D
dzheremi
Guest
In other news, “madrasa” is just the Arabic word for “school”. I went to a madrasa as a child, and so did all of you. 
- Status
S
SSTeacher
Guest
I’m an expatriate Englishman – a Londoner, born and bred – and I’ve lived in the United States since 1990. It didn’t take me very long to come to the conclusion that Americans were in general rather more religious than the English but given the manifestation of religion in the American context I rather thought that was a plus for the English.
In spite of all temptations to belong to other nations, I remain an Englishman.
(I myself have said it and it’s greatly to my credit).
Patriotically,
Mick
R
rossum
Guest
I live in England. As long as I do not try to impose my religion on other people they are content to let me follow it. In return they expect me to leave them free to follow their religion (or atheism) without their imposing on me.
Our politicians very rarely mention God and our sports teams do not thank God for their victories. Europe has had a lot of religious wars over the years from the Crusades to the Wars of Religion. We have basically agreed to remove most religion from the public space and keep it private. That way less people get killed.
rossum
D
dzheremi
Guest
Well, I don’t live in NY, but I’ll be damned if I let any of you socialist baby-eaters take away my bagels!
Why no, Jharek, I don’t see what you’re getting at…
Why no, Jharek, I don’t see what you’re getting at…
S
SSTeacher
Guest
I agree with your analysis.
It’s interesting to note that the anti–Catholic sentiment that was still easily identified in England even in the sixties is still alive and well stateside. And notwithstanding the notion that the United States is a country “founded on Christian principles" (a curious assertion often made by American Evangelicals of my acquaintance) I rather think that within two generations the churches in this country will be as empty as those in England. However, whereas in England the Muslim community will undoubtedly continue to increase its size and its influence I don’t think Islam will make such great strides in the United States.
Speculatively,
Mick
G
gurneyhalleck1
Guest
I agree. For some reason the Europeans have allowed themselves to be engulfed in Islam. We have been engulfed by illegal immigration from the south…who happen to be Catholic. Secular MTV values are taking us over, not Islam. And by the way, dude, you’re an English-American! Best of both worlds…A little Tolkien, a little Twain, a little Zeppelin, a little Eagles…
Equally speculatively,
Gurney
Best of both worlds…A little Tolkien, a little Twain, a little Zeppelin, a little Eagles…Equally speculatively,
Gurney
I agree with your analysis.
It’s interesting to note that the anti–Catholic sentiment that was still easily identified in England even in the sixties is still alive and well stateside. And notwithstanding the notion that the United States is a country “founded on Christian principles" (a curious assertion often made by American Evangelicals of my acquaintance) I rather think that within two generations the churches in this country will be as empty as those in England. However, whereas in England the Muslim community will undoubtedly continue to increase its size and its influence I don’t think Islam will make such great strides in the United States.
Speculatively,
Mick
G
gurneyhalleck1
Guest
One thing I notice is that many folks in here call themselves “European” or say simply nothing in their location/origin. I wonder why one doesn’t simply say German, Irish, British, etc.? Canadians, Americans, etc. always identify but the folks from Europe tend to just say “European?” Curious?
J
Janet1983
Guest
Well I lived in (West) Germany for 25 years of my life (I moved 1 year ago) and I don’t think it’s hard. As a matter of fact it is rather easy to be following your religion if you are Catholic.
I was raised close to Cologne and people there are not only very tolerant. They let you follow your religion in any case.
In the city I grew up in 12 out of 15 elementary schools were Catholic, though they excepted everyone who was living in the proximity of the school. 2 were run by the city and one was Protestant.
In my area there were 2 places for kindergarten / daycare, one run by the local parish and one less than a mile down the road and run by the city.
After elementary I had Catholic religious education classes in my (public) High School. There was a Catholic High School there, but my father decided not to send me there because he wanted me to go to a bilingual school to improve my skills of the English language.
