Religion and Spirituality in Yiewsley

Yiewsley is a multicultural community with representatives from a wide variety of faiths. On this page I've set out to:

Give a brief introduction to the major religions practiced in the area
Link to online definitions
Suggest some recommended reading
Where known, give the location of the nearest meeting place(s)

There's a mixture of facts and opinions here. The facts are inescapable; the opinions are personal. They may or may not represent any official views of the religions concerned - but to me that's half of what religion and spirituality is about: dialogue. Please use the Visitors' Book if you would like to join in the conversation or provide more information about any of the religions featured.

- Phil Groom, Site Administrator

Atheism
It takes an incredible amount of faith to be an Atheist. First you have to believe that the vast majority of the human race throughout recorded history have got it wrong, that there is no spiritual realm out there, that no God or gods exist. Then you take an astonishing leap of faith to believe that your beliefs actually mean anything. You believe that the entire universe is a cosmic accident, that your thought processes are nothing more than the product of a random bumping together of atoms and electromagnetic impulses.

Then, because you find it impossible to live with the meaninglessness implied by your faith, you create your own ethics and social standards and find yourself living, for the most part, in accordance with the prevailing cultural norms, usually derived from one of the long-standing religions described below.

Worst of all is the assurance that you're on your own: there's nothing to celebrate unless you make it up, nothing to sing about except football and hormones, and no reason to meet with your fellow believers. There are no known Atheist congregations which meet in Yiewsley unless you count informal gatherings in pubs, where discussions about faith are usually avoided for fear of being found out...

Definitions: Google: Online Definitions of Atheism

More Info: Atheism at bbc.co.uk

Recommended Reading
Alister McGrath, The Twilight of Atheism: The Rise and Fall of Disbelief in the Modern World, ISBN 1844131556, Rider & Co. 2005.

Please use the Visitors' Book if you would like to provide more information about Atheism for this page.

Christianity
Christianity tends to be the UK's "default" religion for anyone who doesn't belong to any other religious community: the Church of England is England's Established Church. Yet the vast majority of the population don't know the basics of the Christian faith: most seem to think it's about going to church, about believing impossible things and being made to feel guilty when you don't believe them or when you don't keep the Ten Commandments (whatever they are).

The truth about Christianity is, however, refreshingly simple: it's not what you believe or what you do — it's who you know. It's about knowing Jesus. We've got the question back to front. It's not whether we believe in God: it's whether God believes in us. And he does. God believes in you.

Jesus was a renegade Jew, a homeless refugee who spent his life hammering the religious leaders of his day as stinking hypocrites and told the common people that they could know God without all the religious paraphernalia the religious dudes insisted on.

It doesn't matter to Jesus whether you're the Prime Minister or a prostitute, whether you're a drug addict or a demon card sharp, whether you're rich or poor, black, white, yellow or pink, gay or straight: he loves you just the way you are. You can't impress him by polishing up your life or putting on a tie, you can't earn his approval by giving him stuff or doing things for him: he loves you just the way you are. Whatever your religion or lack of it: he loves you just the way you are.

It gets even more amazing though: Jesus loves you too much to leave you the way you are. Get to know Jesus and his character begins to rub off on you, his attitudes begin to shape your attitudes. That's what Christianity's about, and that's when the trouble starts: Jesus' attitudes got him murdered.

Murdered. End of story? I don't think so. To find out the rest of the story and discover more about about how knowing Jesus can change your life, visit one of the churches listed on the Churches page or — if you'd rather not set foot in a church — check out rejesus.co.uk

Definitions: Google: Online Definitions of Christianity

More Info: Christianity at bbc.co.uk

Recommended Reading
Max Lucado, You Are Special, ISBN 1581342195, Crossway Books 2000.
Read the Bible online at Bible Gateway

Nearest Places of Worship
See the Churches page or Google Local: Churches near Yiewsley

Please use the Visitors' Book if you would like to provide more information about Christianity for this page.

Hinduism
Hinduism is a polytheistic faith (one that believes there are many gods) with its origins in India. Its beliefs include the concept of reincarnation, an ongoing cycle of life, death and rebirth. Sadly, Hinduism is notorious for its maintainance of a perpetual underclass of people via its caste system.

Definitions: Google: Online Definitions of Hinduism

More Info: Hinduism at bbc.co.uk

Recommended Reading
Kim Knott, Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction, ISBN 0192853872, Oxford University Press 2000.

Nearest Place of Worship
Google Local: Hindu Temples near Hillingdon

Please use the Visitors' Book if you would like to provide information about Hinduism for this page.

Book Cover: What Every Christian Should Know About Islam

Islam
Is Islam a religion of peace or a religion of terror? That's a decision that only the Muslim community can take as it moves forward in its relationships with other cultures and other faiths. Islam is about submission to God (Allah) and Muslims believe that God's will is revealed in the Qur'an (or Koran), the writings of the Prophet Muhammed given by God.

Definitions: Google: Online Definitions of Islam

More Info: Islam at bbc.co.uk

Recommended Reading
Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood, What Every Christian Should Know About Islam, ISBN 0860373754, The Islamic Foundation, 2001
• Review of What Every Christian Should Know...
• More Book Reviews

Nearest Place of Worship
Google Local: Mosques near Hillingdon
London Central Mosque

Please use the Visitors' Book if you would like to provide information about Islam for this page.

Book Cover: Judaism: A Very Short Introduction

Judaism
Judaism is the national religion of Israel, as much a way of life as a way of faith. Its adherents, known as Jews, are usually born into the community rather than converted to it and may or may not hold to any particular set of beliefs. The Jewish community is led by teachers known as Rabbis; worship is held in synagogues. The Jewish (or Hebrew) Scriptures form the Christian "Old Testament".

Although Judaism and Christianity parted company almost 2,000 years ago there is an ongoing dialogue between the two faith communities. Regular local meetings are arranged by the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) Hillingdon: visitors are always welcome.

Definitions: Google: Online Definitions of Judaism

More Info: Judaism at bbc.co.uk

Recommended Reading
Norman Solomon, Judaism: A Very Short Introduction, ISBN 0192853902, Oxford University Press 2000

Nearest Places of Worship
Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Oaklands Gate, Northwood HA6 3AA
Ruislip & District Synagogue, 9 Shenley Avenue, Ruislip HA4 6BP
Northwood United Synagogue, 21-23 Murray Road, Northwood HA6 2YP
Google Local: Synagogues near Hillingdon

Please use the Visitors' Book if you would like to provide information about Judaism for this page.

Sikhism
Sikhism arose from a convergence of Hinduism and Islam and is based on the teachings of Guru Nanak with an emphasis on shared community under one God.

Definitions: Google: Online Definitions of Sikhism

More Info: Sikhism at bbc.co.uk

Recommended Reading
Eleanor Nesbitt, Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction, ISBN 0192806017, Oxford University Press 2005

Nearest Place of Worship
Google Local: Sikh Temples near Yiewsley

Please use the Visitors' Book if you would like to provide information about Sikhism for this page.

Other Religions
See the BBC Religions Index for an overview of the world's main religions.

Recommended Reading
Christopher Partridge, New Lion Handbook of World Religions (3rd Edn, Revised and Expanded), ISBN 0745951287, Lion Publishing 2005

Please use the Visitors' Book if you would like to provide information about any other religions represented in Yiewsley.