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Jordan Huxley

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Faith Communities & Community Cohesion

Do you agree with the Uk government's involvement of faith communities and religious organisations in building and maintaining social cohesion at the community level? Do such faith communities and religious organisations have a greater role when the communities in question are DIVERSE and DEPRIVED?

Topics: Community Cohesion JRF Robert Putnam Social Capital Social Cohesion community government policy religion uk
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    Ehis Odijie 10+

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    Aug 10 2012: Faith and Community Cohesion are two terms that should not be put into the same sentence. Faith is a belief system that brings people together based on conviction. On this definition alone we can point to a contradiction with community cohesion – but I will go a step further. All faiths claim truthfulness hence they are mutually exclusive. The Christians believe the one who does not submit in his God is condemned forever – the Muslim thinks the same. How does faith bring such groups together? It is precisely faith that put them apart in the first place.

    I wish no religion was ever created– it deprives decent people of their ability to love. Folks start hating on others for no reason simply because it is a religious duty to do so - be it homosexuals or people of different faith.
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      Luke Williams

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      Aug 10 2012: Do you not think though that you are only using the word "religion" in general terms? I would argue that in reality at the very basis of what 'religion' or the Church should look like is people who actually enhance the ability to love within community. As well as this it's good to realise not all Christians go down the route of saying people are condemned forever, in fact large fractions of the Church now believe in a universal God- although that is a separate argument and certainly not all Christians hate people of different beliefs such as other religions or homosexuals etc. I certainly don't.
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        Ehis Odijie 10+

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        Aug 10 2012: You are right Luke, perhaps i was not careful enough when i used the word "religion". Though It is important to distinguish between 'what Church should look like' and 'what church actually looks like'. I agree with you that the church should enhance peoples ability to love but this has not been the case. The only love enhancement in the church is for in group members. I take your second point - i am one of those who don't go down that route - but we need a sense of proportion. It is fair to say that Christians have some work to do on issues around discrimination.

        But on the specifics; Britain is a 'Christian State' (i use this term with caution) that's why you have the government using the church to forward its policy.
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        Obey No1kinobe 50+

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        Aug 12 2012: Luke, if some Christians believe in a universal god and drop hell, creation, supernatural this and that, revelation, most the bible and pick and choose the nice bits, then they have little in common with more biblically orientated Christians.

        Potentially you might end up with someone who believes there is probably some supernatural realm and beings, and that Jesus taught some nice things. If you just focus on the nice things you basically have humanism.

        Unfortunately Christainity at its roots is connected to the bible, and the biblical god is not that nice, the concept of hell is not that nice, and in the end there is no evidence to support any of the supernatural claims or many of the other details.

        Yes people with all sorts of spiritual beliefs identify as Christians, even if they can not agree on anything else. But it comes back to religious beliefs that do not need to be justified because they are based on faith and can go either way.

        The very nature of any scripture, revelation or authority (pope) based beliefs is that all sorts of baseless nonsense can be prescribed and is not supposed to be challenged. Its hard to debate "god said so""

        Government should butt out of religion, even if it is a vote winner.
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      Obey No1kinobe 50+

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      Aug 12 2012: I mostly agree with you Ehis.

      Actually the UK is problematic in terms of separation of church and state.

      The head of state is the head of the Church of England and defender of the faith.

      A lot of history, and at least Catholics or whatever can stand for parliament these days.

      I suggest it is better to base community cohesion on something factual and that we all share, our humanity, not based on different religious dogma.

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