The trouble with organised religion

The trouble with organised religion (in my humble opinion) is that it forgets what it is meant to be about. To put it another way, it can't see the wood for the trees.

We went to church again this morning. We were asked to attend for the four Sundays before the christening. We've discussed continuing to attend, probably once a month for the family service, but the Church of England although relaible in its teachings (the same ones Hayley and I were raised on) can sometimes be rather "high church" and stand-offish for our tastes. Having said that we've liked the people we've met at St John's so I think we will stick with it.

This morning's topical sermon was about some of the experiences of Martin Luther King. The vicar spoke of how different churches would feel that their particular way of worshipping was the right way and consider other churches misguided and inferior. The idea that their ways were right because "they had the right clam bake recipe" was mentioned. The message seemed to be that we should be judged on our dealings with others, not on our choice of Parish in which to worship or our dealings within the church itself.

At the end of the service we stayed on for a cup of coffee and a chat with a few other people from the congregation. Oliver is, of course, the ultimate ice-breaker. After that we were ready to leave, but Hayley needed to bathroom. The church didn't have one but we were directed round the corner to the community centre which may still be open after Sunday Club for the children.

When we got there it was locked. Still standing outside its doors, a woman stopped in a car and asked what we wanted. I recognised her as having read a lesson in the service. Hayley explained she needed the bathroom. "I'm sorry" she replied, "it's not open to the public". Then she saw the buggy and asked "Were you just in church?". When we said yes she jumped out of her car and unlocked the building, asking us to slam the door so it locked when we left.

Now, Hayley has a bit of a "bad knee" and was walking with a stick. She was clearly uncomfortable and yet we were only granted admittance because we had been in church. I couldn't help thinking that someone needed to practice what they had just heard preached!