RISE 2. (a&s)

Second blog and the first academic.

Please do not be put off with the fact this maybe be academic as it really does have a social side to it as well.

The Church, Action, and Modern Day Needs!

In my lecture today we spoke at length about the church in Vichy France, what its attitude was to the occupying force, and how it behaved itself in the light of such a problematic time in France... In truth and to make no bones about it, the church failed the French people. It did little to help the people, instead it preached on the values of being submissive, it truth it acted like Colossians 3:18 tells wives to behave 'Wives submit to your Husbands.' In this case though the husbands is the state, and the wives are the French people. Even when the church knew, the sinking ship that was the Vichy regime and its Nazi occupiers had hit its iceberg in 1942, the church pressed on with the same unfaltering attitude it had represented in the first two years of the occupation, of support for the regime. Understandably it has seen some chances to further its cause, however the church even being an ancient institution steeped in history surely should have realised it is an instate of change that should be used in 1940-44 France to represent the free French and to act against the tyranny of the Nazi and Vichy regimes to whom it was really submitting to.

So the question becomes why did the church chose to submit? This is where I struggle with the church so often. In 1940 it may well have submitted for the fact that the large percentage of the French population where also submitting, but by 1942 resistance had grown, many people were involved in clandestine organisations, or simply in clandestine dancing (whether or not you see this as resistance is another topic) but really the church should have been at the forefront of the resistance movement, they should have seen the harm that the two regimes were causing not just the Jewish population of France but also the starving members of the congregation struggling on with minimal rations. My struggles come when the church rules the people, surely if the church is the people then the institution of the church should come together to fight for what the people believe in.

I am a christian I attend church more often than not every Sunday I worship the same God as everyone else in the congregation, and I often pray the same prayers and people at the front pray. BUT I cannot stand an inactive church, a church that is submissive, a church that takes the middle ground and does nothing. I also cannot stand when churches act like they do not have issues on their door step... what about the homeless man that sleeps in the church porch, and the man who comes to church so he can get warm and have a cup of coffee, why are we praying continuously for other countries and their people and leaders, when we can pray and change the lives of people in our neighbourhoods. We have so many opportunities to take action as the biggest people group in the world, to further the fight for the hungry and the poor. This is so relevant in the times that we are in, where is the church on the recession? Why are the Archbishops and the bishops, the vicars, priests, and other leaders of churches, have we forgotten to fight for our people, the people on our doorstep the people that Jesus would have spoken with and prayed for. Were the religious leaders out there at the sit in demonstrations in London, Washington, New York, and closer to home Bristol. Or were some of them sitting in St Pauls Cathedral thinking of the best way to avoid being controversial?

Every couple of generations the church has the chance to act and to be great. The church did not do this in Vichy France if it had who knows how strong the resistance could have become with a focal point to base itself on. But again the church has the chance to do it now, to fight the recession and to once again become an institution for change. I'm not suggesting it become political, I'm not suggesting it brings around a revolution against capitalism or against the coalition, however I am saying now is a time to act and to be great. Perhaps this is something to ponder upon and perhaps its something your church should be acting against, no matter how big or small the congregation every church can act and should act. I hope this gives food for thought, and for want of a better sign off to sum this blog up, the simple question is W.W.J.D.?

A_R


(p.s : the 2 pictures are both found online the first is the flag of Vichy France and the second is self explanatory)

STICKY RICE. 1(s)

So first blog, here goes.

I feel like I should explain why I have chosen to write this blog. In reality I expect no-one to read this, it is generally a way for me to log my life, maybe shed some light on things I have a view on, and to improve my writing skills while talking about things.

I am currently in my last (3rd) year studying at the University of West England (UWE) studying a Joint Honours degree of Law and History. Although the title seems intellectual I do not really think that I am that intellectual. I have a fantastic girlfriend and family of whom I could not live without.

Enough about me...

I guess the title of the Blog should be explained, I have a great friend in the flats I'm currently living in which is above Woodland Church, and last night we cooked a meal for everyone. (the flat meals are turning into a weekly thing) Anyway after some nagging he coaxed me into cooking a Thai Curry for the flat on the sole condition that he cooked the rice of which is not something I am achieved in. After spending a couple of hours cooking we came to dish up and low and behold what we had bought to be fragranced rice, turned into well some very very sticky rice. However it was a great success and everyone in the flat seemed to really like it so we definitely thought this went well and as of yet no-one has gotten ill. (that was a fairly long explanation) Another point I should make is the s in brackets, this is to indicate to anyone who cares that it is a social/societal blog rather than the occasional academic blog which will be an a in brackets. (or rather an attempt at an academic blog)

Anyway this is enough for tonight, I start my morning with one of my history modules on Vichy France which is very interesting.

Many thanks to anyone that reads this and hey I hope you keep reading my blogs if no-one reads this then at least I'm sharing.

TTFN - Adio_Rise