The Comedian and the Archbishop . . .

Those of you who are familiar with Twitter will know there is an option to 'favourite' a Tweet. It can be used in various ways but I use it in the same way as I might 'bookmark' a web site or page so that I can easily find it when I want to come back to it later.

A while ago I had 'favourited' a link to a discussion between the comedian Frank Skinner and the Archbishop of Canterbury. I had heard favourable reports of this event and thought I'd come back to it when I had time to read it or listen to it in full.

If you haven't already heard it you'll find a link here both to the audio version or, if you prefer, a transcript of the discussion.

I do think it was well worth the half hour or so I spent reading the transcript. I was very taken with Frank Skinner's ability to talk about his faith and, even in the written word, the spark between the two men was apparent. I think there was a mutual respect between the two.

I wouldn't say I agreed with Frank Skinner on everything he mentioned but quite of lot of what he, and the Archbishop, said resonated with me. Here are a few examples . . .

- but when I go to church on a Sunday morning I feel like we are discussing the most profound important serious things in the middle of a children's playground, and I find it quite difficult often just to even hear what's being said in a homily, for example. In the Catholic church I imagine this is even worse, because we are not that big on contraception as you may have heard. So there are a lot of kids screaming and shouting. I think it's a real problem. I think it makes church - I love kids and I love kids being around - but I kind of go there to be inspired. I kind of go there to be given something by the priest that I will take away with me and it will get me through that week.

and . . .

- And my point is, I’m not sure and in fact I think faith, that kind of complete and utter blind faith, is a very dangerous thing. I see myself as a person of doubt, and I think doubt is absolutely at the centre of being a human being, and is important. I worry when I hear religious people who have no doubt, just fundamentalist beliefs, and I worry when I hear atheists who seem to have no doubt at all. I think that that is an essential part of being a human being. And I think that when Jesus is on the cross and says “my Lord, my Lord, why have you forsaken me?” that’s the moment when he completely becomes a human being - and then he can die because he's done the full works. So I don't think anyone in this church tonight who believes in God should feel bad if there are days when they find it very very hard to believe.

And even slightly . . .

I sometimes wonder if maybe it's not a bad thing that churches don't have as many people in as they used to. I’m quite keen on quality rather than quantity. There was a time when there was a big social pressure to go to church, so a lot of the people there didn’t really want to be there and weren’t that interested. I know it often looks like the people there are not that interested, but I often look around during a sermon - just for something to do really - and I look at the people and people are looking at their shoes but I think, you never know actually – someone can look bored but inside they might be thinking very profound spiritual thoughts about their life. I would never assume. I think anyone who’s at church now, unless they’re a child who’s been dragged along, are there because they’ve made that decision. There is certainly no social pressure to go to church. On the contrary. So it might be good to have less people who are more committed.

So if you've get a few moments to spare, have a look or listen and see what you think.