Seems to be just one issue in the news at the moment after the Church of Scotland (CofS) voted, as one of their spokespersons put it, 'to uphold traditional views and support diversity'.
This appears, at more than first glance, to be akin to a Vegetarian Society approving and endorsing the eating of meat, the caveat being that each of the local groups must approve of one of theirs being a meat-eater. Not for them the understanding that they might have meat in their cupboards and 'fridges but were still keeping to the Veggie code as long as they never ate the stuff - now apparently, using the CofS it is now possible to uphold the 'non-meat' mantra of the vegetarian and partake of the hitherto forbidden fruit as well - excellent news as one can't beat a bacon sandwich in the morning!!
I am troubled because the wording in so many places speaks of 'affirming the traditional teaching of the church as favouring vegetarian ministers yet permits local groups to select meat eaters in leadership roles should they wish'.
I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with the 'favouring' because I dislike the 'having favourites' mentality, it speaks of something unfair. Still, they continue:
'This has been one way or another, a massive vote for the peace and unity of the vegetarian community,' said a spokesperson, 'For here we have 'a compromise' and now vegetarians everywhere can live at peace in a 'mixed economy' - which oddly they always have done, it's called the world; a place where meat eaters, vegetarians, vegans, burger fans and others have always mingled on an 'whatever floats your boat' basis. There are two places - the world and the club and both live, think, feel and act differently from each other.
I asked a staunch veggie friend whether they could work in such a setting and they admit that whilst happy to live in a world where others make their choices, they choose to be a vegetarian and work on the theory that you either are, or are not, a vegetarian. 'You can't be a bit vegetarian, ' they said, 'But then again we live in the world where there are many choices, preferences and tastes. It's not like it's Church because they're not the world but in it, aren't they?'
Interestingly they also said that they were really frustrated at people who claimed to be veggies and yet, in reality, weren't - 'The two are very different and it's not just about what we eat, it's about how we view things and see ourselves. If we had veggie clubs (which I don't think we do) then we would not be permitting people to eat meat within it because that's not what we believe! is right or healthy'
All very interesting stuff isn't it? Tofu or A Big Mac - if that was the choice I'd opt for tea and toast ;-)
6 comments:
For some of us being a veggie isn't a life style choice (favourite quotation of those talking about human sexuality), but I digress.
I have an endemic complaint that if I eat meat causes symptoms of the most unpleasant kind. Therefore I abstain for medical reasons.
Once I became a veggie (through need) I tried to read up and to educate myself about veggie and vegans and found it a bit confusing. However, there is much to commend such diets, although it helps to have a healthy wallet if you are a vegan, green, organic foodie.
I have no problem with carnivores, I regard myself as a Recovering Carnivore - and the smell of cooking bacon is wonderful to smell, just unfortunately I can't sample if I want a quiet digestive system.
So spare a thought for us who are veggie through need not choice.
(interesting that the 'captiva' letters are Tory Out, didn't know you were that radical :)
I love the analogy. Here in the U.S., our Bishop has appointed a Bishop's Task Force on Unity (BTFU) to try to satisfy those who don't believe in same-sex blessings to "eat it".
Pass the kosher salt please.
Wonderful news and very heartening. I'm sure parishes have been picking the people they feel have been right for the job whether they’ve been Big Mac or Tofu...it’s just reassuring to know that in future it needn’t become an issue. Without stretching the analogy to breaking point, it might be remembered that for millennia meat-eaters weren’t allowed to eat in public and if they did, they were very often ostracised from their families, communities and most definitely, churches.
The vegetarian analogy wonderfully demonstrates the load of bollocks this decision is - the only people who will rejoice are confused and deconstruction focused folk who seek to make the church like the world rather than viceversa.
Another apostate body to celebrate with schori and her crew
Play nicely people :-)
I had no doubt you'd say that Jane - but then again I also assumed you'd endorse the awful sermon on Acts from Schori too :-)
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