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O
ontheway1
Guest
It was consistent with our theology, when we still believed in God. Now, that we are cosmopolitan, sophisticated and multicultural, God of Catholicism no longer matters. (correct me if I am wrong)
But, to the Muslims, God still matters, and that is the reason for that girl saying what she did. Her faith is simple, but is seems real. (plus, she was embarrassed and had to slap back)
But, to the Muslims, God still matters, and that is the reason for that girl saying what she did. Her faith is simple, but is seems real. (plus, she was embarrassed and had to slap back)
Niblo
Patron
The greatest danger to Christianity - at least in the Valleys of South Wales, where I grew up - is indifference. In a three mile stretch of Treherbert (Rhondda), for example, were two Anglican Churches, and nine Chapels (1950s/60s). Only one Chapel remains; a shadow of its formed self. The two Catholic Churches I attended (the Immaculate Conception, in Treorchy; and Our Lady of Penrhys, in Ferndale) are gone (the latter is an empty shell). You might suppose that I - as a Muslim - would rejoice; but you would be wrong. Christianity was the heart and soul of the valley; its principal source of community. Its loss is incalculable; and its return…….ahhh…….Very hard to be optimistic.
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ontheway1
Guest
This great loss that is so obvious to a Muslim, is incomprehensible to most Europeans who are former Christians. They rejoice in their “sophisticated” nihilism.
Niblo
Patron
Yes, it does seem that way. The chapel I spoke of - the shadow of its former self - is Blaencwm Chapel, in Tynewydd (a part of Treherbert). You can find it online. This was my paternal grandfather’s Chapel…he was an Elder there. It was here that my primary school held its Christmas concerts. I write more as a ‘Valley Boy’ of 73 years than as a Muslim on this matter. I remember how it used to be: collieries, coal black river, hardship, miner’s institutes (centres of learning), friendship between neighbours - and sometimes bother - kids playing out all weekend and after school, Welsh hymns, community…held together by a simple belief in a God who cared, and by shared worship. Now…the mines have gone, the river is crystal, the hillsides green. But a good neighbour these days is one who doesn’t give you grief, and the kids have forgotten how to play. God is all but abandoned - for most. It’s enough to make you weep.
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halogirl
Guest
I feel this. My husband is from Merthyr and you are right the valleys are a shell. Loneliness, isolation and just full of tanning shops takeaways and vape stations. We used to be in a long distance rship and when he was at work when I used to go down to visit the sense of boredom and isolation crippled me and I used to just go to Cardiff every day on the bus. I can’t honestly imagine how strong you must have to be to live there and not be sunk into depression and addiction without Anything to do and without (for the most part for most people ) God.
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angel12
Guest
Sure, nothing wrong with being rude.
O
ontheway1
Guest
“We must picture Hell as a state where everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement, where everyone has a grievance, and where everyone lives the deadly serious passions of envy, self-importance, and resentment.” C.S. Lewis
Have we arrived? Are we there yet?
Have we arrived? Are we there yet?
Niblo
Patron
Never been to Merthyr. In the mid 80’s there was a huge scandal, when it was discovered that workers in Cefn Coed cemetery had been burying coffins upon coffins, and charging people for plots that were never given over for their use. The mess came to light after a heavy bout of rain exposed broken coffins and mutilated corpses. But Valley folk have a dark sense of humour, and very shortly afterwards we had:
‘What’s this?’……said while dragging a foot (repeatedly) across the floor…….‘A burial at Cefn cemetery!’
I became a ‘culture missionary to the English’ in the mid-seventies, and so missed the bad stuff that came after the pits closed down.
PS: You must have been really bored to go to Cardiff every day!
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halogirl
Guest
It was the only time I could see shops and people and life
Niblo
Patron
Could have gone to Ponty for that!
H
halogirl
Guest
I did like it there to be fair
Niblo
Patron
But of course!
Ponty was once considered (by Valley Folk) to be very ‘posh’. My mother and aunties used to dress up in their best, just to go shopping there!
Valley joke:
An English antique dealer goes into Dai’s emporium in Ponty. Looking around he spies a skull sitting on the counter. ‘What’s that?’ he asks.
‘That’, says Dai, proudly. ‘That is the skull of Owain Glyndŵr, the last…. true ……Prince of Wales!’
‘I’ll take it!’ cries the dealer….and of he goes.
A year later, he’s back. Looking around he spots another skull – smaller this time – sitting on the counter. ‘And what’s that?’ he asks.
‘That’, says Dai, proudly. ‘That is the skull of Owain Glyndŵr, the last…. true ……Prince of Wales!’
‘But you sold me his skull a year ago!’ protests the dealer.
‘Indeed I did’, says Dai. ‘Indeed I did. But this is Owain……when he was a boy’.
Have a great day, and very best regards.
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R
rinnie
Guest
No person of any faith has the right to ever claim to have the mind of God. No informed Catholic would ever condemn another to hell for we know only God knows a true heart and can judge another.
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