Religions and cults on the streets of Brixton

[friendofdorothy]

Brixton high street is public free speech in action. I like it. We are free to believe what ever we like and tell the world all about it. Just don't expect all of Brixton to to agree with you.

One time outside Iceland some evangelical muslims where giving the 'there's only one god, and worship no others' speech but there was a heated debate when numerous random passing Christians all decided to take exception to their message. Quite entertaining.

Thought I'd better not hang about too long incase they all turned on me though so no idea how it ended.

 

[leanderman]

Brixton high street is public free speech in action. I like it. We are free to believe what ever we like and tell the world all about it. Just don't expect all of Brixton to to agree with you.

One time outside Iceland some evangelical muslims where giving the 'there's only one god, and worship no others' speech but there was a heated debate when numerous random passing Christians all decided to take exception to their message. Quite entertaining.

Thought I'd better not hang about too long incase they all turned on me though so no idea how it ended.

It's weird to think that the apostle Paul effectively built Christianity on similarly unpromising foundations.

 

[8ball]

One time outside Iceland some evangelical muslims where giving the 'there's only one god, and worship no others' speech but there was a heated debate when numerous random passing Christians all decided to take exception to their message. Quite entertaining.

Isn't it the same God?

 

[DotCommunist]

Isn't it the same God?

allahs not a tri-part god. Similar though, down on homosexuality, known to like the odd smiting, mates with Moses and Gabriel/Gibreel.

they probably drank in the same pub

 

[8ball]

allahs not a tri-part god. Similar though, down on homosexuality, known to like the odd smiting, mates with Moses and Gabriel/Gibreel.

they probably drank in the same pub

Still the same God as the Jews in both cases as far as I knew. The Trinity bit just being some guff made up to plaster over gaping holes in the Christian branch of the whole edifice.

 

[leanderman]

Still the same God as the Jews in both cases as far as I knew. The Trinity bit just being some guff made up to plaster over gaping holes in the Christian branch of the whole edifice.

Your pithy analysis would have saved me 45 minutes of listening to a BBC R4 In Our Time on the subject of the Trinity, which really is an absurd concept

 

[8ball]

Your pithy analysis would have saved me 45 minutes of listening to a BBC R4 In Our Time on the subject of the Trinity, which really is an absurd concept

I think it's akin to the 'miracle exemption' device used in comic books and sci-fi films where you are allowed to have something that is complete nonsense <Superman's powers being down to a 'yellow sun' or the Alien's incredible metabolic powers that are completely unconstrained by environment> so long as it is clearly delineated in one place. Then so long as you can roughly adhere to believability in other areas you can get away with it.

Unfortunately the Bible falls down on the second part of the rule, as well as by making it obvious that a patch has been badly applied.

 

[T & P]

This thread is now in serious danger of being Dwyerised.

 

[leanderman]

This thread is now in serious danger of being Dwyerised.

Dwyerised?

 

[T & P]

Dwyerised?

60-page borefest during which a certain poster attempts to prove the existence of God to the boards.

 

[Greebo]

Isn't it the same God?

Theoretically the same God in the same way that you're the same person that you were as a child and will be when elderly; things change over time and even deities might decide that a change of emphasis is needed.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Isn't it the same God?

None of the participants in the debate I saw seemed to recall that, they didn't seem keen on finding what they had in common.
I'm fairly sure thay could all agree on hating homosexuality - hence my hasty exit.

 

[8ball]

Theoretically the same God in the same way that you're the same person that you were as a child and will be when elderly; things change over time and even deities might decide that a change of emphasis is needed.

God is outside of time.

 

[Greebo]

God is outside of time.

And yet forced to dip into timebound space when intervening.

 

[ska invita]

Great article, I wonder does Brixton attract a disproportionate number of cults, compared to other parts of London?

Yes - very strong ley lines run right through brixton - its what gives it such a vibrant green aura

 

[8ball]

And yet forced to dip into timebound space when intervening.

God is unimpressed by your insolence.

 

[8ball]

Yes - very strong ley lines run right through brixton - its what gives it such a vibrant green aura

That'd be ganja dust.

 

[Greebo]

God is unimpressed by your insolence.

Really? Which ones spoke to you then?

 

[8ball]

Really? Which ones spoke to you then?

Well, that was Dave, who is basically also known as Allah/Jehovah/Jahweh/God/Bob, though I have involved conversations with several others.

As have many Urbanites, since Pan used to be a regular poster on here until being banned, and now often pops back for repeated bannings, sometimes being mistaken for ninjaboy.

 

[Greebo]

<snip> As have many Urbanites, since Pan used to be a regular poster on here until being banned, and now often pops back for repeated bannings, sometimes being mistaken for ninjaboy.

I thought Ninj was a faint echo of Loki - Norse god of practical jokes, often appearing in his aspect of a bloody nuisance.

 

[editor]

Just added a feature on this lot on Atlantic Road who have to be admired for their all weather capabilities:

http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2014/11/the-all-weather-street-singers-of-atlantic-road-brixton/

 

[editor]

Cordless mic duo seen yesterday:

The street preachers of Brixton – Dec 2015 photo update

 

[editor]

Meet maracas lady:

The Street Preachers of Brixton – Maracas for Jesus, March 2016

 

[8ball]

I always wonder whether any of these people have an endgame in mind, or whether they just plan to keep doing it, being generally ignored or regarded with mild amusement, until they slip this mortal coil.

 

[editor]

I always wonder whether any of these people have an endgame in mind, or whether they just plan to keep doing it, being generally ignored or regarded with mild amusement, until they slip this mortal coil.

I have to say that she looked a lot happier than most of the people around her, so maybe she does it because she just loves it?!

 

[8ball]

I have to say that she looked a lot happier than most of the people around her, so maybe she does it because she just loves it?!

Yeah, that occurred to me too. Many of them I see don't exactly look like they're enjoying it, though.

And they mostly talk about Jesus 'coming soon'. After 30 years of proclaiming His Coming "soon" I'd be wondering whether my time would be better spent down the pub.

 

[trabuquera]

Apart from the ideology itself the 'downside' of street preaching is that often these characters are under IMMENSE pressure from their church hierarchies, to go out and earn credit / virtue / more steps on the way to heaven by 'street ministry', and are being more or less coerced into it by their pastor/spiritual leader/whatever. Their 'success rate' in getting people to attend their church or take their leaflet must be so low it's hard to compute. If it wasn't the wrong phrase altogether I'd say it must be soul-destroying work.

 

[editor]

Apart from the ideology itself the 'downside' of street preaching is that often these characters are under IMMENSE pressure from their church hierarchies, to go out and earn credit / virtue / more steps on the way to heaven by 'street ministry', and are being more or less coerced into it by their pastor/spiritual leader/whatever. Their 'success rate' in getting people to attend their church or take their leaflet must be so low it's hard to compute. If it wasn't the wrong phrase altogether I'd say it must be soul-destroying work.

I can see that happening, but this woman looked more, well, freelance.

 

[editor]

Carlton is still out and about:

Street Preachers of Brixton: Carlton Warren, ex-boxer

 

[editor]

Some additions:

Street Preachers of Brixton: the Don’t Leave It Too Late supermarket persuader

Brixton Street Preachers: the return of the one with the really loud sound system