Prince William's Christian Journey

[BoxingHare]

Here we go, another article about that 'quiet faith' that has been completely silent until now!

As one of the btl comments suggests, is there some rebranding going on???

Surely not!

Prince William’s Christian journey https://share.google/6ANWHkV5p0o0qj1TV

Interesting just popped up on Reddit.

Times (and ex Sun) royal editor claiming William froze out the previous Archbishop of Canterbury over his closeness to Harry and Meghan.

"He does hold a grudge... He does pick a side"

https://www.reddit.com/r/RoyalsGossip/comments/1s70mu9/the_times_royal_editor_roya_nikkhah_claims/

She certainly implied that in her 'quiet faith' article.

I wondered if the coolness between W and the Archbishop might have come about if Welby was trying to mediate between the brothers, which W may have seen as interference in family affairs.

Welby was problematic for many reasons - I could imagine an advisor suggesting not to get too close.

Good point @wordler

Perhaps he’s an atheist - you can’t force a faith on someone and maybe his children have other things they would rather do at the weekend?

No "maybe" about it!

If he's an atheist he shouldn't accept the role of King, as an integral part of it is being head of the Church of England.

I say that from a constitutional point of view, not a religious point of view - I am an agnostic.

I disagree.

When (if?) he becomes king he can make his atheism known, then all parties can negotiate from there.

There is no need anymore for the C of E to be under the control of the King (for which, read military control).

I would see W declaring he is an atheist as a proper move towards modernising the Monarchy.

If he is an atheist, why not declare it now? It’d give the Constitutional experts a busy few years……

He might have already.

Quoting myself for @FoolOfShips he doesn’t have to have a belief in god to hold the role of Supreme Governor.

If he had, surely we would have felt the tectonic plates shifting….😂

No it wouldn’t, it would have no bearing constitutionally at all.

Justin, just out, might have.

I feel very sorry for a grown man who has been pushed into what he should think, feel and do by virtue of his birth. Talk about a gilded cage. This isn't about religion, but it is important. William, for what it's worth - it's totally fine that you secretly support English rugby, why wouldn't you? We see you at the football! And we cringe as much as you when you're forced to don a Cymru scarf to pretend that you're one of us. I would happily release you from that miserable duty. And in return, maybe you can release us from the misery of a patronising and offensive title that has stalked our country as sign of conquest since 1301.

We'll still buy you a pint when you're here in our home, heck we appreciate what you did in Anglesey, you'll never have anything but a welcome here. But if you're really the sensitive and sensible person we believe you to be, please give us this gift. It's better for both of us.

Pretty much!

The man cannot win.

Im torn about going to church tbh. I think some of the biggest hypocrites are the ones who go every week, genuflect & then bitch about their neighbours or other members of the congregation.

I’m much more of the quiet faith type and I do enjoy going when I do, but I don’t feel the need to go every week, to show people I’m religious.

Maybe he feels the same, but it’s a conundrum as he will be head of the CofE one day.

Item in the Telegraph being discussed on podcast if anyone fancies a listen.

Royal chaplain says Prince William’s ‘quiet faith’ is ‘strategic and political’ https://share.google/FP5N8cWPstIcurV7y

Listening to the podcast now. I’m not impressed that someone who hasn’t been involved with the POW for years is commenting about what his faith is like NOW. The Chaplain has said the POW is a wonderful man and his comments are a critique on what the political idea that’s being pushed.

This interview is not a reliable source on the POW current faith.

I'm kind of hoping that as William and family walk to church tomorrow, a rainbow will appear and doves will perch on his shoulders. Some kind of divine sign would make his life easier.

I looked up Gavin Ashenden when he was first mentioned on another thread.

He was one of several chaplains on a rota to perform services in the Chapel Royal, St James' Palace, hence 'Chaplain to the Queen'.

He left the Church of England for the Christian Episcopal Church for reasons of belief in 2017, and then joined the Roman Catholic Church in 2019.

He has made a number of statements critical of William on the subject of his faith, which seems to me a bit unreasonable.
I would expect someone with a background like that to have more respect for another person's 'faith journey'.
I would also expect someone who writes regularly about faith, belief and philosophy, and has a significant following in the media, not to criticise a standpoint that realistically he can't know much about, as he hasn't spoken to the person concerned.

(I haven't listened to the podcast; I did read previous comments.)

Gavin Ashenden is not going to be sympathetic to anyone who has even remotely progressive attitudes in matters of faith or otherwise-which I assume William does.

He's next in line to the throne and when the time comes he'll justify his position by claiming that he's been appointed by God to rule over us in hope that we don't question it. He's just setting the tone.

Well said!

I don’t think Gavin Ashenden has ever shown any signs of having respect for anyone else’s faith journey!

I really don't think he will - that argument hasn't been wielded or believed for years .