Even though my school was run by the city we had religious education, taught by teachers who had gone to a Catholic university or a priest who was the dean of our section of the diocese. We had weekly Mass on Thursday and at the end and beginning of each school year, though it was not mandatory for the non-Catholic students. (Protestant students could go to Protestant religious education. Anybody had the possibility to opt out of religious education, but then had to take ethics classes. This was then for those students over 14 who decided to not have religious education and students of other faiths.)
Because Germans take their religion rather lightly it isn’t a problem to live it. Most Germans are either nominal Catholics or nominal Protestants, even though the numbers are declining due to the fact that each parishioner has to pay a tax to support their church.
There are only few exceptions to that rule and they are very wide spread over the areas. Some so-called free churches are not getting government subsidies and among those are the Baptists.
All in all people really do not care whom you worship or if you refuse to worship anyone. They just do not want to be bothered and they want to stick to whatever they believe.
EDIT: I might have totally misunderstood the question, so I amend a little to change my answer up.
Those who are called to be a religious can be seen in the streets of the inner cities on a regular basis. The is no discrimination they are are treated just like everyone else. They run retirement homes, work in hospitals and have sites for spiritual retreats.
I stayed at a nunnery for 10 months and it was an interesting experience. I was still in school, so I never really joined.
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SSTeacher
Guest
Like many Englishmen, including, possibly, those that don’t own their own castles, I have no great objection to Americans speaking our language and honoring us by prefixing the appropriate colonial descriptor (American, Canadian, Australian, pigeon, and so onSSTeacher;6461990:
And by the way, dude, you’re an English-American!I agree with your analysis.
It’s interesting to note that the anti–Catholic sentiment that was still easily identified in England even in the sixties is still alive and well stateside. And notwithstanding the notion that the United States is a country “founded on Christian principles" (a curious assertion often made by American Evangelicals of my acquaintance) I rather think that within two generations the churches in this country will be as empty as those in England. However, whereas in England the Muslim community will undoubtedly continue to increase its size and its influence I don’t think Islam will make such great strides in the United States.
Speculatively,
Mick
Equally speculatively,
Gurney
) because nobody is likely to mistake any of those innovations for the Queen’s English once they hit the air.But now you’ve put me in a somewhat invidious position. On one hand, I want to accept the comradely compliment because it would seem churlish to reject it and English gentlemen always mind their manners. On the other hand, being assigned the prefix isn’t really acceptable. So whilst I’ve no objection to Americans looking up their horoscopes and subsequently discovering that they’re Scottish Americans or Irish Americans or Welsh Americans, I feel it’s incumbent upon me to point out that suggesting there’s such a thing as an English American is highly irregular and erroneous.
Please note that there’s no such thing as an English American any more than there is any such thing as a British accent. And if there exists on either side of the pond an Englishmen who sees fit to register an objection to that desirable state of affairs, I’d have to conclude,
a) that he emanates from north of Watford
and
b) that he has metamorphosed into a very strange dude indeed.
Yunnershtannat, Bubba?
Colloquially,
Mick
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gurneyhalleck1
Guest
First of all, come on man, enough with the “whilst’s!” LOL…you’re in the States, bro! Enough is enough! LOL 
I’m just kidding. I can put up with “recognise” and “Saviour” and “theatre” and “bloke.” It’s cool…lol
Why is it highly erroneous to suggest one can be an English-American/British-American? If one emigrates from the Philippines as my wife did, she’s a Filipina-American. One emigrates from Mexico…Mexican-American…Poland…Polish-American…China…Chinese-American. Why is it taboo or improper as well as offensive to the sensibilities of my British immigrant friend here to cal him British or English-American? You possess American citizenship, correct? Surely you wouldn’t reject that or not be proud of it. And you claim you are still “English.” I don’t see the problem here.
