Bishop Wants Confession at Schools

[nickel]

NICOSIA (Reuters) - An Orthodox Bishop has offered to put confession boxes in every Cypriot school for teenagers to seek repentance for their sins.

Whether nabbed smoking or engaging in anything else that would make parents' hair stand on end, the bishop reckons the sanctuary of a confessional on school grounds would soon put teenagers back on the straight and narrow.

"It's an idea which has been conveyed to us and we are looking at it," an education ministry representative said on Tuesday.

The Greek Cypriot education ministry has close ties to the Orthodox Church and several schools already have small chapels. Religion classes are part of the Greek Cypriot school curriculum and focus heavily on Orthodox Christian doctrines.

Athanassios, a bishop from the southern port city of Limassol, is willing to pay for the confessionals, the daily Phileleftheros reported.

But teachers unions' are against the idea. "Children are free to go to church if they wish but trying to force somebody into doing something can backfire," the head of one union said.

The youthful bishop is a popular figure in Limassol. Some years ago his predecessor introduced late morning services on Sundays to give all-night revelers the opportunity to get to church.

linky (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=757&e=2&u=/nm/20031014/od_nm/odd_religion_cyprus_dc)

[RoniMan]

Originally posted by nickelback

1) Whether nabbed smoking or engaging in anything else that would make parents' hair stand on end, the bishop reckons the sanctuary of a confessional on school grounds would soon put teenagers back on the straight and narrow.
...
2) But teachers unions' are against the idea. "Children are free to go to church if they wish but trying to force somebody into doing something can backfire," the head of one union said.

1) i'm not a christian, so i may be off on the facts...but isn't a confessional a place to go to "confess" your sins, and the priest absolves them? how does that set the teenagers back on "the straight and narrow"?
2) are the kids being forced to go to confessional when they do something "bad"?

[WhiskeyPapa]

There is some validity to the idea that if a student is aware of the fact that they will need to confess later, they are less likely to "sin" now. However, I think the effect would be marginal at best. But maybe Cypriot youth are different than kids in the USA...

[RoniMan]

Originally posted by kb0wwp
There is some validity to the idea that if a student is aware of the fact that they will need to confess later, they are less likely to "sin" now. However, I think the effect would be marginal at best. But maybe Cypriot youth are different than kids in the USA...
ummm... when was the last time (as a teenager) did you say to yourself...

hmmm...i could either 1) do this and it's freakin hilarious!

or 2) NOT do this b/c of the repercussions afterwards.

heck! when was the last time (as a teenager) did you use the word "repercussion"?!

:P

[Peachhead]

Originally posted by kb0wwp
There is some validity to the idea that if a student is aware of the fact that they will need to confess later, they are less likely to "sin" now. However, I think the effect would be marginal at best. But maybe Cypriot youth are different than kids in the USA...

I thought it would be the opposite. As a teenager wouldn't you think..."hmmm why NOT go sin now, if you have the place to confess later, right here?"

Of course I'm not Catholic either so I dunno...

[zenbooty]

Growing up in Irish MA, I knew plenty of kids who went to catechism, went to church every week, went to confessional, etc. etc.

All in all, they were no better or worse behaved on average than anyone else in town.

[topane]

An 80-year-old man hobbles into confession and says to the priest, "Father, I'm 80 years old, married, have four kids and 11 grandchildren. Last night I had an affair with two 18-year-old girls. I made love with both of them............ Twice."
The priest said, "Well my son, when was the last time you were in confession?"
"Never Father, I'm Jewish."
"Jewish! Then, why are you telling me?" asks the priest.
"Telling you?...I'm telling everybody", says the man.

[ski]

:heh: :hihi:

[bachviet]

:laugh:

Anyway I don't get the whole concept of confession. As for us (Buddhists), you either paid for your sins this life or the next or the next thru recarnation.

[bachviet]

An old man walked in church and started a confession with a priest, "Back in WWII, I harbored a young Jewish lady in my artic."
The priest replied, "It's a good thing that you saved the young woman's life."
The man said, "But Father, I asked her to do chords (sp???) around the house."
The priest said, "What you did is not a good thing but you will be forgiven because of your heart."
The man said, "But Father, there is one other thing."
The priest asked, "What is it?"
The man answered, "Should I tell her that the war is over?"

[WhiskeyPapa]

Originally posted by RoniMan
heck! when was the last time (as a teenager) did you use the word "repercussion"?!That's why I wondered if Cypriot kids were different than us!

[ski]

Originally posted by bachviet

The man said, "But Father, I asked her to do chords (sp???) around the house."


chores ;)

[Cantacuzene]

I think this is good for them. It will further marginalize the turks there and hopefully get them to leave or come to terms.

[welfareloser]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene
I think this is good for them. It will further marginalize the turks there and hopefully get them to leave or come to terms.

i dunno... there were plenty of turks in public schools in germany, and in germany, you take religion in school, period - your choice of lutheran or catholic. the turkish kids were welcome to either choose one (most did, just because, why not learn about someone else's religion?) or sit out. nobody ever got their panties in a knot about it...

not that that has anything to do with turks in greece... so i'll shaddap now... :shrug:

did i understand correctly that this would happen only in parochial schools, and that there are secular schools that would be unaffected?

