Can't see Anything Wrong with the King's Easter Message 🤔🤔?

[StephieSlade84]

Seen loads of people on social media kicking off about the King's Easter message, but I can't see anything wrong with it - although it mentions other religions ONCE, I feel like it was in a way to show the similar values that all religions show (at least when they aren't going overboard) and it's showing the Christian values of kindness and tolerance.

One of the puzzles of our humanity is how we are capable of both great cruelty and great kindness. This paradox of human life runs through the Easter story and in the scenes that daily come before our eyes — at one moment, terrible images of human suffering and, in another, heroic acts in war-torn countries where humanitarians of every kind risk their own lives to protect the lives of others. A few weeks ago, I met many such people at a reception in Buckingham Palace and felt a profound sense of admiration for their resilience, courage and compassion.

On Maundy Thursday, Jesus knelt and washed the feet of many of those who would abandon Him. His humble action was a token of His love that knew no bounds or boundaries and is central to Christian belief.

The love He showed when he walked the Earth reflected the Jewish ethic of caring for the stranger and those in need, a deep human instinct echoed in Islam and other religious traditions, and in the hearts of all who seek the good of others.

The abiding message of Easter is that God so loved the world — the whole world — that He sent His son to live among us to show us how to love one another, and to lay down His own life for others in a love that proved stronger than death.

There are three virtues that the world still needs — faith, hope and love. “And the greatest of these is love”.

It is with these timeless truths in my mind, and my heart, that I wish you all a blessed and peaceful Easter.

Charles R

I don’t have a problem with religious messages but I cannot get my head around ‘God loved the world so much, he sent his son there to be sacrificed’. Our children aren’t our possessions. I can’t get my head around the reverence and adulation of Abraham who was prepared to slit his own child’s throat because God told him to. He should have been locked up. Maybe I take it too literally bit I think those sentiments pander to cruelty and abuse in our humanity.

The neighboring religions, such as the Canaanites, had a tradition of child sacrifice, so he would have known it existed and was common.

I'm largely agnostic, but I don't have a problem with this speech.

I agree with the above poster who said Charles seems more spiritual than Christian. He has always embraced other religions.

P.S. And on Sunday, the holiest day in the Christian calendar, neither of my sons will stand beside me as we honour the Resurrection and the enduring promise of Christ’s message. That absence weighs heavily.

I must acknowledge, with deepest sorrow, the part I have played in the distance that now divides us. In seeking to uphold duty, I have at times failed in love. I offer no defence—only regret.

To my sons, and to the nation I have pledged my life to serve: I am sorry for the pain I have caused, and for the wounds that have yet to heal.

The message of Easter is one of redemption and grace. I pray it may yet find us all.

That’s a new low @vera99

Agree.
Cheap shot and unnecessary on a thread such as this.

I agree. Why did you write that, @vera99 ?

Really inappropriate @vera99

It's a good message and in keeping with his trying to be inclusive. I'm a practicing Catholic so I'm not sure if it offends CofE people.

KC can't do right for trying. If he hadn't mentioned out there faiths then he might have been pilloried for that too.

I don’t write off King Charles. Having written speeches for a living, I know how much is left unsaid in public life. But the tragedy of his relationship with his sons is, to me, one of the great emotional tragedies of our generation—about love not fully given, or not given in time.

I see the royal family as trapped within an institution that prevents them from living truly fulfilling, authentic lives. I believe that freeing them from it would allow for more healing and deeper connections.

Easter, with its focus on sorrow and redemption, made that ache feel sharper. My words weren’t meant to wound, but to speak to the pain that lingers. In the end, we’re all human—all too human.

I think we have a winner for 'Most Bizarre Post of the Week'.

And it just came to me as something that needed to be said. But obviously not here in retrospect.

Why are you saying "sons" @vera99? I'm sure he and William have had issues at times for various well known reasons but they seem to have a perfectly decent relationship now, to all appearances.