No such thing as a British accent? Wow, one should be high on crack not to be able to pick up on a British accent! Are you joshing me here joking or are you serious? LOL
I’m just kidding. I can put up with “recognise” and “Saviour” and “theatre” and “bloke.” It’s cool…lolWhy is it highly erroneous to suggest one can be an English-American/British-American? If one emigrates from the Philippines as my wife did, she’s a Filipina-American. One emigrates from Mexico…Mexican-American…Poland…Polish-American…China…Chinese-American. Why is it taboo or improper as well as offensive to the sensibilities of my British immigrant friend here to cal him British or English-American? You possess American citizenship, correct? Surely you wouldn’t reject that or not be proud of it. And you claim you are still “English.” I don’t see the problem here.
No such thing as a British accent? Wow, one should be high on crack not to be able to pick up on a British accent! Are you joshing me here joking or are you serious? LOL
Like many Englishmen, including, possibly, those that don’t own their own castles, I have no great objection to Americans speaking our language and honoring us by prefixing the appropriate colonial descriptor (American, Canadian, Australian, pigeon, and so on
But now you’ve put me in a somewhat invidious position. On one hand, I want to accept the comradely compliment because it would seem churlish to reject it and English gentlemen always mind their manners. On the other hand, being assigned the prefix isn’t really acceptable. So whilst I’ve no objection to Americans looking up their horoscopes and subsequently discovering that they’re Scottish Americans or Irish Americans or Welsh Americans, I feel it’s incumbent upon me to point out that suggesting there’s such a thing as an English American is highly irregular and erroneous.
Please note that there’s no such thing as an English American any more than there is any such thing as a British accent. And if there exists on either side of the pond an Englishmen who sees fit to register an objection to that desirable state of affairs, I’d have to conclude,
a) that he emanates from north of Watford
and
b) that he has metamorphosed into a very strange dude indeed.
Yunnershtannat, Bubba?
Colloquially,
Mick
S
SSTeacher
Guest
Of course I’m joking! Didn’t you notice the emoticons? You’re being wound up, old chap.First of all, come on man, enough with the “whilst’s!” LOL…you’re in the States, bro! Enough is enough! LOL
Why is it highly erroneous to suggest one can be an English-American/British-American? If one emigrates from the Philippines as my wife did, she’s a Filipina-American. One emigrates from Mexico…Mexican-American…Poland…Polish-American…China…Chinese-American. Why is it taboo or improper as well as offensive to the sensibilities of my British immigrant friend here to cal him British or English-American? You possess American citizenship, correct? Surely you wouldn’t reject that or not be proud of it. And you claim you are still “English.” I don’t see the problem here.
No such thing as a British accent? Wow, one should be high on crack not to be able to pick up on a British accent! Are you joshing me here joking or are you serious? LOL
But I do not possess American citizenship. I have no desire to be an American citizen. My status is Resident Alien based upon my marriage to my American wife, who I married in 1989 and to whom I’m still married. I have all the duties, rights, and privileges of an American citizen except that I am not allowed to vote or to serve on a jury, which seems both logical and fair. I’m allowed to pay taxes, though. And I can join in with everything else. The only time I exclude myself is when I’m in company and the Pledge of Allegiance is said. When that happens I respectfully bow my head and stand just like everybody else but stay silent.
Ah, but there really is no such thing as a British accent. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Scotland, Wales, and the six counties of Northern Ireland.
So there’s an Irish accent but the Northern Irish accent is very different from the Southern Irish accent.
There’s a Scottish accent but there are huge variations. When I was in the British Army I was billeted with a squaddie from an out of the way place at the top of Scotland called Stornoway. I think it was in the Outer Hebrides. Nobody in the billet could understand a word he said. He used to sing this weird wailing song all the time, too. Awful noise.
And there’s also a Welsh accent (there’s clever, look you, boyo, yakky da, isn’t it?) with some variations depending upon what part of Wales one heads for (if you do take a trip, though, please note that Wales closes early on Thursdays).
And when one looks up and down England, one finds a lot more different accents. Cockney, Manchunian, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkie, Brummy, Oxford… And more. It’s really quite surprising that there are so many variations given that England is slightly smaller than the state of North Carolina, where I now live. English people tend to stay put.
