European Union

[dark_knight]

What is the socio-political relations of the ACC on the European Union, it's nature, ideals and politics?
What about United Nations?

[Archbishop Michael-John]

Church and Politics are not supposed to mix very well at the best of times yet they invariably have to!

The ACC has to view the concept of the UN as a great idea as it brings all Nations to the negotiation table, however I would be critical of its performance!

The EU threatens the sovereignty, security and cultural diversity of all the member states. Since its formation it has been used for financial exploitation yet has also sponsored projects that would not have gone ahead otherwise. The European Court of Justice has the Power to over rule national courts (although some governments have retained the right to veto its decisions). Also the EU has brought the peoples of Europe together socially and economically in a good way which has greatly benefited all the Nations involved.

However someone tried to create a European superstate once before, which cost millions of lives!

The UN alone should be enough as everything that the EU stands for should also exist as a subset of the UN so that all Nations around the World can subscribe. The creation of these smaller "clubs" for the privileged at the exclusion of others results in opposing groups of Nations such as the EU, NATO and the Eastern Block etc. Such "Them and Us" policies are a recipe for disaster, when we should be making the most of our cultural, civil, technological and financial resources and pooling such resources to rid the world of poverty, greed and conflict, and to jointly address the issues threatening the environment and fuel crisis of our planet!
:concucious:
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A Prayer for Peace and Wisdom in Europe and the rest of the World
As the old Ecclesiastical year draws to a close and a new one begins this Saint Andrews day, let us all pray: Almighty God, grant peace, wisdom, truth and compassion to those in positions of responsibility and all those involved at the World's Governments, the United Nations and the European Union, that they find inspiration and guidance to work towards successful resolutions to the problems of Environment, Conflict, Energy, Famine, and Poverty.
These we ask in the name of the Father, with the Son, through the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

[Danage]

The EU, NATO and the UN are all trying to take the position of the Messiah, whomsoever he may be. Only the Messiah can bring peace and order to the world.

Infact the motto of the UN is 'turn your weapons of war into shovals' (sp?), or something to that effect. This is a direct quote from the Bible, but instead they do the opposite.

[LeviathanNI]

My own personal opinion is one of suspicion towards the EU, and I am perfectly happy living in the Soveriegn UK. The UK, in my opinion, is unique in the way that 4 quite different people have co existed relatively peacefully for most of our existance, and still kept our own identities, as English, Scotish, Welsh and Northern Irish/Irish, as well as being British.

Politics and religion shoud never mix, but it is always a useful tool for the politician to exploit.. from my own country, Northern Ireland, to the American electorate, to the present President of the Isalmic Republic of Iran. They will play on the fears of man, and use religion as and when it suits them, only to drop it as soon as it is no longer useful. Time and history has proven this over and over again.

It is a tough one for any religious leadership to take a political position, and not have it thrown back at them in the future. It can also be dangerous to follow the crest of the wave of the congregation, as it can be emotion based.

[Danage]

Church and State have been united since the days of the Roman Empire, both in Roman paganism and Christianity. In Christianity the Church of England, a breakaway church, established the monarch as the Head of the Church and Defender of the Faith (a title given by the Pope to Henry VIII, when he rebuked Luther).

However, this is not just a British idea, it is also apparent in Spain, France, Italy and other Roman Catholic nations, except in this case it is the Pope. Same with the Eastern Christian Orthodox Church. It seems to be a sense of tradition.

However Protestantism upheld that Luther was founder of the 'true church', but that Jesus/Yeshuah and G-d were the spiritual leaders. However, now, most Protestants loudly declare that the Pope is spiritual and moral leader for ALL Christians. A return to 'tradition' perhaps?

[Danage]

The EU, NATO and the UN are all trying to take the position of the Messiah, whomsoever he may be. Only the Messiah can bring peace and order to the world.

Infact the motto of the UN is 'turn your weapons of war into shovals' (sp?), or something to that effect. This is a direct quote from the Bible, but instead they do the opposite.

The correct quote is in Isaiah 2: 4:
'they shall beat their swords [weapons of war] into plowshares'