End Religious Gatherings.

Article 9 of the Human Rights Act allows for freedom of Belief and, importantly freedom of Religious expression. It also allows for individuals to meet together for religious gatherings, unhindered.

The rise of Islamic Extremism is a complex issue, with no easy answers. Some feel that groups such as Isis should be wiped out with a "boots on the ground" approach, but of course for every barbaric lunatic who decides to blow themselves and others up in the name of Jihad, there are many others inspired to follow. It could be argued that the rise of groups such as Islamic State is a direct response to "boots on the ground". Whilst the media, perhaps rightly focuses on our utter revulsion of Islamic extremism, too many religious groups carry on, week by week, spouting their own agenda of extremist views. Seemingly tame "religions" who, on the surface at least, wish to sell themselves on the basis that their brand of theology brings wholeness and life, expound intolerant views that far from bringing that wholeness and life, instead bring about misery and turmoil. Sodemites, Fornicators, Adulterers, and all manner of Sinners are condemned regularly, from the pulpit and in the language of religious worship. Of course, Churches, to use one example of religious groupings mainly stay away from such arcane language these days, Sodemites are referred to as Gay, Fornicators as those "living together" and Adulterers are people who had "an affair". Of course there is no pulling back from the all-encompassing fact that we are all "sinners". It’s how these "sins" are dealt with and viewed by the wider community. I would go further, we are all beautiful people, loved by whatever interpretation of the divine we choose to follow, loved, beyond measure, loved unconditionally by a deity NOT screaming from the heavens "Sort yourself out you miserable sinner", but instead screaming," For crying out loud - BE YOURSELF - I LOVE YOU!!"

What is interesting also is that in my day to day conversations I find that so many people, even those who regularly attend a faith gathering, adhere to or accept the theology, doctrines and teachings of their own particular group lock, stock and barrel. This creates a duality of existence and may explain why on a Sunday morning Mr and Mrs So and So are charming, and yet are bigoted nasties the rest of the week. Of course there is a more worrying explanation - whilst we have freedom of religious belief and expression, which includes the right to gather together for corporate worship it gives those in authority the opportunity to expound and preach negative and extremist doctrines.

Some years ago, a member of my congregation, who was also editor of the Parish Magazine, began to cause us some difficulties. This was a person of extreme views who saw anyone who held differing views as fair game - after all they are all damned. In an attempt to force his resignation I sent him two articles, which I knew would cause him to refuse to publish. The plan worked, and sitting in my study, he proceeded to accuse me of being in league with Satan. When I laughed, he became even angrier. In the conversation that ensued, he made it clear that he was "Spirit filled" and that "God spoke directly through him". He told me that my years of theological study at University were nothing more than Satanic Indoctrination, and that every single word of the Bible was utterly true. I refused to withdraw my articles, he duly resigned. This was an intelligent man, someone of high professional standing. Disturbingly, someone who was allowed to preach in many churches (other than mine of course) and who had a following of people who saw him as some sort of prophet. Of course, under Article 9 of the human rights act, he was ALLOWED to hold these views, ALLOWED to expound them, and because of the nature of public worship in which he was (and as far as I know probably still is) playing a leadership role he was ALLOWED to impose these beliefs on others.

People attend religious gatherings for a number of reasons, for many its cultural, religion is not simply a belief system but their whole life and culture. For many an informed decision has been taken after a time of searching. Equally, for a great many, religion has been a source of life and meaning following a difficult time such as bereavement or a breakdown. For these people, those who have sought comfort and meaning, their vulnerability leaves them wide open to all sorts of abuse. Religious abuse is rife, as is an extremism of belief systems.

I agree with Article 9, wholeheartedly, that every human being should have the right to consider, and choose his or her path. Once chosen they should be able to access others who share their paths and to grow as individuals. Growth, however, whilst being enabled and enriched by others can equally be damaging and restricted - none more so than in a corporate worship setting. Of course a ban of all public religious worship would cause an outcry, and with Anglican Bishops still holding power in the house of Lord’s, I doubt anyone would listen. However a sustained move away from public gatherings, with an encouragement for friends and families to share together in a more informal inclusive way, where the emphasis is on a shared, eclectic journey of diverse individuals rather than on what is said and done or spouted from the pulpit, might just begin to create an approach to faith and religion that brings life, whilst sucking life from those who would wish, however intentioned, to expound their own narrow and negative theology.

#religion #spiritualabuse #religiousextremeism