My point, though, is that most Americans think British and English mean the same thing. That’s the flaw. They don’t. So there’s no such thing as a British accent. The only time the description seems to make sense is when Americans are talking to each other about what their untrained ears detect in the verbiage of those who live across the pond.
I sure enjoyed winding you up, though. It’s easier to do via the written word, of course, although I confess I’m sometimes quite able on the verbals. I’ve actually been able to convince the occasional American that when I was a little boy living in the East End of London, our family used to get invited by the Queen every fortnight to her garden parties at Buck House but we stopped going because nobody in our family really liked cucumber sandwiches – so my Mum wrote to the Queen and told her we wouldn’t be coming any more on account of the cucumber sandwiches whereupon the Queen immediately wrote back and begged us not to stop coming and promised that she’d cancel the cucumber sandwiches and change to cheese and onion!
Jevver get left?
Jovially,
Mick
G
gurneyhalleck1
Guest
Ok you English turkey, ya got me! I thought you were serious…blasted internet…yep, missed the emoticons, guilty! That English sense of humor always throws me. I know I’m going to regret this and maybe get hot around the collar, but I’m going for it…why do you not want American citizenship? My wife, as I mentioned, is from the Philippines. She had her resident alien green card. She wanted American citizenship big time. It was a dream for her. I’ve never understood this sentiment of wanting to live here but not wanting to sign on? Please don’t take me to sound like a jerk (because my tone here is not, internet makes tones hard to read as we know ) but why come to the U.S. if England is preferable and better? If I felt the U.S. a better place to live and loved it, even though I were English, I’d have no trouble getting American citizenship. Same thing with England. If I really truly loved the place and met a girl in England, say, and thought it were a place worth living, I’d want English citizenship and would be proud. I mean, in the U.S. you swear allegiance to the U.S. not a king or other royal? Are you afraid of serving on a jury here? Now THAT would make sense! I hate jury duty! LOL…especially after my last experience…sigh 
…I’m just curious. Getting American citizenship doesn’t somehow diminish your ‘Englishness.’
By the way, I may be a California dude, but I am aware of the variety of English accents. I’ve been around plenty of English, especially at this science camp I take my sixth grader to each year for a week, SCICON. They have interns from the UK, new ones each year. I’ve met some from Wales, Birmingham, London, Liverpool, you name it. Each had a very unique accent. There were also other Brits from other areas, can’t remember the names, a bit off the beaten path. Some have had a very Irish-sounding accent, some very cockney, etc. So I do know about that…
Just as an important aside: George Harrison was the most Fab Beatle, I’m a huge 007 fan, love Tolkien, big Zeppelin/Beatles/Yes/Who fan, ya gotta love Hammer horror films, love watching Prime Ministers Questions on BBC where the prime minister gets eaten alive by the opposition party, love John Cleese and the gang, wouldn’t mind driving an Aston Martin (hate Jaguar), and wouldn’t mind going a day talking exactly like Roger Moore…
) but why come to the U.S. if England is preferable and better? If I felt the U.S. a better place to live and loved it, even though I were English, I’d have no trouble getting American citizenship. Same thing with England. If I really truly loved the place and met a girl in England, say, and thought it were a place worth living, I’d want English citizenship and would be proud. I mean, in the U.S. you swear allegiance to the U.S. not a king or other royal? Are you afraid of serving on a jury here? Now THAT would make sense! I hate jury duty! LOL…especially after my last experience…sigh …I’m just curious. Getting American citizenship doesn’t somehow diminish your ‘Englishness.’By the way, I may be a California dude, but I am aware of the variety of English accents. I’ve been around plenty of English, especially at this science camp I take my sixth grader to each year for a week, SCICON. They have interns from the UK, new ones each year. I’ve met some from Wales, Birmingham, London, Liverpool, you name it. Each had a very unique accent. There were also other Brits from other areas, can’t remember the names, a bit off the beaten path. Some have had a very Irish-sounding accent, some very cockney, etc. So I do know about that…
Just as an important aside: George Harrison was the most Fab Beatle, I’m a huge 007 fan, love Tolkien, big Zeppelin/Beatles/Yes/Who fan, ya gotta love Hammer horror films, love watching Prime Ministers Questions on BBC where the prime minister gets eaten alive by the opposition party, love John Cleese and the gang, wouldn’t mind driving an Aston Martin (hate Jaguar), and wouldn’t mind going a day talking exactly like Roger Moore…
Of course I’m joking! Didn’t you notice the emoticons? You’re being wound up, old chap.
