Angelus Bells and the 6.01

Samaris

So, there's been some fussing over whether or not the Angelus bells should be removed from RTE so Catholicism doesn't get unfair representation or something. It's offensive anyway, or potentially so. RTE seem to have come down against removing it entirely, but they'll make it more inclusive.

What do people think about this?

I reckon my view on it is that it's an old tradition, it doesn't do any harm and it's part of our history. Although I'm glad the tradition of stopping whatever you're doing to look towards the nearest Church when the bells start bonging has stopped. Honestly, the old shots used to look like we were a nation of programmed robots. Must have been quite creepy to anyone who didn't know what was going on.

I may not be particularly interested in Catholicism, but I can't really deny it's part of what the country was built on, and I don't see that one minute of bonging is really that traumatic to anyone.

Maximus Alexander

In a world where I was ever home at 6 o'clock, and ever watched RTE, I'd think it was pretty funny to watch footage people stopping what they're doing and staring wistfully into the middle distance, presented in such a fashion as to suggest that this has ever happened, anywhere.

Akrasia

If the Catholics get their angelus, muslims should get a call to prayer

Many of the catholics claiming that 'it doesn't matter, it's just a moment of reflection' would probably change their tune if they had to listen to the Muslim call to prayer twice a day before the main news bulletins

FionnK86

There's always the incessant sense of guilt when the Angelus comes on and I don't bless myself. Haven't been a practising Catholic in years !

FionnK86

Akrasia wrote: »

If the Catholics get their angelus, muslims should get a call to prayer

Many of the catholics claiming that 'it doesn't matter, it's just a moment of reflection' would probably change their tune if they had to listen to the Muslim call to prayer twice a day before the main news bulletins

Why Muslims? What about Jews too?

RayCon

I'm never watching RTE at 6pm enough for it to bother me.

Grayson

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

In a world where I was ever home at 6 o'clock, and ever watched RTE, I'd think it was pretty funny to watch footage people stopping what they're doing and staring wistfully into the middle distance, presented in such a fashion as to suggest that this has ever happened, anywhere.

I voted to get rid of it but I do have a bit of nostalgia for it. I was always filmed in the town I lived in so I'd occasionally recognise someone from it.

Menas

If we got rid of the Angeles then what would we replace it with?
Perhaps just a minute of some old Thelma Mansfield clips? No one could object to that.

SpaceTime

What about the Pastafarians?!

They simply demand that they be allowed strike a spaghetti strainer with a spaghetti lifter in a weird, slightly irregularly timed manner for 1 minute a day while gazing wistfully at images of pasta dishes.

Maximus Alexander

Menas wrote: »

If we got rid of the Angeles then what would we replace it with?
Perhaps just a minute of some old Thelma Mansfield clips? No one could object to that.

The Six One News would become the Six O'Clock News, naturally.

Samaris

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

In a world where I was ever home at 6 o'clock, and ever watched RTE, I'd think it was pretty funny to watch footage people stopping what they're doing and staring wistfully into the middle distance, presented in such a fashion as to suggest that this has ever happened, anywhere.

Oddly enough, I have actually seen people doing it (although not in many years now)! And there was a brief bit where I picked up the habit myself, although not to the extent of dropping everything. If I'm not particularly doing anything and I hear the church bells start, I have sometimes found myself absently looking towards them for a few seconds before my brain catches up.

smash

Akrasia wrote: »

If the Catholics get their angelus, muslims should get a call to prayer

Let's not start throwing inane PC comments in to a discussion regarding a traditional catholic practice.

Should it be scrapped? Yes.
Should other religions get a time slot if it's not scrapped? Only if they pay through the fcuking nose for it!

Akrasia

FionnK86 wrote: »

Why Muslims? What about Jews too?

Sure why not. They're all the same

The point is that the majority often claim 'sure what's the harm' when they are imposing their belief system on others, but would be deeply offended if a minority tried to impose their beliefs on them.

