Where in the world is God?

[RobMitchell]

Ok, so I didn't do an "inburgeringscursus" when I moved here and to add to my sins, I'm not a Catholic.
So.. The whole communion obligation for kids just seems a tradition to me. A tradition that for many has nothing to do with communion but more to do with sepia photos, beige clothes and lots of presents.

This is a sample of the commercial advertising that landed in my postbox in ONE day. Just one day in January.
Unsolicited mail. Spam. Junk mail. It's ridiculous and it's getting worse every year.

So where's God in all this?
Why aren't the churches full with people on days other than the communion days?

If the Catholic church sold clothes and toys, I think they'd be onto a good thing.
Pure commercialism and no way to avoid it.



If I offend, sorry. I'm just speaking my thoughts. As most of you know I do.
Regards, Rob.

[Kevlar]

Re: Where in the world is God?

Well I don't think you are going to upset alot of people with this. And it certainly is a tradition but no obligation. You can choose to have one or not. I'm alwys positive when you have a choice. But my question would be what is your obsession with the catholic festivities and more specifically the commiunion? Do you also have something against weddings? Same kind of tradition.

It is not that you are only being spammed with this I'm sure you get spammed alot more with car info these days than you have ever been with communion spam in all of your life.

But all of this is of no importance as we are here to talk about photo's.

And as with all your photo's this is another great example of a very well thought out composition . Nice!

[RobMitchell]

Re: Where in the world is God?

Good comments Kevlar.
It's not that I'm obcessed at all, its that in the reality the kids have very little choice in this matter. Pressure from relatives, school, friends. To be part of it all.
I know, I've 2 kids and both have felt the pressure. I've stood back and let the choose for themselves, making sure they understand they have a free choice as far as I'm concerned. Result? One child skipping it this year. He said to me that he doesn't need that, and isn't ready for making that sort of choice at his age.
Bravo to him for daring to say that.
I've been hit with the "it's not for them to decide" line. That is what made me a little mad..

You are perfectly correct about the car advertising too. At least I have a free choice as an adult. Unless you are going to and persuade me to buy a new motorbike...

[hvr_oosterzele]

Re: Where in the world is God?

My kids aren't even babtised, still my mailbox is full of junk also . What worries me more is how all those clothes shops know the age of my kids and our address. They don't even go to school in Oosterzele. Doesn't the privacy law prohibit the distribution of personal details? I suspect the municipal administration isn't very strict in this matter.

[Kevlar]

Re: Where in the world is God?

Good for your kid to have made a choice. And whatever that choice is it is always the right one.

I actually reacted because I see something in my family which always makes me wonder. One side of my family is rather catholic the other isn't. But what strikes me is that the non catholic side always reacts when something catholic is going on where the catholic side actually doesn't care alot if the non catholic side doesn't do something which the catholic side would do. Hmm wonder if it is very clear what I just wrote down?

I personally would think the opposite should be true but in reality the non catholics seem to care more about all of this than the catholics. That to me has always been strange.

And yep hvr I also wonder quite often how some people get all this data and how legal all of this is.

[hyperlite]

Re: Where in the world is God?

Well I must be from the "new" generation or smth, i'm not babtised either. It was very odd to see in elementary school all the other children in my class following religion when I was the only one in class who did ethics. Although i learned a lot from those teachers back then, it gave me a weird feeling, because i was the only kid..All the other children had to practice also their singing and other stuff before the communion started, so that was maybe an advantage back then. Because it's given by those retarted nuns Many grandparents also want that their grandchildren do their communion, i suppose otherwhise they would go to hell or smth Many gifts were also given to those children, which i didn't get from mine

When i went to highschool there was a huge change, everybody in my class was doing ethics and only a small majority religion So i wasn't any more that isolated kid who's doing ethics

@ trebs: Do you really think a kid of 6 years knows what to follow? I don't think so, now I'm 20 years old and i still don't know what would have been the best. Maybe it was just better to follow religion and ethics in high school like most children are doing, still don't know. Does it actually matter? Don't know either

At the end i would liked to have heared those wicked stories in the bible, maybe i'll read it some day!

[elsan]

Re: Where in the world is God?

I have two daughters and yes they are baptised and yes they did their communion. Am I offended by your statement : not at all. To be honest the most imported reason why we went on with tradition was because it was the easy way. No explaining, no complaints from other members of the family, no questions asked. Would I do it again ? Probably yes, but they now are 20 and 17 years old and in a few years they will face the same questions, starting with the wedding perhaps, and I told them whatever they do, they must do it for themselves and not to please me or my wife.

[RobMitchell]

Re: Where in the world is God?

This is all bringing out good comments and opinions. I like that. The power of photography !

[scalll]

Re: Where in the world is God?

Nice pic Trebsie
I like those muted colors here, very appropriate..


I'm baptised, but by no means a catholic, like many I suppose...

I've had my fair share of "pressure" when my wife & I decided not to baptise our child...
My family was puzzled...(especially my grandmother)

But I don't understand the big issue about this...
Everyone can become a catholic whenever he or she wants !

If our son ever wants to become a catholic when he's older, he can still be baptised no matter what age...

At least he's gonna have the choice !

[Kariboe]

Re: Where in the world is God?

Mooie en fijnzinnige opmerkingen Trebs !!!

Ik ben katholiek (enfin in elk geval christen!) en ik vind dat veel "so-called-gelovigen" over jouw onderstaande opmerkingen wat beter zouden mogen nadenken...

A tradition that for many has nothing to do with communion but more to do with sepia photos, beige clothes and lots of presents.

Dit kan je ook stellen voor Kerstmis en Pasen...

If I offend, sorry. I'm just speaking my thoughts. As most of you know I do.

Honnest thoughts...

Met veel respect !!!
Kariboe

[Arousal]

Re: Where in the world is God?

God is a dejay, so he plays wat the audience want's