I agree re Abraham (though faith in God would have been seen as more important than love for a child, but as a mother I struggle with that idea!) but in terms of Jesus' sacrifice he was God rather than being just the son of God - so it was his choice

Has it ever occurred to you that maybe Charles doesn't want William by his side all the time? He wasn't at all the events with HLMTQ. It is sending a message of weakness - I can't function as king without my son. I'm too sick to be king by myself. I don't remember Charles being criticized for not being velcroed to his sick, elderly mother.

Also, for all you know, William, Catherine, and the Wales children may be spending some time in quiet prayer and Scripture reading on Easter.

My president would probably deport Jesus to a jail in El Salvador for anti-government activities.

I think the story of the binding of Isaac was to clearly demonstrate that God did NOT want such sacrifice rather than the unquestioning obedience aspect (which could be seen as unquestioning trust, really) but like most of the Bible, the meaning is up for debate.

If the Jesus of the Gospels returned and saw the pomp and power with which the world's Establishments use him to legitimize their influence, I’m certain we'd witness a repeat of the money changers in the temple—only this time, he'd be crucified all over again for daring to speak uncomfortable truths to power.

@vera99 you have absolutely no idea that Charles' relationship with his sons is a "tragedy".
Neither William nor Charles choose to share private and personal details.
Harry does - you might say overshare- however, we don't know how much of his account is truthful.
So I would just let private lives be private and not judge on nasty rumours and downright lies.

There’s an argument I’ve seen that suggests Charles may be much iller than we realize, and that he wishes to spend his remaining time as the focus, rather than the heir. William and Catherine are likely aware of this as well, and may be seeking to maximize their private time before the storm that is inevitably coming. Only they know if that's the truth - I've no idea but it's a sombre interpretation of events.

My words weren’t meant to wound, but to speak to the pain that lingers.

Make them your words then rather than inserting them into the King's mouth.

It's a shame, this was an interesting thread and had some thought provoking replies.
Now it's getting filled up with what in my opinion is mawkish drivel.
I know it's it not an airport and I don't need to announce my departure and, yes, I'll take care the door doesn't hit my arse on the way out.

I'll make my excuses and leave.

In the King's recent messages to other religions (Eid for Islam, Vaisakhi for Sikhs), he sticks to addressing people of the faith group celebrating that particular holiday. It is therefore inconsistent to discuss other faiths in his Easter message, particularly given his role as Head of Church.

By contrast PM Starmer's message is a masterclass...on topic, not too long and directed to Christians, the faith group which celebrates Easter.

IMHO, it is ok for some people to celebrate some things and for other people to celebrate other things. And it is ok to acknowledge specific holidays for a specific group without reference to other separate groups.

I think the King is in a slightly odd situation as he is Supreme Governor of a church which, although the established national Church of England, is today only a minority faith. Only about 1 million of the nearly 70 million inhabitants of the United Kingdom regularly worship at Church of England services, and that number is falling all the time. So Britain is now a nation of several faiths, and none.

That said, as others have pointed out, Easter is a specifically Christian occasion, and the King did not see the need to reference other faiths in his messages marking non Christian celebrations. Personally I don't think it's a big deal either way, and of course some will get all outraged over anything, but it is an interesting discussion.

According to some, KC3 has waded into tricky waters and given his name, he really should have thought twice about this since KC1 got done in for breaking his Coronation Oath!

KC3 made specific oaths and representations during the Coronation to the Church of England. Essentially, he agreed "to the utmost of [his] power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel"

I will defer to the legal eagles on this forum, but some are saying that an Easter message that includes other faiths may potentially violate this part of the Oath, because by definition faith or non-faith is exclusionary...e.g. if you believe in Islam, Atheism, Judaism Buddhism, Sikhism, etc. then you by definition do not believe that Jesus Christ is your savior. Which means by including other faiths, can a case be made that KC3 is not promoting "the true profession of the Gospel to the utmost of [his] power?"

Full text of KC3 Coronation Oath

Back when Jesus was alive, he was preaching to people of other faiths because there were no Christians. He was also preaching and interacting with people who weren't Jewish. He wasn't asking people about their religion or ethnic background. He was just trying to show them the way.

There is a great scene in Kingdom of Heaven when David Thewlis tells Orlando Bloom:

https://images.app.goo.gl/f4WKyJo2qioomJjJA

That to me sums it all up.