Category Archives: religion

Seasons greetings

  By Giolla | 2011/12/28 - 00:58 | Intermission, religion, Video
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So having avoided the computer quite well for the last four days I thought I’d just pop back briefly to hope you all had a wonderful time, doing what ever it is people do these days. Also as I have a penchant for obscure and forgotten holy days/festivals I would observes that today is the feat of the Holy Innocents, in honour of which was written what I think is one of the most beautiful English hymns (not strictly a carol). So hear for you delectation is the Westminster Cathedral Choir singing the Coventry Carol. Enjoy – normal lack of … Continue reading →

On the subject of symbols

  By Giolla | 2011/11/08 - 20:09 | activism, Campaign, EU, extremism, Free Speach, religion, Sparticus
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Whilst I’m on the subject of the power of symbols a while back Captain Ranty reported that it’s now terribly naughty according to the EU to use the “Keep Calm and carry on” image that the Government created back in 1939 as: The EU has granted an EU Community Trade Mark to ‘KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON’ meaning that only one company may use the slogan for clothing, mugs, posters and other memorabilia. Of course it’s quite possible our own trademark officials would have been just as stupid, in which case I’d no doubt be suggesting ignoring them and protesting … Continue reading →

On symbolism and protest

  By Giolla | 2011/11/08 - 18:47 | activism, anarchy, religion
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Whilst it’s still the season for running around in silly masks and costumes, I thought I’d link to this rather excellent article by Leg Iron concerning the nature of Guy Fawkes masks. Leg Iron touches on something I’ll happily whinge about for ages in that the use of the Guy Fawkes symbolism for all manners of protest dilutes it’s meaning and power (much like there now being a ribbon for everything). I did say whilst on the walk with OH the other day that if anyone asks what I was protesting I’d claim I was for the restoration of the … Continue reading →

Breaking the seal

  By Giolla | 2011/09/01 - 09:40 | Civil Liberties, laws, religion
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Over in Ireland they are apparently going to remove the legal protection afforded to things told in the confessional – for the sake of the children of course. At the moment it’s just in the case of someone confessing to “sexual abuse” where there is planned to be mandatory reporting required. Now I’d hope that the Irish clergy will have the courage of their convictions and not break the seal of the confessional and suffer prison terms if it comes to that as from a religious point of view that it s the correct thing to do. Now that priests … Continue reading →

A very traditional wedding?

  By Giolla | 2011/04/18 - 13:11 | Intermission, religion
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An amusing thought that crossed my mind the other day, which I’ve not noticed being picked up anywhere else but I may well have missed it. It struck me that the upcoming royal nuptials have an incredibly traditional aspect to them, taking place as they do at Beltaine (or as near as damn it). Now apart from the obvious fertility aspect remember this is in theory the future king and queen of the country getting married here, at a time when “tradition” would have it a may queen would be chosen as well as a green man (see dire art … Continue reading →

Census 2011 – again

  By Giolla | 2011/01/06 - 19:47 | activism, Campaign, Civil Liberties, follow up, religion
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Since I last muttered about Archbishops Cranmers campaign to tell the census takers to “Mind their own business” , he’s been asked quite a few questions about the census generally and his campaign which he answers here. The main point of which is really that if we don’t start telling them “no” at some point then they’ll never stop, or as he puts it: “it is about protesting a limit to the intrusion of the database state. Only by telling the Government to MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS can that protest be made. Leaving the question blank is passive assent to … Continue reading →

Talking about religion

  By Giolla | 2011/01/04 - 00:40 | Campaign, Civil Liberties, religion
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Whilst we’re on the subject of religion, I notice that His Grace Archbishop Cranmer has just launched a campaign to tell the state to mind it’s own business when it inquires as to what particular religious belief we may or may not observe. Now never being one to miss a passing band wagon and being keen on the state paying far less interest in what we might be doing as long as we’re not causing harm*. So as such I’m quite happy to plug His Graves “mind your own” campaign and hope that many other follow suit. As he so … Continue reading →

Rambling about religion

  By Giolla | 2011/01/03 - 19:16 | Intermission, religion
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This post has been stumbling around my head for a while now, like a drunk goth trying to find their way out of an unfamiliar club – but thanks to a couple of posts from Captain Ranty (one of which has been removed but I saw by the wonders of RSS and the other of which is here) my thoughts seem to have stumbled in a rather dazed fashion into a semblance of coherence. I’m afraid this article is going to be about religion and worse than that Catholicism and the Pope – and if that wasn’t bad enough I’m … Continue reading →

Freespeech in Europe

  By Giolla | 2010/10/04 - 19:16 | activism, Free Speach, politicians, religion
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Over at Samizdata it’s reported that Gert Wilders is on trial for his film Fitna. A film which saw him banned from the UK despite not having broken any law and being invited here by the Lords. The BBC cover the matter briefly when you consider the precedent this trial will have on freedom of speech across Europe – as so eruditely expounded by Archbishop Cranmer (from where I’ve shamelessly stolen the image used here). After all as has been said many many times, freedom of speech is an all or nothing affair, and even if you disagree with Mr … Continue reading →

What no Muhammad?

  By Giolla | 2010/09/14 - 12:03 | religion
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A friend brought this article over at the Wall street journal to my attention, it seems that a German Islamic scholar,Muhammad Sven Kalisch, has suggested that perhaps the prophet Muhammad never existed Unfortunately the article doesn’t go into much detail about his thinking, but there is of course a forth coming book, what I find interesting so far and will I suspect prove even more interesting when the book comes out is peoples reactions to this idea. As the professor says questioning the existence of Jesus and the historical accuracy of religious books is a well established tradition except in … Continue reading →