But I do not possess American citizenship. I have no desire to be an American citizen. My status is Resident Alien based upon my marriage to my American wife, who I married in 1989 and to whom I’m still married. I have all the duties, rights, and privileges of an American citizen except that I am not allowed to vote or to serve on a jury, which seems both logical and fair. I’m allowed to pay taxes, though. And I can join in with everything else. The only time I exclude myself is when I’m in company and the Pledge of Allegiance is said. When that happens I respectfully bow my head and stand just like everybody else but stay silent.
Ah, but there really is no such thing as a British accent. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Scotland, Wales, and the six counties of Northern Ireland.
So there’s an Irish accent but the Northern Irish accent is very different from the Southern Irish accent.
There’s a Scottish accent but there are huge variations. When I was in the British Army I was billeted with a squaddie from an out of the way place at the top of Scotland called Stornoway. I think it was in the Outer Hebrides. Nobody in the billet could understand a word he said. He used to sing this weird wailing song all the time, too. Awful noise.
And there’s also a Welsh accent (there’s clever, look you, boyo, yakky da, isn’t it?) with some variations depending upon what part of Wales one heads for (if you do take a trip, though, please note that Wales closes early on Thursdays).
And when one looks up and down England, one finds a lot more different accents. Cockney, Manchunian, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkie, Brummy, Oxford… And more. It’s really quite surprising that there are so many variations given that England is slightly smaller than the state of North Carolina, where I now live. English people tend to stay put.
My point, though, is that most Americans think British and English mean the same thing. That’s the flaw. They don’t. So there’s no such thing as a British accent. The only time the description seems to make sense is when Americans are talking to each other about what their untrained ears detect in the verbiage of those who live across the pond.
I sure enjoyed winding you up, though. It’s easier to do via the written word, of course, although I confess I’m sometimes quite able on the verbals. I’ve actually been able to convince the occasional American that when I was a little boy living in the East End of London, our family used to get invited by the Queen every fortnight to her garden parties at Buck House but we stopped going because nobody in our family really liked cucumber sandwiches – so my Mum wrote to the Queen and told her we wouldn’t be coming any more on account of the cucumber sandwiches whereupon the Queen immediately wrote back and begged us not to stop coming and promised that she’d cancel the cucumber sandwiches and change to cheese and onion!
Jevver get left?
Jovially,
Mick
M
Mickey
Guest
Wow! Our musical taste is virtually identical–it shows our age. I also love 007 and Tolkien. But I have one correction: the most fab Beatle was Lennon!
S
SSTeacher
Guest
All reasonable comments and questions so allow me to explain.Ok you English turkey, ya got me! I thought you were serious…blasted internet…yep, missed the emoticons, guilty! That English sense of humor always throws me. I know I’m going to regret this and maybe get hot around the collar, but I’m going for it…why do you not want American citizenship? My wife, as I mentioned, is from the Philippines. She had her resident alien green card. She wanted American citizenship big time. It was a dream for her. I’ve never understood this sentiment of wanting to live here but not wanting to sign on? Please don’t take me to sound like a jerk (because my tone here is not, internet makes tones hard to read as we know
I accept your assertion that there are many people who want American citizenship big time. I don’t happen to be amongst their number. I was quite happy living and working in Central London and the thought of emigrating never once crossed my mind. But when I met my future wife that all changed. We married late (we were both 40) and as she had a son aged 10, I had to think about his future and weigh that against what I wanted. I’d have preferred for us to live in England – but when I considered long and hard about whether he’d manage at school and how he might grow up and perceive me as being responsible for taking him to a strange land, away from everyone and everything familiar to him, I decided that the right thing to do was for me to come and live stateside.
