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Original poster

How can they justify keeping communal places of worship open?

102 replies

Didyousaynutella · 04/01/2021 21:46

People’s livelihoods are being destroyed, children are being denied an education but you can still go and sit together in church! It makes no sense.

OP posts:
sirfredfredgeorge · 04/01/2021 23:05

And secondly, for many people their faith is the only thing getting them through this

Exercise is the only thing getting me through it - and that even actually means I met survive if I get ill, and certainly means I have 50% of the chance of consuming an NHS bed for something else too, yet I've been prevented from doing that - I cannot do it at home.

FoxinaScarf · 04/01/2021 23:07

@BaconandWaffles

Oh, your faith is the only thing getting you through this? Maybe seeing my sister was the only thing getting me through this but that’s not allowed since we’ve been in different tiers. Maybe music was the only thing getting my musician friend through this but she hasn’t been able to work for the last 9 months. But of course religion is more important. Ridiculous. If everything else is closed, church services bloody well should be too.
I am sorry you can't see you sister and that your musician friend can't work.
FoxinaScarf · 04/01/2021 23:08

@sirfredfredgeorge

And secondly, for many people their faith is the only thing getting them through this

Exercise is the only thing getting me through it - and that even actually means I met survive if I get ill, and certainly means I have 50% of the chance of consuming an NHS bed for something else too, yet I've been prevented from doing that - I cannot do it at home.

Can you exercise by jogging outside? Walking?
Madhairday · 04/01/2021 23:08

I agree they should be closed, and I'm in church leadership (we will be online still).

FoxinaScarf · 04/01/2021 23:09

@Perihell

Our vicar was a complete moaner in the March lockdown and thought we should all be allowed to carry on as normal,he certainly didn’t stick to the social distancing when you met him out and about,and he is of the opinion that God will sort it all out in the end.
Of course anyone can claim anything on the internet.
FoxinaScarf · 04/01/2021 23:11

@Mrbob

They can’t justify it. It is insane.
Government have been useless. They have thrown lives away. We should have locked down much earlier. The virus is out of control and the NHS overwhelmed.
BlackeyedSusan · 04/01/2021 23:13

I don't get it either. yes they are quite covid secure, well ventilated the bloody windows are fucked anyway and let a draught through but there is still a period of time when people are in the same building. not all of places of worship are big and draughty.

Poppystars · 04/01/2021 23:15

So a couple can go inside a church say, with other families, but nit mix but cannot okay golf with just their partner outside?! Complete madness!

Poppystars · 04/01/2021 23:15

Not

Papoy · 04/01/2021 23:15

Because they are scared to piss people off who will say "I cant practice my religious belief"... Thats the only reason !!!

Hopefully people will think it is not essential and don't go and take that risk in the first place... just because it is allowed people dont have to do things...

Notthemessiah · 04/01/2021 23:15

@mrgrinch
Sport is not a religion, comparing the two is offensive to be honest.

And you saying that I find offensive (well actually I don't find it specifically offensive - I just hate that term as it's just used to shut people down, more often than not, when you can't come up with a decent argument). Team sports and clubs provide a lot of the same sort of things as religion and churches\mosques\synagogues - a sense of community, belonging to a group of likeminded people, social support, a place to gather, etc, etc - the only big difference is that you don't need to suspend your disbelief to be a member.

Welikebeingcosy · 04/01/2021 23:17

You cant play tennis with a face mask on.

MeringueCloud · 04/01/2021 23:18

They were closed in the first lockdown.

Aquamarine1029 · 04/01/2021 23:21

Sport is not a religion, comparing the two is offensive to be honest.

Part of the definition of 'religion' is, "a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance."

For many, sport is absolutely a religion.

ErrolTheDragon · 04/01/2021 23:22

Whatever the government says they can do, Mathew 6:5 seems like good advice.

GypsyLee · 04/01/2021 23:26

@Didyousaynutella

Humpty I am not saying it’s ok when I fancy going, of course not,

Just that if we are going into a Stricter lockdown and closing schools etc then Churches should be closing too. Education trumps religion surely every time?

Also I went once and was put off from going again.

I'm sure if schools could be made as safe as churches then they would still be open. Education is still being provided, online. I'm not a regular church gooer in fact haven't had a regular one for years. I've never wanted one more than now and I'll find one at my first opportunity as long as it's a safe environment.
C0NNIE · 04/01/2021 23:32

So many people bashing Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Christians on this thread ! Some of you are quite hateful Shock

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 04/01/2021 23:35

People, and many of them older people, have been able to get together with their friends to talk, get some exercise and fresh air, have a laugh.

Tbf if you are getting together with your friends to talk and have a laugh, that would make the rules around golf considerably less strict than the church ones.

I think they probably should shut, but I don’t think you can compare church with most sports.

Katie517 · 04/01/2021 23:40

I have no issue with churches being open as I know how important they are to people. However it’s crazy that you can’t play golf or tennis or swim outside but you can congregate inside for church. Sport and exercise are just as important to some people

scrivette · 04/01/2021 23:43

I went to Church just before Christmas, it feels extremely safe.

You had to book your seat, each seat was just over 2 meters from any other person (they had been around and measured) all hymn books/sheets were quarantined for a week, no one was allowed to stop and chat and you were escorted to your seat and told when to leave. No singing was allowed.

The PCC of my Church have now voted to keep the Church closed and have online worship only.

Notthemessiah · 04/01/2021 23:46

@C0NNIE

So many people bashing Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Christians on this thread ! Some of you are quite hateful Shock
Where is the Bashing? All I see is people questioning the decision to keep places of worship open, but not in a particularly unpleasant way. Yours is probably the nastiest post so far to be honest, calling people 'hateful'.
PerveenMistry · 04/01/2021 23:54

@Didyousaynutella

People’s livelihoods are being destroyed, children are being denied an education but you can still go and sit together in church! It makes no sense.

It's such bullshit.

So tired of the pandering to myth and superstition to the detriment of basically the entire universe.

Let people commune with their imaginary invisible friends in private. And let their cults pay some taxes to support efforts to ameliorate the wars and other ills that religion perpetrates on the world.

Perihell · 05/01/2021 08:47

The average person should be using common sense and not assuming that because Government has made that ruling that it’s actually ok to go and do it.
I imagine a lot of us had the sense not to mix over Christmas although we were allowed to.

Remmy123 · 05/01/2021 08:48

Agreed.

FippertyGibbett · 05/01/2021 08:49

In my city groups of people were seen entering their place of worship by the back door during last lockdown.
I suppose it’s better to allow it with restrictions, rather than them doing it against the rules ?