It's the same with the schools 'Sure what's the harm in sending your kid to a catholic school'. The same person might not be too impressed if they were forced to send their little pride and joy to a Muslim or jewish or evangelically atheist school (should one exist)

The_Captain

The state broadcaster shouldn't promote religious views, simple as that. The quicker it's scrapped the better

SpaceTime

What about replacing it with a Euronews style "no comment" piece.

It would be a bit more useful.

Red Kev

Akrasia wrote: »

If the Catholics get their angelus, muslims should get a call to prayer

Many of the catholics claiming that 'it doesn't matter, it's just a moment of reflection' would probably change their tune if they had to listen to the Muslim call to prayer twice a day before the main news bulletins

Muslim prayer times change during the day and during the year. http://www.islamicfinder.org/prayerDetail.php?country=ireland&city=Dublin&id=10583&lang=

Then there's the Jews, Protestants, Buddists, Atheists, Agnostics, Mormons, Pastafarians, Rastafarians and dozens of others. We can't accommodate everybody.

I personally don't have an issue with it, couldn't care less if it's there or not, I'd rather have the church out of the schools than the Angelus gone.

Menas

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

The Six One News would become the Six O'Clock News, naturally.

No, we cant be having that. Fill the minute!
(It allows the rest of us to get the headlines on Sky/bbc before switching over to RTE1 at 6:01.)

Akrasia

SpaceTime wrote: »

What about replacing it with a Euronews style "no comment" piece.

It would be a bit more useful.

Absolutely. If the point is to encourage people to 'reflect', the 'No Comment' segments on Euronews are excellent at this.

In before the militant atheists and their blasphemous and totally disrespectful drivel.

Of course it should be kept is the answer, its important that our national broadcaster sets aside time for the catholic faith it a country where the majority of the population are catholic and Catholicism is the national faith.

If you don't like it tough, not my problem people are foolish enough to cast their catholic faith aside.

SEPT 23 1989

I would change the bongs to an air raid siren

Red Kev

Menas wrote: »

No, we cant be having that. Fill the minute!
(It allows the rest of us to get the headlines on Sky/bbc before switching over to RTE1 at 6:01.)

They could always extend the weather bit at the end by a minute. Another 60 seconds of Jean Byrne would do no harm.

SpaceTime

Zara Unimportant Newspaper wrote: »

In before the militant atheists and their blasphemous and totally disrespectful drivel.

Of course it should be kept is the answer, its important that our national broadcaster sets aside time for the catholic faith it a country where the majority of the population are catholic and Catholicism is the national faith.

If anything is blasphemous its RTE insisting this is a multicultural non relgious thing. It's the frigging Angulus!!

What's next ah sure it's not really religious it's just a man in a collar saying some stuff from a big table at the top of a room! Sure anyone can participate in that.

Spin doctors gone mad!
...

Scrap it, replace it with something like Euronews' No Comment section segment.

Then everyone's happy.

c_man

Could we have a Two Minute Hate instead? A collection of images and videos of bankers and scandals from recent times. Nationwide people will stop, and start yelling uncontrollably for two minutes, letting out all the anger and pain... before returning to normality just in time for some dull, passionless RTE newcaster to rely the day's events in the most monotone method possible

SpaceTime

Akrasia wrote: »

Absolutely. If the point is to encourage people to 'reflect', the 'No Comment' segments on Euronews are excellent at this.

It'd probably cause RTE staff to have to do work as opposed to pressing play. So I can't see that happening.

fleet_admiral

It should be replaced with Linda Martin doing Get Lucky

jester77

They should show images of the children that were abused so that we can reflect on the damage that this institution has inflicted.

Mr. CooL ICE

c_man wrote: »

Could we have a Two Minute Hate instead? A collection of images and videos of bankers and scandals from recent times. Nationwide people will stop, and start yelling uncontrollably for two minutes, letting out all the anger and pain... before returning to normality just in time for some dull, passionless RTE newcaster to rely the day's events in the most monotone method possible

Great idea!