I think I ought to emphasize that my view was never that England is better. Nevertheless, I don’t think England is worse, either. I was drawn to the United States only because it contained my future wife and her offspring. Regard me then, if you will, as an honored guest on an extended vacation. You wouldn’t ask somebody on vacation to “sign on” would you? As for not voting or not being called for jury service, that’s out of my hands. Those are simply the restrictions the United States government insists upon.
Well done. OK, so let’s up your game. When a Geordie declares, “Gizzabrun!” what is he saying?By the way, I may be a California dude, but I am aware of the variety of English accents. I’ve been around plenty of English, especially at this science camp I take my sixth grader to each year for a week, SCICON. They have interns from the UK, new ones each year. I’ve met some from Wales, Birmingham, London, Liverpool, you name it. Each had a very unique accent. There were also other Brits from other areas, can’t remember the names, a bit off the beaten path. Some have had a very Irish-sounding accent, some very cockney, etc. So I do know about that…
What do you think of Only Fools And Horses?Just as an important aside: George Harrison was the most Fab Beatle, I’m a huge 007 fan, love Tolkien, big Zeppelin/Beatles/Yes/Who fan, ya gotta love Hammer horror films, love watching Prime Ministers Questions on BBC where the prime minister gets eaten alive by the opposition party, love John Cleese and the gang, wouldn’t mind driving an Aston Martin (hate Jaguar), and wouldn’t mind going a day talking exactly like Roger Moore…
I sure hope we’ve not derailed the thread.
Better stick in a relevant religious question. Do you think Tony Blair was correct to keep his conversion to Catholicism a secret until after he stepped out of office and what do you think of his performance as a Catholic?
Cordially,
Mick
G
gurneyhalleck1
Guest
While My Guitar Gently Weeps, that solo song “Dream Away,” his single for the Lethal Weapon soundtrack called “Cheer Down” (watch both songs on Youtube), “Something,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and then all the cool stuff he did with Jeff Lynn and the Traveling Wilbury’s (love those dudes!!) I have to go with George. Lennon was awesome (hated him in real life but loved most of his songs with the exception of the disgusting “Imagine” that is so anti-religious and stupid lol) but I always adore George’s voice and that amazing slide guitar style that I’ve never heard imitated…
Wow! Our musical taste is virtually identical–it shows our age. I also love 007 and Tolkien. But I have one correction: the most fab Beatle was Lennon!
G
gurneyhalleck1
Guest
In the style of Kramer on Seinfeld…“ohh uh…we derailed it!” LOL
I have never watched Only Fools and Horses before. Hadn’t even heard of it until you mentioned it. My favorite shows from England are, of course, Benny Hill, Absolutely Fabulous, my parents absolutely are in love with Keeping up Appearances, I’ve seen a few moments of Yes, Prime Minister and that was funny. I love Terry Gilliam; his best flick is “Time Bandits,” a movie I’ve adored since I was a kid. It was my first exposure to Cleese, Ian Holm, David Warner, Michael Palin, and the gang. I’m not a huge anglophile but I do appreciate the British. They have a weird sense of humor that I appreciate lol…and music-wise, I’m a raging fan of English rock bands. My favorite guitarists are mostly British. Steve Howe, of Yes fame, greatest ever from England along with Jimmy Page…
Never heard of gizzabrun in all my life. I don’t “recognise” it LOL…too right!