[thatonefilipinoguy]

I think the catholic church is trying to regain the public's confidence. However I don't think this is the way to go.

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by thatonefilipinoguy
I think the catholic church is trying to regain the public's confidence. However I don't think this is the way to go.

Too bad this story wasn't about Catholics. Read a book.

[RoniMan]

Originally posted by topane
An 80-year-old man hobbles into confession and says to the priest, "Father, I'm 80 years old, married, have four kids and 11 grandchildren. Last night I had an affair with two 18-year-old girls. I made love with both of them............ Twice."
The priest said, "Well my son, when was the last time you were in confession?"
"Never Father, I'm Jewish."
"Jewish! Then, why are you telling me?" asks the priest.
"Telling you?...I'm telling everybody", says the man.
ROFLMAO

[gear02]

and this thread starts to sink the way all G|A threads do...

good jokes though :D

[Peachhead]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene


Too bad this story wasn't about Catholics. Read a book.

Too bad Canta doesn't have a personality.
Get over it.

Sheesh, man, no need to be that snotty.

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by Peachhead


Too bad Canta doesn't have a personality.
Get over it.

Sheesh, man, no need to be that snotty.

So it's suddenly a personality flaw on my part when I get frustrated by people who are ignorant of basic knowledge?

[nickel]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene


So it's suddenly a personality flaw on my part when I get frustrated by people who are ignorant of basic knowledge?
in a word, "yes"

[zenbooty]

Originally posted by nickelback
in a word, "yes" :stupid:

[Peachhead]

Originally posted by nickelback

in a word, "yes"

:stupid:

[Cantacuzene]

OK, from now on I'll just treat the ignorant people like children.

[raimin]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene


Too bad this story wasn't about Catholics. Read a book.


Originally posted by Cantacuzene


OK, from now on I'll just treat the ignorant people like children.

weren't you already, did you need to add the second comment?

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by raimin




weren't you already, did you need to add the second comment?

When dealing with children you don't insult them for not knowing something, you just tell them. When dealing with ignorant adults you have to shame them into changing their bad habits.

[Airencracken]

Pope. Pppppth. All the news stories with people wondering why his health is failing. DUH! He's old. As for any kind of religion in schools, no, there is a reason church and state are supposed to be seperate. Even if they're not. I hope that lawsuit on the pledge of allegiance goes through. The "under god" wasn't there to begin with, nor should it be now.

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by Airencracken
Pope. Pppppth. All the news stories with people wondering why his health is failing. DUH! He's old. As for any kind of religion in schools, no, there is a reason church and state are supposed to be seperate. Even if they're not. I hope that lawsuit on the pledge of allegiance goes through. The "under god" wasn't there to begin with, nor should it be now.

Did you even read the story at all or any of the subsequent posts?

[gwilks98]

Greek Orhodox is catholic, I thought. Just not ROMAN catholic.

Either way, they weren't involved in the sex scandals that the roman catholics are currently enjoying.

[Cantacuzene]

Orthodox and Catholic were the same until the year 1056ad when the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope excommunicated each other. Since then, the two Eucumenical Churches have been seperated. They are closer to each other than most other denominations but there are big differences at the same time.

[Airencracken]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene


Did you even read the story at all or any of the subsequent posts?

Nah. Too lazy.

[johnnymk]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene


When dealing with children you don't insult them for not knowing something, you just tell them. When dealing with ignorant adults you have to shame them into changing their bad habits.

Sure, that always works :mad:

Bet you'll make a wonderful teacher.

BTW, is that method from "Mein Kampf" or was it from the movie "War of the Roses"?

[Cantacuzene]

I don't understand what you're trying to get at. You don't think that being patient with children is a good way to teach them?

[johnnymk]

No, the "shaming" method. It doesn't work on children or adults. The only place it might work, and only temporarily is at boot camp in the service. The only end result of that method is alienation.

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by johnnymk
No, the "shaming" method. It doesn't work on children or adults. The only place it might work, and only temporarily is at boot camp in the service. The only end result of that method is alienation.

Oh shaming works. I have to assume you've never watched Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. They shame those guys into cleaning up their act, and it usually always works.

Nothing will get someone to stop a bad habit than have someone they respect or like chastize them about it.

That said, negative reinforcement alone doesnt get the job done, and neither does positive reinforcement alone. A mix of both usually works, but for adults peer pressure can work as both.

[TofuNinja]

Heh, on first look I was like cool, confessions at school, (assuming Catholic) now the priest can confess their sins against children sooner. Then from reading the posts I guess it has nothing to do with Catholics and nothing to do with Americans... oh well....It looks like it is another Canta bashing thread.