*throws shoe at screen*

Pumpkinseeds

Just get rid of it and have the news at 6, like most other rational countries do.

Dan_Solo

Samaris wrote: »

I reckon my view on it is that it's an old tradition, it doesn't do any harm and it's part of our history.

Do we have to go through why this isn't a good reason for anything on every last "should we do X" thread?

pconn062

Zara Unimportant Newspaper wrote: »

In before the militant atheists and their blasphemous and totally disrespectful drivel.

Of course it should be kept is the answer, its important that our national broadcaster sets aside time for the catholic faith it a country where the majority of the population are catholic and Catholicism is the national faith.

If you don't like it tough, not my problem people are foolish enough to cast their catholic faith aside.

The true spirit of modern Catholicism right there.

Kalman

Akrasia wrote: »

If the Catholics get their angelus, muslims should get a call to prayer

Many of the catholics claiming that 'it doesn't matter, it's just a moment of reflection' would probably change their tune if they had to listen to the Muslim call to prayer twice a day before the main news bulletins[/QUOTE


Be careful what you wish for.
The Muslim call to prayer is five times in the day. They will, if allowed, hang loudspeakers from their homes[too bad if you happen to live next-door] and the wail from them five times in the day, is awful.

SpaceTime

What about just open it as a 1 minute slot for Ireland's film makers to screen shorts ?

That might be actually useful and you need something less bloody dreary before hearing the latest from RTE news on who's corruptly going to cause you yet more misery.

Inspire a bit of creativity instead of a dreary, dogmatic religious thing.

Samaris

Dan_Solo wrote: »

Do we have to go through why this isn't a good reason for anything on every last "should we do X" thread?

Not at all, I don't hold it to be a be-all and end-all reason to do anything, and quite often argue against traditional views where I feel them to be harmful. But if something is harmless, and I reckon the Angelus Bells are pretty harmless, I don't mind the minor weighting of "it's traditional".

Rough Sleeper

Zara Unimportant Newspaper wrote: »

In before the militant atheists and their blasphemous and totally disrespectful drivel.

Of course it should be kept is the answer, its important that our national broadcaster sets aside time for the catholic faith it a country where the majority of the population are catholic and Catholicism is the national faith.

If you don't like it tough, not my problem people are foolish enough to cast their catholic faith aside.

The constitution says the state should not bestow favour on any one religion, and RTE aren't supposed to promote any one faith over another.

It's not a particularly important issue and I wouldn't really care if it stayed there till the day I die. Bigger things to worry about. But they should get rid of it. People laugh at those saying it should be axed because it's not a big deal. I'd be pretty certain that if they revealed plans to remove it you'd see a really big ****ing deal being made of it.

Chris_Bradley

Looking forward to the day when all that BS is part of the past.

Universal Nation my ass.

The Backwards Man

Doesn't annoy me because I ignore it, as I ignore all examples of Roman Catholic influence, dwindling as they are.What does annoy me a wee bit is the militant Catholics shouting down any opinion that doesn't match their own, claiming that it this is a Catholic country for Catholic people. That disgusts me just as much as the Protestant country for a Protestant people mantra, moreso maybe, as they are talking about the country I live in.

AdamB

As a child 25 odd years ago - first gong of the angelus = mad dash and scramble looking for the remote to flick over to Network2 for Jo-Maxi or some sort.

Today if by accident RTE1 is on at 6pm - first gong of the angelus = mad dash and search for remote to flick on any other.

VinLieger

You know what else was considered a harmless tradition? Ignoring the wrong doing's of the church for decades and allowing children to suffer because of it

Samaris

Rough Sleeper wrote: »

The constitution says the state should not bestow favour on any one religion, and RTE aren't supposed to promote any one faith over another.