I have never watched Only Fools and Horses before. Hadn’t even heard of it until you mentioned it. My favorite shows from England are, of course, Benny Hill, Absolutely Fabulous, my parents absolutely are in love with Keeping up Appearances, I’ve seen a few moments of Yes, Prime Minister and that was funny. I love Terry Gilliam; his best flick is “Time Bandits,” a movie I’ve adored since I was a kid. It was my first exposure to Cleese, Ian Holm, David Warner, Michael Palin, and the gang. I’m not a huge anglophile but I do appreciate the British. They have a weird sense of humor that I appreciate lol…and music-wise, I’m a raging fan of English rock bands. My favorite guitarists are mostly British. Steve Howe, of Yes fame, greatest ever from England along with Jimmy Page…
Never heard of gizzabrun in all my life. I don’t “recognise” it LOL…too right!
All reasonable comments and questions so allow me to explain.
I accept your assertion that there are many people who want American citizenship big time. I don’t happen to be amongst their number. I was quite happy living and working in Central London and the thought of emigrating never once crossed my mind. But when I met my future wife that all changed. We married late (we were both 40) and as she had a son aged 10, I had to think about his future and weigh that against what I wanted. I’d have preferred for us to live in England – but when I considered long and hard about whether he’d manage at school and how he might grow up and perceive me as being responsible for taking him to a strange land, away from everyone and everything familiar to him, I decided that the right thing to do was for me to come and live stateside.
I think I ought to emphasize that my view was never that England is better. Nevertheless, I don’t think England is worse, either. I was drawn to the United States only because it contained my future wife and her offspring. Regard me then, if you will, as an honored guest on an extended vacation. You wouldn’t ask somebody on vacation to “sign on” would you? As for not voting or not being called for jury service, that’s out of my hands. Those are simply the restrictions the United States government insists upon.
Well done. OK, so let’s up your game. When a Geordie declares, “Gizzabrun!” what is he saying?
What do you think of Only Fools And Horses?
I sure hope we’ve not derailed the thread.
Better stick in a relevant religious question. Do you think Tony Blair was correct to keep his conversion to Catholicism a secret until after he stepped out of office and what do you think of his performance as a Catholic?
Cordially,
Mick
M
mariahloves
Guest
That’s how I expected England to be actually, English people for some reason (maybe I’m wrong) seem to be not too concerned with other people’s business and whatnot. I think in America there is a lot of “You should do this” “You should do that” “No you really shouldn’t do that” “Try this” about everything not just religion.
S
SSTeacher
Guest
I recommend it.
What about Madness?
(name removed by moderator) is apparently familiar with Geordie talk. Gizzabrun – or, more correctly, gizzabroon – is annunciated nightly in Geordieland and translates to, “a pint of beer please, my friend is paying.” After 20 beeahs (pints of Newcastle Brown Ale) Geordies tell each other, “As gan yam,” which means, “I’m going home.” Geordies aren’t particular religious – or, at least, the ones I’ve met haven’t been. They could all shift pints, though. Geordies also believe in free speech. If only we knew what they were saying…
Oh, and, errr, any thoughts on Tony Blair and his particular brand of Catholicism?
Philologically,
Mick
G
gurneyhalleck1
Guest
Tony Blair? Well I’m not a huge follower of UK politics but I didn’t find it odd that he held his “Catholicism” in secret throughout his tenure as prime minister. If I’m not mistaken, English prime ministers are involved in appointing bishops in the Church of England, making recommendations to the Queen, etc. That would’ve been a conflict of interest of sorts I suppose. But at the same time, if memory serves, Blair said that he had publically withheld his desire to convert to Catholicism because he thought everyone would think him a “nutter,” which I assume is the British equivalent of a nut-job here, a loon. And his spokesman had once famously said, “we don’t do religion” or “we don’t do God” something like that, indicating Blair kept religious talk out, like many prime ministers. His wife was catholic, he attended Catholic services almost exclusively, so it wasn’t really a secret either I suppose? I remember he took communion at a Catholic Mass before completing his conversion which erked a cardinal or archbishop in the UK, something like that. He seemed to have been a bit embarrassed about his faith with that “nutter” comment so that part I don’t respect. I think being true to one’s religion is more important than power, politics, or one’s job so if he thought politics and Catholicism weren’t compatible, I’m afraid he should’ve jumped ship, resigned, and just become a Catholic if he thought the two were that mutually exclusive.
