Comments on: Holiday photograph 2: Bathing in Brixham Harbour

By: Nefertiki

Nefertiki — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:39:19 +0000

First I would like to say that the nature or extent of the bathing costume does not come into it. This is because the attire at formal social gatherings and dare I say th`e dansants is often briefer than, and even resembles many a bathing costume.

Furthermore, perhaps the narrow line between attempted and actual bathing should be, does the costume remain dry? Any so-called attempt at bathing which leaves the attempter dry should mean that the soul is without sin. I am now wondering whether a distinction between “damp” and “dry” should be made? And should those words apply to both the costume and the skin? Dear me, always more questions than answers.

One more thing: as a member of more communities (some imaginary and/or invisible) than I can shake a stick at, I do indeed resent having my fragile and endangered mind tested. However I give you free rein to test my mettle.

By: Edwin Beckham

Edwin Beckham — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:57:36 +0000

Dave, how dare you attempt to “test the mind of the international community” on this delicate issue with such a blunt and democratic instrument as a poll. You well know that this is not how good theology is done (Nicea and a couple of other important gatherings of bishops excepted), nor moral and ethical argument leading to good public policy. I second the call for a listening process and a minimum of 40 years of academic and practical work on the question. Meantime, the local authorities will have to be trusted to draw the fine line between attempted bathing and bathing. We can pray they at least have good taste.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:44:24 +0000

This brings up the legal questions: is all bathing premeditated? Can one be found guilty of conspiracy to commit bathing? This subject if fraught with legal portend and far-reaching implications. Thank you, Dave, for provoking this discussion of great social import.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:53:57 +0000

Perhaps the preceding 56 bylaws would shed some light on this important matter.

If attempting to bathe is a crime can one commit the offense of attempting to attempt to bathe?

By: Pax Vobiscum

Pax Vobiscum — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:40:38 +0000

I do like the neat surrealist touch in Rory’s biblical bathing exegesis, transposing ‘Brixton’ harbour for ‘Brixham’. I guess the Greek is not clear here.

By: SWegman

SWegman — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:04:46 +0000

Looks like a couple of handprints beside the sign as the last bather made a desperate attempt to get out of the water. Suppose he/she placed the sign?

By: Rory

Rory — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:21:35 +0000

Well, Dave. Attempted bathing is a vexed issue that I'm sure we've all struggled with from time to time. Perhaps we can turn to scripture for enlightenment?

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a speedo with disgust has already bathed in Brixton harbour in their heart.

Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in attempting to bathe in Brixton harbour; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of attempting to bathe. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who does not own a bathing suit be the first to throw a stone at her.’

Of course all of this raises the deper question of the relationship between law and grace:

What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been bathed into Christ Jesus were bathed into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by bathing into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Certainly food for thought.

By: Ann Memmott

Ann Memmott — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:19:27 +0000

One envisages said person in Victorian bloomer-style bathing costume boldly leaping from the bottom step and finding out that the tide’s out. A clear case of Attempted Bathing that needs to be punished with a severe bout of laughing at them.

By: Raspberry Rabbit

Raspberry Rabbit — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:13:54 +0000

I think this is probably so that the harbourmaster, the police or Brixham Council goons could nab you while you are on the way to the harbourfront with your old-fashioned swimming costume, your inflatable rubber ring and your snorkel. The fact that you’re not yet in the water would not be an excuse for avoiding a fixed penalty ticket.

By: Chris Clark

Chris Clark — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:45:27 +0000

The Eunuch was travelling near Brixham harbour when he was joined by Philip…….”look there is much water here, what prevents me from being baptised?” “you might be breaking the by-laws”..referred to the Bishop for a ruling…

Have a great holiday Dave… the train ride to Dartmouth is great fun if a little expensive.