Celebrating Faith in open spaces in built-up areas

I knew as I approached the town centre that the sound snaking its way through the streets could only mean one thing. Someone had let a gospel choir loose in the centre of town. I was not wrong. There were lots of them dancing around, some dressed up and some in T-shirts proclaiming god. The PA system was unbearably loud and I felt sorry for the poor people working in shops that had to endure this.

It was too loud even for me to try and shout back. I wish I could have asked for the microphome so that I caould have asked them a few questions about their saviour. I am really annoyed that Rotherham metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) would allow minority groupd to preach like this. Having a few stalls that people can wander over to is one thing but very loud "In your face" gospel salvation?

There were plenty of people about who I made an informed guess were muslim and there were a few people sat around in the square taking it in but most people were going on their way getting on with whatever people do in Rotherham town centre.

I wish I could have done a little delving by asking what their views were on homosexuality and other choice nuggets from their holy book but I had my kid and his friend with me and I just wasn't prepared.

Anyway, here is the hasty prepared email that I sent off to RMBC Town Centre Team. I am connected through my work. Should be interesting to see what I get back.


Hi Rotherham Town Centre

I am writing to enquire about hiring a spot in Rotherham town centre. I see you had a full blown gospel outfit there today making lots of noise and preaching about they found Jesus. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to hang around for too long as it was a bit on the loud side and hearing is not good at the best of times.

Are any religious groups allowed book a slot to do this? I feel that the issue of religion is not being addressed in the way that it should and would love to put on a similar event so that my congregation can become more proactive in putting the important messages to people who may not have read or fully understood the Bible. As you may be aware, this holy book on which our Country’s faith was built, condemns homosexuality as a sin and has clear messages about how women should behave what should happen to people who worship false idols. We feel that there is not enough contemplation given to these issues in the modern age. We also have t-shirts and balloons and our own public address system and are ready to roll.

Would you please let me know how I can secure a booking and what paperwork I need to fill in. Can it be done online? I appreciate that you may have to give equal space to the different denominations of Christianity, the other Abrahamic faiths and various other ‘groups’ that have a different god but I hope we will be able to arrange something before the end of the Summer.

Yours hopefully

Mr Bloom.

I must need faith

I get accused of making posts in christian forums that reflect my atheist stance because I'm really there looking for god. That my attacking their ridiculous beliefs is really down to my unmet need for god's love. The dialoge below is lifted from a blog that I set up on a really well laid out faith site which only seems to have a handful of posters, however they really don't like me but seem to be letting me hang out there in the hope of converting me.

Why do I feel the need to make posts in opposition camps about the stupidity of religion? I'm not sure. It started with a letter to my local paper when I was 15 about the requirement for schools to hold a religious assembly every day, something I believe they are still required to do. Some replies were, "One only has to look at the flowers and the trees to know there is a god" and another reader blamed my lack of belief on "All the shameful sex and violence we see on TV".

The internet has really opened up the debate and is bringing atheists together and channeling the evidence in ways that were not possible before. Organised faith has its wealth, heirachy, media spin and hype. Religion is big business. Look at the catholic church. What about the "please donate now" pastors?

So why do I challenge their comfort zones? Possibly because I want to develop my challenging skills, to get them to look at things from a different angle, I'm not sure.

It scares me that there are adults out there who believe in Adam, Eve and a talking snake, that a God made everything and listens to our prayers before deciding to ignore them.