the schism. I believe it's time for a new option for those of faith who have allowed their opinions of what is acceptable to evolve. Those who still disapprove can keep with their old church and more liberal members can go to the new one. Christianity survived the development of numerous sects and offshoots, what's one more?

The "let a million flowers bloom" is one way of looking at it. But I can't help but think that if the RCC were still in union with the orthodox church, then christianity as a whole would be much stronger. The great schism seems like a huge loss, in hindsight.

Maybe it is incorrect for me to project our experiences in this regard onto the Anglican church.

[Whaleboy]

RCC were still in union with the orthodox church, then christianity as a whole would be much stronger. The great schism seems like a huge loss, in hindsight.

Schisms

[Sava]

I'm not going to make an anti-religion post in this thread.

[Heresson]

Originally posted by Sava
I'm not going to make an anti-religion post in this thread.

That's a courageous first step.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Heresson
Bkeela and Kuci...
You are iving proof of that You can be ignorant agnostics/atheists as well.

Another bite!

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Sava
I'm not going to make an anti-religion post in this thread.

Don't worry, I'll keep it covered

[Starchild]

Didn't someone once bring up the money issue that while the strongest, most traditional growth may be seen in African churches, the bulk of the money in the Anglican Church comes from, and is held by, the liberal churches in the West?

Surely Queen Elizabeth, as the head of all things Churchy, could just step in and tell them all to behave. Defender of the Faith and all that.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Whaleboy
As far as I recall, his relationship, while previously sexual was now platonic.

I've never heard this before. Cite?

If that were the case, there wouldn't be an issue, since the entire point of the ire over it is that Robinson is "living in sin" while being an ordained Bishop.

[Shi Huangdi]

I believe in the West, our numbers(RCC) are growing overall, a trend no doubt accelerated by Mexican immigration as well as higher birthrates. Typically I believe what is happening in the RCC mirrors what is happening in the Protestant Churches. The more liberal wing is hemmoraghing members, as many of the liberal Religious Communities are losing members fast, but we are seeing alot of growth among the Conservative wing of the Church.

[Last Conformist]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov


I've never heard this before. Cite?

If that were the case, there wouldn't be an issue, since the entire point of the ire over it is that Robinson is "living in sin" while being an ordained Bishop.

Not necessarily. I've certainly run across Christians for whom the mere admission of homosexual orientation constitutes sin.

[Elok]

Originally posted by Last Conformist

Not necessarily. I've certainly run across Christians for whom the mere admission of homosexual orientation constitutes sin.

Well, you see, normally we just flagellate the demons out, but we think these people enjoy that, so....oops, I've said too much.