This is absurd! Another one of the Archcrank’s ideas, I suppose! When a religion starts mirroring modern trends and keeps on trying to be ‘relevant’ to today’s world, then that ‘religion’ ceases to be a proper religion. Funny thing is that the more relevant the Church tries to be to modern life, the more irrelevant it becomes!
In any case, religions shouldn’t follow, they should be sources of inspiration, and they should lead. Any religion which follows trends is a flawed religion, and is destined to become even more irrelevant than it already is, it is destined to die out. Little wonder that Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world today! That religion won't change its message. After all, people want to be told what is right in the eyes of God; they don’t want to tell Him! – ©Mark
TIMES ONLINE: The Church of England unveils a two-in-one wedding and baptism liturgy today as it seeks to make peace with families “living in sin”.
The “hatch-and-match” service allows couples to baptise their children after the wedding ceremony. Parents can even get baptised themselves.
The aim is to encourage cohabiting parents to marry as the Church tries to become more relevant to the way people live their lives, but critics said that it appeared to sanction having children out of wedlock. One bishop described the idea as “nutty”. The liturgy, costing £272, is being sent out to dioceses and parish clergy today.
The move comes after research commissioned by the archbishops of Canterbury and York found that increasing numbers of couples marrying in church already had children. The latest figures on births and marriages show that about 44 per cent of children are born to unmarried women. >>> Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent | Thursday, July 23, 2009
