We are on holiday down south at the moment. We stayed a couple of days in Cork. We met up with our friends the Harleys at Fota and then went with them to Cobh. I asked Ingrid some questions about the dissertation she is doing as part of an M.Th. at Irish Bible Institute. Her dissertation is on the demise of Catholicism and where people are looking to get meaning instead (in the Republic of Ireland).
Paul 'So where do people get their meaning from?'
Ig 'A small but growing group are turning to New Age and alternative therapies.'
Paul 'Could you give an example?'
Ig 'Angels! Lot's of people are into the angels thing. Alternative therapies, holistic medicines, raiki, meditation, yoga, acupuncture. For example there is now an angel shop in Carrigaline [Co. Cork]. In Easons one of the biggest selling books is about angels and how your guardian angel can look after you. Other people are looking for meaning in life-coaching. The essence of life-coaching is that you are in charge of your destiny and that you deserve your best.'
Paul 'What about your average person?'
Ig 'I would say for the average person it's materialism. Consumerism is their source of meaning. But that is until a crisis hits!
Paul 'Where do they turn in a crisis?'
Ig 'That's really the thing! For most people the last place they will turn is the church.'
No comments:
Post a Comment