[RoniMan]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene

Oh shaming works. I have to assume you've never watched Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. They shame those guys into cleaning up their act, and it usually always works.
since it works on queer eye, it must work in the real world?:rolleyes:


Nothing will get someone to stop a bad habit than have someone they respect or like chastize them about it.
1) based on what you just said, are you the person that people on this forum respects or likes? (if i'm wrong, anyone can feel free to say so).
2) "everyone is ignorant about something." -will rogers. so who are you to be able to claim that someone else's ignorance is a "bad habit"? or even to stop it? (you have a right to claim that it bothers you, but i don't believe you have a right to belittle other people for being uninformed)


That said, negative reinforcement alone doesnt get the job done, and neither does positive reinforcement alone. A mix of both usually works, but for adults peer pressure can work as both.
from what i usually read from you canta, you usually only use negative reinforcement. so where's the mix?

[Cantacuzene]

since it works on queer eye, it must work in the real world?

That was just one example. And as far as I know they are humans and follow the same emotional patterns as the rest of us, so yes.


based on what you just said, are you the person that people on this forum respects or likes? (if i'm wrong, anyone can feel free to say so).

I wouldn't presume to speak for anyone else. The only thing I do assume is that everyone has a little bit of respect for the opinion of their peers.


"everyone is ignorant about something." -will rogers. so who are you to be able to claim that someone else's ignorance is a "bad habit"? or even to stop it? (you have a right to claim that it bothers you, but i don't believe you have a right to belittle other people for being uninformed)

I can't argue with Will Roger's quote. I am definitly ignorant about molecular biology, partical physics, and various other things. As i said, its ignorance about very basic things that are bad. When you don't even realize that the 2nd largest christian denomination in the world exists, thats definitly a lack of basic knowledge.


from what i usually read from you canta, you usually only use negative reinforcement. so where's the mix?

The positive doesn't get as much attention.

[johnnymk]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene


Oh shaming works.

Nothing will get someone to stop a bad habit than have someone they respect or like chastize them about it.

I am sure that you will find lots of mental patients and prisoners who would disagree with you.

[RoniMan]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene

I wouldn't presume to speak for anyone else. The only thing I do assume is that everyone has a little bit of respect for the opinion of their peers.
that's right, everyone has a little bit of respect for the opinoion of their peers.


I can't argue with Will Roger's quote. I am definitly ignorant about molecular biology, partical physics, and various other things. As i said, its ignorance about very basic things that are bad. When you don't even realize that the 2nd largest christian denomination in the world exists, thats definitly a lack of basic knowledge.
how can someone say what is "basic" knowledge to them? that's semantics. what i consider "basic" may not be basic to someone else (due to education, environment, culture...etc.)


The positive doesn't get as much attention.
but are you trying to get attention? or are you trying to "correct the bad habits of ignorant individuals?"

[Cantacuzene]

Roni, just stop trying to bend my words around to mean whatever you want them to mean. You're being ridiculous.

[nickel]

:rolleyes: same sh*t, different day

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by nickelback
:rolleyes: same sh*t, different day

Except this time it isn't you. Shocking.

[nickel]

But it is you. Not shocking.

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by nickelback
But it is you. Not shocking.

I know right.

[welfareloser]

Originally posted by RoniMan
based on what you just said, are you the person that people on this forum respects or likes? (if i'm wrong, anyone can feel free to say so).

from what i usually read from you canta, you usually only use negative reinforcement. so where's the mix? [/B]

i'm hereby freely saying that i like and respect canta... his arguments are intelligent, unlike... yeah. plenty of other people also respect his ideas, and plenty more respect his style of debate even if they disagree with his ideas.

and in an argument, the point is to point out the flaws in the arguments of others... but when someone is right, canta doesn't freak out and rarely, if ever, degenerates to ad hominem attacks unlike... some... people...

and i'll put in my vote for roni getting ridiculous in his attempts to twist words.

i think most people would agree that knowing of the existence of the second largest religion on the planet falls under basic knowledge (unless you are an illiterate farmer in a third world country with no teeth.)

and in order to attempt to correct someone else's bad habits, you first have to get their attention... it goes without saying. you trying to separate the two is ... "just semantics?" nah... just silly.

if you're going to move away from the issue at hand and attack someone else, it's really not effective if this kind of nonsense is the best you can do.

[TofuNinja]

I agree, Canta is a lot like Rush the Fat Man. You may hate what he says, but the way Canta and Rush, presents a point makes you think. Even if you toally disagree with them it makes you think about something in a new light or from a new angle.

However both at times just have to be right... although I have seen Canta admit he was wrong. Rush won't do that.

[zenbooty]

Originally posted by welfareloser
unless you are an illiterate farmer in a third world country with no teeth.Shampoo-Banana?

:heh:

[welfareloser]

Originally posted by TofuNinja
I agree, Canta is a lot like Rush the Fat Man. You may hate what he says, but the way Canta and Rush, presents a point makes you think. Even if you toally disagree with them it makes you think about something in a new light or from a new angle.

However both at times just have to be right... although I have seen Canta admit he was wrong. Rush won't do that.

rush makes me think... for about a nanosecond, which is the length of time it takes his arguments to fall to dried poop under scrutiny. not so canta.

[welfareloser]

Originally posted by zenbooty
Shampoo-Banana?

:heh:

that's a third-world COUNTY, not country... and i gots teeth. yee-haw! :D