Christians should be at peace with their beliefs

We read, nowadays, about parents who favour a secular, rather than a religious, education for their children. They say this allows them religious freedom of choice.

The assumption is that a non-spiritual upbringing could create a cultural void in children’s education, leaving them unequipped to make rational decisions about such topics later in life.

Perhaps it might be more beneficial if teachers could set aside time to deliver non-judgmental lectures on the rituals, beliefs, customs, and practices of a variety of Christian religions. This could enable students to decide whether to embrace either creative or scientific theories.

It is hoped that emotionally vulnerable and rudderless young people can find a religion to help them during this development phase of their lives.

Religious personnel should comfort, counsel, and advise, if required. High suicide rates amongst this age group suggest that some distressed youngsters are often reluctant to turn to their parents.

The sociability and neighbourliness within most church congregations are a wonderful support system to more mature people, as well. People can either meditate or pray to escape from the accelerated pace of life.

Writer Bryan Appleyard has remarked on how the eminent neuroscientist, David Eagleman, seems to favours creation theories, insofar as he supports the notion of ‘possibilianism’. This newly coined word is interpreted as relating to something that is not certain, but capable of existing when discussed in this context.

Appleyard outlines how Eagleman focuses on the uniqueness of the human brain when compared to a computer. He maintains that this type of data ‘knocks scientific atheism out of the park’.

Such perspectives may help Christians of all creeds to cease being apologetic for believing in the existence of a supreme being. While nobody wants to go back to insular, ultra-conservative times, perhaps we should cease dwelling on the misdemeanours committed by clerical personnel, so that we can look ahead towards to a more meaningful Christian society, where people of all ages could find peace and contentment within the conviviality of their chosen religious community.

Margaret Humphreys

Blarney

Co Cork