Thursday 9 August 2012

Do we need 'disorganised religion'?

WE live in an era where people are inquisitive about spirituality, but hugely distrustful or even hostile towards ‘organised religion’, especially in its Christian forms.

But there are strong anti-institutional and non-hierarchical traditions in Christianity and beyond.

Can Anabaptists, Quakers, Nonconformists and loyal dissenters from within the major streams of Christianity offer a new vision of faith and an alternative to top-down religion?

Join the ‘vast minority’ at the Festival of Spirituality and Peace in Edinburgh to discuss what a radical reformation in the Church has to offer - and how this relates to the wider demography of religious and belief-based change in a globalising world.

The event takes place on Thursday 9 August, from 5.45pm - 7pm, at St John’s (Venue 127), corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road, Edinburgh. £6.50 (£4.50 concessions).

Speakers: Ian Milligan, from Exploring Anabaptism in Scotland and the Bert community in Glasgow; Simon Barrow, co-director of Ekklesia, trstee for the Mennonite Centre Trust and former global mission secretary for Churches Together in Britain and Ireland; and Michael Marten, co-founder of the ‘Critical Religion’ research group at the University of Stirling. In partnership with the Iona Community and Ekklesia.

* Book now via the Hub

2 comments:

  1. hi please also remember that there is a strong minority of Catholics who support "disorganised church" many of us remain in the RC's because for us the liturgy transports us to heaven - it doesn't necessarily mean we support all if many of the Church's teachings. I've just had a run in with my Priest who seems to think that all Socialists are "evil" and no one whose a Catholic can also be a Labour or Liberal politician - oh dear!!!!! Have a wonderful festival - we may come next year

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    1. Yes, indeed. Catholic base communities and initiatives (including religious orders) are very much part of the understanding of church as movement.

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