Beware of walking the Labyrinth

[zozzle]

This practise has pagan/occult origins and (very strangely) is being used by some Christian churches as a means to helping people to find themselves / draw them closer to God through contemplative prayer.

This is not something that Christians (or anyone for that matter) should get involved with.

This is my opinion - what do you think?

AMIS, I think that you are right. Sadly, I am just about the youngest person in my congregation and I am pretty far the wrong side of 40. There just seems to be an assumption that things will just plod on, but unless we actively engage younger people, things will quite shortly grind to a halt, at least in the main churches.

There is very little drive within an ageing membership to attract young people and a lack of understanding that Christianity is neither mainstream in society nor any kind of priority for most people. The people in my church who believe that there is no such thing as an atheist and who bleat on about a Billy Graham type revival and a "back to the bible" society are perfect examples of that. They don't seem yo realise that God doesn't figure in most people's lives at all and are actually shocked and horrified by the suggestion. I can't speak for other churches or denominations, but certainly within the CoS, as far as I can see, there needs to be a huge change from the ground up if the church is to continue to be viable for future generations. We have to go out of our way to meet with those generations and and give them our message in a way to which they can relate.

That's one of the reasons why I can't see that walking the labyrinth can be that bad. If it helps engage people with the message of the gospel or even with the idea of God or spirituality, that is surely a good step.

Indeed - if we can get out there, I think there are plenty of people who are looking for "something" but have never even considered a mainstream church as somewhere they might find it! FWIW CoS is what I drifted away from once I left Sunday School. It was just chance that I met my now DH who was CofE and we are now both back up here and with the Piskies. It has the advantage of being smaller, which reduces the inertia when trying to make a change, plus they've never been big enough to get complacent But they still have the same issues - how to connect with younger people without alienating your existing congregation.

I don't know what the answer is, but I don't see the very evangelical, bible-is-the-makers-instructions, satan-is-lurking-in-every-corner version of Christianity as being a viable way to appeal to most people. They are very strong in small pockets, but I don't think they're ever going to have a "mass appeal", as their version of "truth" doesn't match what people want out of spirtuality. I don't suppose that would bother them much, as they are secure in their rightness and being popular is always a suspect place to be for that mindset, but it still leaves a void where I think there's space for a loving, tolerant, inclusive Christianity to flourish.

I don't think Christianity is anywhere near "on it's way out" in the UK. It's one of the largest single participation activity in the UK each week, with a few million people turning up to church each Sunday.

Grace Davie (sociologist of religion) has pointed out that while church attendance has fallen since 1945, so has just about every other form of organised social activity (e.g. belonging to political parties, social clubs, charitable organistaions, etc.). In fact the church has declined less than just about any other organised social grouping in that period, or hung on to its membership better if you want to look at it the other way around. The level of commitment, giving (of time and money) and involvement that the churches have put things like political parties to shame.

I accept that churches have changed a lot of the past few decades. It is harder for small village churches to keep going and be vibrant, reflecting a general difficulty in keeping rural services open. But there are also more "free" or "house" churches, reflecting a more informal approach to worship, and which are also perhaps less visible to the general public.

Not that any of this relates to the OP!

Cheers,

PV.

I must admit that in my town centre on a weekend, and sometimes on weekdays, we have people who 'preach' to a largely uninterested bunch of hecklers crowd, and they are very much of the 'you are all going to hell with your godless ways' types.

What a shame if that puts people off discovering any kind of spirituality they might find in the church. I certainly don't think they are doing good. I think that young people in general feel irritated by it, and that may be their only experience of religion.

This is bonkers, I am a buddhist / pagan and I am bemoaning people being alientated from the christian church.

The thing is if you start to unpick Christianity very little of it it original.

That's not to say many wonderful people are sincere in their faith and belief in Jesus and do amazing things with their lives to make a difference because they do.

However the organised part of the religion is in no way original and parts of it are shall we say just down right borrowed. Easter by it's very name has pagan associations, Eostre being the goddess from which it dirives it's name.

Christmas Dec 25th Mithras's birthday who was born in a cave and wondered around with 12 male disciples.

If a laberyinth helps people conect to their inner spirituality then let them walk it.

No! Tis evil! It will lead to people thinking for themselves and all sorts of dangerous and occult things!

What an excellent example of the sheer silliness of religions. The whole lot is a matter of branding - the reason one lot are so squawky about anything seemingly started by, invented by, or used by any of the other lots is that they object to brand dilution.

My opinion is that you can choose you flavour of beleif, other may choose theirs. You sound like my deeply Christian MIL whom I am quite sure would happily have burnt witches in earlier times.

Labyrinths - I have no problems.

There's a church not far from us who have just put one in, and it is very good, I think. There is one at Norwich Cathedral, at Chartres and Amiens Cathedral, at numerous Christian retreat centres. I don't believe there is anything innately sinister in the shape, and goodness, we don't have a problem celebrating "Easter" with its name from Eostre, or Christmas taking over the feast of Saturnalia.

Labyrinths can be a very good aid to prayer to Jesus, and the places that have them give guidance on how to focus on God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit as one walks the labyrinth.

Everyone is allowed their opinion, but I don't think people should be put off using them for fear of being sucked into pagan thoughts or practices.