In the centuries-old Canterbury Cathedral, a pillar of the Anglican Church, you can buy tickets to participate in disco music evenings organized among the Gothic vaults where the religious rites of the Royals have taken place and where famous people, sovereigns, and saints are buried. It's practically a collective shock. It's a bit like if St. Peter decided to host rave music events to attract young people. In fact, the oldest cathedral has decided to open up to 'silent music', giving young people the opportunity to dance and consume alcohol, as in any disco, and even dance with artists like the Spice Girls, Vengaboys, and Eminem. The leaders of the Anglican Church hope that this ruse can serve to attract a new generation of believers given the disregard of new generations for the sacred.
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The event quickly sold out and is linked to similar initiatives that have been taking place in cathedrals and historic buildings in the UK for some time. The cathedrals of Guildford and Ely, for example, will have themed evenings featuring music from the '90s and '80s in the coming months. The silent disco is a kind of silent rave where people dance all night with music listened to with wireless headphones. Rather than using speakers, the DJ broadcasts the hit with a radio transmitter, and the signal is picked up by the receivers of the headphones being worn. Those without headphones, of course, hear nothing.
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Of course, the silent disco in Canterbury has caused pandemonium, especially since it is a site protected by Unesco, a church founded in the sixth century. The Dean of Canterbury, Reverend David Monteith, has made it clear that for him it is always a joy to see people arriving, whether they come during the day as tourists to visit the cathedral or in the evening for music nights. However, the decision has fuelled a strong backlash, sparking a petition that describes the event as "profane" and highlighting that it belittles the sanctity of the cathedral: silent discos belong in discos, certainly not "the most important Christian church in England". In a message to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the organizer of the petition, Cajetan Skowronski, warns that this ruse will never bring young people closer to Christ, rather it will send the message that Christ and his church, "and all the truth, beauty, and goodness it has to offer, are not important. Christians should take their faith or their holy places more seriously." Welby, however, is sticking to his path. In his opinion, the silent disco is appropriate to a place of worship and is not necessarily a rave among the Gothic aisles. Pop music can very well be part of a church.
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The spokesman for the event organizers, Silent Discos in Incredible Places, assured the Guardian of having the "greatest respect" for the importance of Canterbury: "We understand the concerns and respect the beliefs and opinions of those who feel it inappropriate; however, to clarify, this is an innocent and enjoyable event focused on the need to bring together people who love spectacular environments".
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