h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

>>Who's protesting too much?

I am. I was protesting that a lot of energy was being wasted on meaningless supposed figures of authority.

I can't read. My posts should have read "Chips", not "Chris".

Has he gone now? Oh, good...never knew the Thread-police were back.

I'm not making a protest. Just a mild observation.

Christopher:



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7014335.stm

Yes, 'supposed figures of authority'... they have got authority...people listen to them especially in Africa...and these figuers are lying and manipulating facts to justify the dogma of no contraception and also, and more disturbingly in a way, making potentially politically destablising statements about 'the West' wanting to destablise Africa.

I'd be interested to know how you know Francisco Chimoio listens to Thought of the Day and which of the broadcasts you hold responsible for his delusions. Much as I dislike the program I think you've lost touch with reality here.

<>

monthly tithes? What church did you once attend? I've really never encountered any such thing, and I don't believe that they exist outside of the American South, and not even everywhere there...

It seems to me that this speaker makes perfect sense, and that what he says is uncontroversial, perhaps even that you might agree, if he wasn't a Christian!


Vicky

In the UK many church-goers gvie a proportion of the monthly salary to their church. A lot do this as a charitable donation as due to the UK tax laws the amount of money given will not have VAT charged on it.

Thought for the Day, 1 October 2007
The Rev. Dr Colin Morris

We've been celebrating Radio 4's fortieth anniversary this week-end, and the Today programme is fifty later this month, but there's one bit of both which goes back much further than either of them. Thought for the Day under its old name 10 to 8 began before the Today programme was first broadcast, and as Lift Up Your Hearts it started even earlier in the old Home Service in 1939.

The programme's survival has been a miracle. I doubt any two minutes and forty five seconds of broadcasting time in BBC history has been subjected to such a volume of analysis, vilification, protestations of boredom but also occasional gratitude when it has caught the mood of the nation. It has been parodied by comedians, attacked by atheists, derided by the intelligentia. Prime Ministers have fulminated against it, BBC Governors have agonised over it, bishops have allegedly been denied preferment because of it, rabbis have stolen the nation's heart by their humour and godliness.

Critics may accuse Thought for the Day presenters of pontificating from positions above contradiction, but believe me, and I've been doing it on and off since 1970, sometimes the studio feels more like a foxhole in which you shelter rather than a pulpit from which you orate. Or a better military metaphor might be tiptoeing through a minefield. If you are fervent, you'll be called preachy by the generality of listeners but approved of by the devout; if you are undogmatic, that may be more congenial to the generality, but the devout will write you off as wishy-washy. And then you have to navigate between the Scylla of irrelevance and the Charybdis of political bias. This is a tricky one because the boundary between a moral principle and its party political implications may be very imprecise, like one of those frontiers in Africa you only know you've crossed when someone starts shooting at you. Then there's the issue of topicality in a fast-moving news programme. I could call the roll of Thought for the Day presenters who've ended up scribbling a fresh text in the back of a cab on the way to the studio, because breaking news has rendered the original script unusable.

An amazing range of personalities representing the world's great religions have offered their distinctive angle on life, the universe and all that. And most would say it's both a privilege and a challenge to attempt the impossible. In less than the time it takes to boil an egg or read the weather forecast, they try to offer a glimpse of what the world or at least some aspect of it looks like through the eyes of their faith that very morning.

An interesting TFTD:



Not really bsed on the fact that only in the past few years has the rationality of secularism had any sway regarding 'ethical matters'.
It is part of the BBC charter to have religious programming and TFTD is one of those things. The regularly call to include secular comments thhat have been basically ignored shows that the slot is intouchable.



I doubt whether there is such an amount of broadcasting time given over to regularly unchallenged irrational, illogical and many times factual incorrect statements.



The usual 'stop getting at us' Christian comment.



really? I find Rabbi Lionel Blue very pith, wishy washy and his regaling of jokes and humourous events...not very humourous.



And as no secular people are allowed on TOFD it implies that secular people do not have a moral viewpoint on these issues.



Two things here: JUST religious people offering a view on 'life, the universe and all that'. Here on h2g2 a large number of rational, non-superstitous people spend many hours making cogent and logical statements and views on life, the universe and all that...why is it just religious people on TFTD.

And secondly: the irony of invoking 'life, the universe and everything' the title of a book by a staunch athiest is quite humourous.

>>

>>The usual 'stop getting at us' Christian comment.

Unless I'm reading it wrong, this was a comment about TFTD, not about Christianity. It was a member of the Church that said it, yes, but it was not about the Church. And at that, it was merely a statement of fact. All these things have happened. The Rev. Dr. did not say it was a terrible thing, nor ask for it to stop. He merely stated that it has happened. I think you might be reaching a bit with your interpretation of those words.


Geggs

Yes, but welcome to the radio, Rev. Dr!

Speaking in public is always treading a minefield. You know that. It does come across as an appeal for sympathy, saying "we've been spat at in the face". (What I wouldn't give for a faceful of jailer's spit!)

Two oddities: was that his own spelling of "intelligentsia"?

And could he not get the quote right? It's Life, the Universe, and Everything. Lazy lubber.

<>>The usual 'stop getting at us' Christian comment.

Unless I'm reading it wrong, this was a comment about TFTD, not about Christianity. >

Christians live for persecution. It's in the Bible that they should expect it as it justifies that they are correct in their convictions.

Maybe so, but that's more of a point about Christianity in general, and not a direct analysis of yesterday's TFTD.


Geggs

He is A Christian. He talks about stuff from a Christian view point on TFTD.

For me they are mutually inclusive. He is talking from a general point of view but also as a Christian hence the link, to me, is valid.

I sometimes think it's the ultimate irony by radio 4 that they call it *Thought* for the day. They know the faith types won't get it. But the rest of us can at least laugh at the title.

I haven't listened to it in years. My GP advised against it. It's not a good idea when you already have consistently high blood pressure.

Thwart for the day?

I think Geggs is correct, it's not about Christianity per se. I read it as religion in general. I think you're over-reacting Dot.

I think Dot is right. "The usual 'stop getting at us' Christian comment" is used by other religions too. Back to square one.

Yes I'm with 3dots too. The context is that it was a Christian saying it. Possibly a lame attempt at a bit of wry humour - but humour is never their strong suit. And I agree they live for persecution. It's their raison d'etre. So it gave all the appearance of being some innocent throw away neutral statement.

But we hard lined atheists won't be fooled.

Now you can see why I daren't listen to TFTD. It often comes across as all innocent, insipid and moderate. Nice friendly cuddly God squaders in the morning, spouting their apparently inoffensive nonsence, when you are often still half asleep. That's how they get 'em young. It was on in our house all through my childhood. I found it quite comforting then.