Comments on: Of confirming and conforming http://icelandweatherreport.com/2010/02/of-confirming-and-conforming.html Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:07:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James http://icelandweatherreport.com/2010/02/of-confirming-and-conforming.html/comment-page-1#comment-13929 James Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:03:21 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3579#comment-13929 Capitalism converted most shared religious rituals into shared consumer rituals. So I take the view that people's underlying need to conform isn't the problem; I blame the cancerous meme of capitalism that exploits that need. But it's interesting to consider how many Buddhist rituals haven't yet been converted to consumer rituals; prioritise thinking over conformance and capitalism doesn't get a look-in... Capitalism converted most shared religious rituals into shared consumer rituals. So I take the view that people’s underlying need to conform isn’t the problem; I blame the cancerous meme of capitalism that exploits that need. But it’s interesting to consider how many Buddhist rituals haven’t yet been converted to consumer rituals; prioritise thinking over conformance and capitalism doesn’t get a look-in…

]]> By: idunn http://icelandweatherreport.com/2010/02/of-confirming-and-conforming.html/comment-page-1#comment-13912 idunn Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:31:00 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3579#comment-13912 Rites of passage are important, but needn't cost a fortune. In fact if one is entering the adult world then supposedly able to make up their own mind, and how they go about it. One of my options would be springing for admittance for everyone to a public hot spring. Perhaps we could smuggle some champagne in. Another might be nothing more than a campfire out in the middle of nowhere, just nature and those few hardy souls determined enough to celebrate it. If this wouldn't find favor with my fellows more interested in conforming, well so be it, as such passages are all about growing up. Rites of passage are important, but needn’t cost a fortune. In fact if one is entering the adult world then supposedly able to make up their own mind, and how they go about it.

One of my options would be springing for admittance for everyone to a public hot spring. Perhaps we could smuggle some champagne in. Another might be nothing more than a campfire out in the middle of nowhere, just nature and those few hardy souls determined enough to celebrate it.

If this wouldn’t find favor with my fellows more interested in conforming, well so be it, as such passages are all about growing up.

]]> By: Rik Hardy http://icelandweatherreport.com/2010/02/of-confirming-and-conforming.html/comment-page-1#comment-13854 Rik Hardy Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:56:28 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3579#comment-13854 Okay, so Icelanders have their own way of doing things, but Alda is right: It's all about the presents. The fact that the country is largely Lutheran is pure coincidence. I was confirmed in Britain at a Danish Lutheran church, for which I wore an ordinary suit and received from the parents of one of the other kids getting confirmed a hand-made folder for keeping music in and a bible from the priest. That was it, folks. My parents hadn't the slightest anxiety over the cost and the church provided the coffee and cakes afterwards. I seriously urge any parents who are having nervous breakdowns over this evil nightmare to form a large group and campaign vehemently for the common sense which used to reign here about 50 years ago. Okay, so Icelanders have their own way of doing things, but Alda is right: It’s all about the presents. The fact that the country is largely Lutheran is pure coincidence. I was confirmed in Britain at a Danish Lutheran church, for which I wore an ordinary suit and received from the parents of one of the other kids getting confirmed a hand-made folder for keeping music in and a bible from the priest. That was it, folks. My parents hadn’t the slightest anxiety over the cost and the church provided the coffee and cakes afterwards. I seriously urge any parents who are having nervous breakdowns over this evil nightmare to form a large group and campaign vehemently for the common sense which used to reign here about 50 years ago.

]]> By: sigga http://icelandweatherreport.com/2010/02/of-confirming-and-conforming.html/comment-page-1#comment-13853 sigga Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:57:43 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3579#comment-13853 Like Halldór I was confirmed in Australia - and it was more of an expected thing within the family that I do this and I was happy to do it, actually had a wonderful time with the others (all older) who were being confirmed with me. Without an extended family all the Icelandic community in Perth were invited, it was low key, the cake party being at home and the presents surprised me. I had no idea that it would be a mini christmas for me. It wasn´t until I came to Iceland and saw photos from cousins confirmations with the piles of money that I realised that this right of passage meant different things to different people. I so do not feel sorry for anyone - scale down and remember why confirmation is there - it is a right of passage but in the traditional christian sense it is supposed to be a confirmation of belief. This may change as one grows older and more worldly wise but at the time it is a significant step. This is another reason why I have never understood the civil confirmation ceremonies that are available to the youth of Iceland.. Isn´t it perhaps time to change. Stop the greed at an earlier age. Like Halldór I was confirmed in Australia – and it was more of an expected thing within the family that I do this and I was happy to do it, actually had a wonderful time with the others (all older) who were being confirmed with me. Without an extended family all the Icelandic community in Perth were invited, it was low key, the cake party being at home and the presents surprised me. I had no idea that it would be a mini christmas for me. It wasn´t until I came to Iceland and saw photos from cousins confirmations with the piles of money that I realised that this right of passage meant different things to different people. I so do not feel sorry for anyone – scale down and remember why confirmation is there – it is a right of passage but in the traditional christian sense it is supposed to be a confirmation of belief. This may change as one grows older and more worldly wise but at the time it is a significant step. This is another reason why I have never understood the civil confirmation ceremonies that are available to the youth of Iceland.. Isn´t it perhaps time to change. Stop the greed at an earlier age.