It's not a particularly important issue and I wouldn't really care if it stayed there till the day I die. Bigger things to worry about. But they should get rid of it. People laugh at those saying it should be axed because it's not a big deal. I'd be pretty certain that if they revealed plans to remove it you'd see a really big ****ing deal being made of it.

That is a good reason against it, that it does in some way contradict RTE's charter and the Constitution in terms of favouring a particular religion. I think there are much BIGGER issues than the Angelus, much as you just said, but it's a small indication of the same problem.

eamonnq

SpaceTime wrote: »

What about just open it as a 1 minute slot for Ireland's film makers to screen shorts ?

Think I might prefer the bells.

Dr_Bill

There should be a clear separation between Church & State.

The Angelus and the 6.01 has no place on our screens. RTE our State broadcaster should drop it immediately.

God forbid we should let our guard down and let the Church hold sway over the State ever again, least we forget the child sex abuse scandals at our pearl and their ilk.

jaykay74

No problem with people and their religions, gives them something to do as they pass the time. I'd prefer it to be personally driven though rather than centrally funded by all taxpayers.

Kev W

SpaceTime wrote: »

What about just open it as a 1 minute slot for Ireland's film makers to screen shorts ?

That might be actually useful and you need something less bloody dreary before hearing the latest from RTE news on who's corruptly going to cause you yet more misery.

Inspire a bit of creativity instead of a dreary, dogmatic religious thing.

RTE actually supporting genuine creativity? I can't see it happening.

Kalman

Grayson wrote: »

I voted to get rid of it but I do have a bit of nostalgia for it. I was always filmed in the town I lived in so I'd occasionally recognise someone from it.

As you claimed, you voted to be rid of it, but on the other hand you harbour nostalgia for it>>[I'm puzzled] [That's your decision, I'm not disputing that]
However, if you feel that way, then perhaps you should have gave careful thought before committing yourself.

Agricola

It's a bit like wheeling out the President before every match. Nice and twee and part of the history but I think it's time we just move on into the 21st century like everyone else.

Kev W

Kalman wrote: »

As you claimed, you voted to be rid of it, but on the other hand you harbour nostalgia for it>>[I'm puzzled] [That's your decision, I'm not disputing that]
However, if you feel that way, then perhaps you should have gave careful thought before committing yourself.

I think you can have nostalgia for a thing while still recognising it as flawed or outdated. I have nostalgia for the 1990s but I wouldn't want to relive them.

RobertKK

I wish one of my concerns was 'should the Angelus bells toll on RTE'....

Kev W

RobertKK wrote: »

I wish one of my concerns was 'should the Angelus bells toll on RTE'....

I wish one of mine was "are people discussing the Angelus".

And it is.

I win!

alchemist33

Samaris wrote: »

I may not be particularly interested in Catholicism, but I can't really deny it's part of what the country was built on, and I don't see that one minute of bonging is really that traumatic to anyone.

That kinda depends on the person you're bonging.

catallus

As an uplifting reminder of our nature, I would hope it lasts a very long time.

However, the replies on-thread are not very surprising; a nest of nescience has developed in modern culture which abhors any self-reflection; so when anyone or anything asks us to look inside ourselves we lack the tools to do so; and so we can only dimly see a naked animal, writhing in an agony we dare not know; we refuse to own it, to recognise it as ourselves.

Is it any surprise the usual reaction is a glib, terrified "Kill it with fire!!!!, smiley face"?

Kev W

catallus wrote: »

As an uplifting reminder of our nature, I would hope it lasts a very long time.

However, the replies on-thread are not very surprising; a nest of nescience has developed in modern culture which abhors any self-reflection; so when anyone or anything asks us to look inside ourselves we lack the tools to do so; and so we can only dimly see a naked animal, writhing in an agony we dare not know; we refuse to own it, to recognise it as ourselves.

Is it any surprise the usual reaction is a glib, terrified "Kill it with fire!!!!, smiley face"?

Several people have suggested keeping the moment of reflection but removing the religious element.