Ireland and peoples opinion on religion has dramatically changed over the course of the last twenty years. A wave of globalisation came to forefront and the values preached by older generations were forgotten. Ireland was a state of seclusion and poverty before globalisation arose, the collapse of communism and the subsequent erosion of political, cultural, and economic barriers across the world, made the priorities in peoples life change. People no longer put an importance on getting to even Sunday mass instead staying at home to watch the repeat of X Factor. The public thought it not necessary to seek the church for guidance and forgiveness, people started to ask the question "what is religion really all about"The role the church plays in peoples life is less and less due to many things such as people faith in what really is storytelling in a book that being the Bible, the scandals that the church has been much published, most recently giving 34 million in compensation for cases in relation to child sex abuse, the Celtic tiger has also played a significant contribution to the dwelling numbers in churches across Ireland and the increasing number of natural disasters occurring on a much more regular basis has questioned peoples faith. People are coming to the conclusion that if there really was a god theses crimes and disasters would not be happening.
Where has the church lost it trusty followers, the old generation were brought up on the value Catholic Church brought to the community and in cleansing your soul. The older generation are dying and new generation are not passing on these values that their parents and grandparents laid out about the importance of Christianity. While Ireland was adapting to the phenomena of globalisation the church stood still.
Maybe it is time for a priest to be allowed a companion, wife, girlfriend and even children. The church says it is against their morals to use contraception yet it does not allow priest to engage in having a family. Does the bible not say that we are one big family with God THE Father. I would image it is a lonely life to be a priest, witnessing the gloom of death, car accidents, the solemn of death all the time, even the choice of wearing black represents negativity, closure, the end and seclusion. The church is suppose to be open yet there is rules all the time, maybe the rulebook needs to be changed just like humanity has changed. The Church should take a leaf out of the Good Friday Agreement, people that once called each other enemies, the other side; they sat down and changed the rules for the better and work together to achieve peace, harmony and the construction of building bridges in order to grow their country. They have to change as the average age of priests is getting older and older; the young people are not interested
What next for Religion in Ireland. The recession may help the numbers return to the aisles of churches as people look for help in these troubling times. I predict religion in Ireland is going to make drastic changes to attract more clergy people. Ireland is recognised throughout the world as quite a religious country so religion in Ireland is not in dire straits yet.
My opinion on Religion and the need for it
I am not the most religious person in the world; I can't rhyme off hundreds of prayers however I feel religion is important in Ireland and in my life. I feel it is a means to an end, what is the point in living; it is a closure to a life. People need a belief or they question their sanity on working hard every day for WHAT? I choose to believe in it as I want and thank religion as a place where u visit loved ones graves. My father is buried thanks to religion in a graveyard, were he gets the respect I wish, and if I didn't believe in religion then who I am talking to when I say my prayers when I stand before his grave. It is the only place in my life and in my world I know I can meet my father again. For the last 18 years I have been wasting my time as I bow my head upon his headstone, I DON'T THINK SO.
R.I.P. MY DAD
(Religion will always be in my society)
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