Torbay weblog davecathy

Mar 20, 2005 at 10:36 o\clock

A CHALLENGE TO CHRISTIANS

by: davecathy

After the tsunami, I posed the question, "Where was God during the tsunami?" Nobody, from the Archbishop of Cantebury down was able to furnish a reasonable answer. Belatedly, writing in the News Of The Word, Andrew Willis, via Hugh Southon  explains that Genesis 3 tells us that 'The whole of creation is caught up in a rebellion against God, who therefore cursed the ground as a result of our sin, and the under that curse, the created order writhes in frustration, bringing about volcanoes, earthquakes, famines and tsunamis.
He goes on to say that we do not suffer such things in this country 'Because of God's amazing patience.' 
My response
Perhaps then the British are a chosen people? What did the people of Boscastle do to try God's patience too far?
I ask all my Christian friends to think about which side of the fence they come down on. Do you believe in the scientific explanations of natural disasters, or do you prefer to believe that the earth is writhing in frustration?
Tyrants such as Sadam Hussein, Pol Pot, Hitler, Stalin sought to control the actions of their people by fear of death, but the Church seeks to control not only our actions but our very thoughts not only by fear of death but by fear of eternal damnation. Their God would appear to be far from a loving and caring God, but one of vengeance and spite, and thus himself guilty of human shortcomings. Unless you are willing to deny science and all its works, it seems hypocritical to attend a church and praise such a god, who far from loving us has put a curse on us. 

Mar 18, 2005 at 10:26 o\clock

THE ROLE OF FATHERHOOD

by: davecathy

Mattel, to answer your question.

I take the view that the child is the prime concern here. I was brought up during WW2, thus with an absentee father, and a mother who had to work nights and weekends. The deep and lasting effect of this on my character would keep a psychiatrist happy for months.

For a rounded and balanced upbringing, a child needs both a mother and a father, but today, too many children grow up totally without a father figure, or with a succession of male role models who are not particularly interested in them. Today, more than ever before, parenthood is a matter of choice, and all I am asking is that if a couple decide to become parents, they should ensure that the upbringing of that child should be the most important thing in their life. A child is for life, a career isn't.

In short, a father's role, both in nature and in society, normally is to be the provider and protector, while the mother is the carer. Now that women are equal in the workplace, sometimes, roles may be reversed, as the mother may well  be the higher paid. I see nothing wrong with that, I know several men who are highly succesful 'househusbands'.

I merely suggest that bringing up a child is so important and satisfying that it merits the full time attention of one of the parents for maybe ten years or so.

My autobiography, which is still being written is entitled "YOU WILL BE ALRIGHT BY YOURSELF" simply because the enforced isolation and terror of my childhood, and the bad treatment at the hands of 'carers' has been the biggest influence and problem of my life. I seek to avoid such aweful things happening to the chidren of today, but I see it all around me.

Dave 

Mar 17, 2005 at 18:48 o\clock

PROFESSIONAL WHINGERS

by: davecathy

OAP's such as myself are about to receive a pension increase much greater than inflation, and in the budget, we were promised free off-peak travel on buses, £200 off our Council Tax, Pension Credits to rise by 13% in three years, abolition of hospital charges, higher thresholds for inheritance tax, and a promise to continue the £200 winter fuel allowance.
 
Yet still the whinging continues. Albert Vension of the Devon Pensioners Action Forum is quoted "The money is already gobbled up", and Peter Broadbent says "This doesn't mean a sausage to the average person" (Herald Express 17.3.05). Some people are never happy.
 
In fact, I believe this to be the most generous package pensioners have ever received in a single year, and to be so dismissive of it is unreasonable and greedy.
 
 Those who remain unhappy with the package should tell us just who should pay more taxes to give pensioners even more.
 

Mar 5, 2005 at 13:37 o\clock

A DISADVANTAGE OF FEMINISM

by: davecathy

Feminism has a lot to answer for. Traditionally, in most societies, motherhood was considered to be the prime, privileged, and respected function of women. Today, motherhood appears to be downgraded to a secondary or part-time occupation, postponed until a womans career allows it, or in permanent conflict with it. Women are excellent at multi-tasking, but juggling motherhood and a career means that neither are done as well as they should be.
In the bad old days, core values used to be instilled at the mother's knee, but today, children too often get their values from play-stations, computers, and television, where sophisticated advertisers, in a form of child abuse, teach children to be lifelong victims of consumerism.
Whereas mothers used to take a pride in feeding their offspring wholesome food, now they barely have time to stick a processed meal in a microwave, or serve up well advertised and packaged junk food of little nutritional value, with the result that children are now increasingly prone to hyperactivity, obesity, and a shorter life span than their parents. Jamie Oliver is finding that most kids can't tell one vegetable from another, and reject real. food for sweet, salty, gunge, full of additives and chemicals.
If you think I am wrong, look around you at the number of children who act in an anti-social manner, those who are ill mannered and abusive, the underage drinkers and drug users. Don't blame the kids, blame the parents, who put their own happiness before their duty to their children.
The tax credits and education available today produce well brought up children who are far superior to my generation, but they are, sadly, relatively few in number.  
The breakdown of the family unit is a complex matter, but surely one of the prime reasons is that women have descended from their respected pedestal in the search for equality.