I’m under the impression that religion is a touch taboo in England. Only 10% of Church of England membership attend weekly services. That church is dying in England. And with the Anglo-Catholic contingent jumping ship, it seems like only the John Stott evangie crowd is left. And attendance even among that group is poor. Religion is not a hot topic in the UK it seems. No one wants to look, in politics, as if they’re a George W. Bush, a person whose religion informs his thinking, decisions, and his prayer life is part of the equation. People there seem to want a secular, non-religious, dry, prayer-free system of governance much like liberals here long for (and they’re getting with Mr. Obama). So, it’s not surprising in the UK with that tone that Blair kept things hush hush I suppose…
I don’t know much of what his real faith, values, and beliefs are other than what we heard in the media, what little of it we heard…
I’m under the impression that religion is a touch taboo in England. Only 10% of Church of England membership attend weekly services. That church is dying in England. And with the Anglo-Catholic contingent jumping ship, it seems like only the John Stott evangie crowd is left. And attendance even among that group is poor. Religion is not a hot topic in the UK it seems. No one wants to look, in politics, as if they’re a George W. Bush, a person whose religion informs his thinking, decisions, and his prayer life is part of the equation. People there seem to want a secular, non-religious, dry, prayer-free system of governance much like liberals here long for (and they’re getting with Mr. Obama). So, it’s not surprising in the UK with that tone that Blair kept things hush hush I suppose…
I don’t know much of what his real faith, values, and beliefs are other than what we heard in the media, what little of it we heard…
I recommend it.
What about Madness?
(name removed by moderator) is apparently familiar with Geordie talk. Gizzabrun – or, more correctly, gizzabroon – is annunciated nightly in Geordieland and translates to, “a pint of beer please, my friend is paying.” After 20 beeahs (pints of Newcastle Brown Ale) Geordies tell each other, “As gan yam,” which means, “I’m going home.” Geordies aren’t particular religious – or, at least, the ones I’ve met haven’t been. They could all shift pints, though. Geordies also believe in free speech. If only we knew what they were saying…
Oh, and, errr, any thoughts on Tony Blair and his particular brand of Catholicism?
Philologically,
Mick
G
gurneyhalleck1
Guest
With all this talk of pints of beer and cozy pub talk (I don’t drink except the occasional glass of wine, never ever do I drink beer so I can’t relate much) it conjurs these images LOL
Hey Ho! To the bottle I go,
To heal my heart and drown my woe,
Rain may fall, and wind may blow.
But there still be… many miles to go.
Sweet as the sound of the pouring rain,
Or the stream that falls from hill to plain,
Better than rain or rippling brook,
Is a mug of beer inside this Took!
Hey Ho! To the bottle I go,
To heal my heart and drown my woe,
Rain may fall, and wind may blow.
But there still be… many miles to go.
Sweet as the sound of the pouring rain,
Or the stream that falls from hill to plain,
Better than rain or rippling brook,
Is a mug of beer inside this Took!
I recommend it.
What about Madness?
(name removed by moderator) is apparently familiar with Geordie talk. Gizzabrun – or, more correctly, gizzabroon – is annunciated nightly in Geordieland and translates to, “a pint of beer please, my friend is paying.” After 20 beeahs (pints of Newcastle Brown Ale) Geordies tell each other, “As gan yam,” which means, “I’m going home.” Geordies aren’t particular religious – or, at least, the ones I’ve met haven’t been. They could all shift pints, though. Geordies also believe in free speech. If only we knew what they were saying…
Oh, and, errr, any thoughts on Tony Blair and his particular brand of Catholicism?
Philologically,
Mick
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