]]> By: Laurence http://icelandweatherreport.com/2010/02/of-confirming-and-conforming.html/comment-page-1#comment-13852 Laurence Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:16:33 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3579#comment-13852 Sorry to disturb the confirmation discussion, but I think this is important. It appears that Zhu Min, a former Bank of China Ltd Executive VP, has been appointed as advisor to Strauss-Kahn at the IMF. This appointment comes shortly after China agreed to purchase 50 billion USD in IMF bonds! Now think about who is handing out the money to little ole Iceland.... Full info here: www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-24/imf-names-zhu-as-adviser-showing-china-s-increasing-influence.html Sorry to disturb the confirmation discussion, but I think this is important. It appears that Zhu Min, a former Bank of China Ltd Executive VP, has been appointed as advisor to Strauss-Kahn at the IMF. This appointment comes shortly after China agreed to purchase 50 billion USD in IMF bonds! Now think about who is handing out the money to little ole Iceland….

Full info here:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-24/imf-names-zhu-as-adviser-showing-china-s-increasing-influence.html

]]> By: hildigunnur http://icelandweatherreport.com/2010/02/of-confirming-and-conforming.html/comment-page-1#comment-13850 hildigunnur Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:40:16 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3579#comment-13850 It's more peer pressure and not wanting to stick out than presents I'd say. (well, the mothers' thing too I suppose). My middle one's getting confirmed this year, she's not religious and hasn't been for years, I was trying to get her to do the borgaraleg ferming (a non religious humanist rite of passage) instead, promising presents and party and all but no, she wanted to do the church thing with her friends. We're having a home party and all the food will be made by various family members, she already got her big present from us (a 'cello - which she needs anyway) so it won't be all that bad. Can absoulutely be done without being incredibly expensive. It’s more peer pressure and not wanting to stick out than presents I’d say. (well, the mothers’ thing too I suppose). My middle one’s getting confirmed this year, she’s not religious and hasn’t been for years, I was trying to get her to do the borgaraleg ferming (a non religious humanist rite of passage) instead, promising presents and party and all but no, she wanted to do the church thing with her friends.

We’re having a home party and all the food will be made by various family members, she already got her big present from us (a ‘cello – which she needs anyway) so it won’t be all that bad. Can absoulutely be done without being incredibly expensive.

]]> By: Silvia Planchett http://icelandweatherreport.com/2010/02/of-confirming-and-conforming.html/comment-page-1#comment-13848 Silvia Planchett Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:51:36 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3579#comment-13848 Glad to hear that it is about the presents. The fact that it´s held in a place that supports the belief in the supernatural is also a real bummer and a waste of taxpayer's money. It´s only a matter of time before folks will come to recognize that gods come and go but people and their ties are forever linked. Glad to hear that it is about the presents. The fact that it´s held in a place that supports the belief in the supernatural is also a real bummer and a waste of taxpayer’s money. It´s only a matter of time before folks will come to recognize that gods come and go but people and their ties are forever linked.

]]> By: Imogene http://icelandweatherreport.com/2010/02/of-confirming-and-conforming.html/comment-page-1#comment-13847 Imogene Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:21:58 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3579#comment-13847 Neither. It’s about the presents. ;-) Haha! It's EXACTLY the same in Switzerland. Daughter decided NOT to get confirmed (sigh of relief from me), but we held a party when she turned sixteen and she still got the presents. :-) Neither. It’s about the presents. ;-)

Haha! It’s EXACTLY the same in Switzerland. Daughter decided NOT to get confirmed (sigh of relief from me), but we held a party when she turned sixteen and she still got the presents. :-)

]]> By: Daniel Halldorsson http://icelandweatherreport.com/2010/02/of-confirming-and-conforming.html/comment-page-1#comment-13846 Daniel Halldorsson Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:18:03 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3579#comment-13846 I agree with Snorri, I don't feel sorry for them either. Change the tradition, focus on the important aspects of it and trim off the fat. People care too much about what other people think. Though i am not religious now (nor was i ever really religious despite being funneled through the church system like most kids) I was confirmed, in Australia, and it involved a church ceremony and a certificate (ie. it was free). For those that believe in the spiritual importance of it, i see no justification for anything more...actually, you could even drop the certificate and save a couple of kronas without changing the meaning :) Big parties (like 21st birthdays etc) are optional, and the world doesn't end if you don't have one. kids and parents might just have to suck it up and go have some fun outside :) I agree with Snorri, I don’t feel sorry for them either. Change the tradition, focus on the important aspects of it and trim off the fat. People care too much about what other people think.

Though i am not religious now (nor was i ever really religious despite being funneled through the church system like most kids) I was confirmed, in Australia, and it involved a church ceremony and a certificate (ie. it was free). For those that believe in the spiritual importance of it, i see no justification for anything more…actually, you could even drop the certificate and save a couple of kronas without changing the meaning :)

Big parties (like 21st birthdays etc) are optional, and the world doesn’t end if you don’t have one. kids and parents might just have to suck it up and go have some fun outside :)

]]> By: Easy http://icelandweatherreport.com/2010/02/of-confirming-and-conforming.html/comment-page-1#comment-13845 Easy Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:51:43 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3579#comment-13845 Please!! dont feel sorry for that!! This is just another sad example of how twisted priorities are in this country. I think we should worry and ctually do something for people with REAL problems, like not making it to the end of the month or losing their houses, etc. Hope the ban is gone and my post is not insesitive. Please!! dont feel sorry for that!! This is just another sad example of how twisted priorities are in this country. I think we should worry and ctually do something for people with REAL problems, like not making it to the end of the month or losing their houses, etc. Hope the ban is gone and my post is not insesitive.

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