Should St Patrick’s Day Remain Secular Or Should The Celebrations Be Confined to Christians?
Some Christian leaders say only Christians should celebrate St Patrick’s Day, and celebrations should be limited to churches. How will such statements affect the secular status of the event? Should St Patrick’s day celebrations be limited to Christians, or should it be a secular event?
"Christian leaders in Ireland have expressed concern about the secularisation of St Patrick's Day. Writing in the Word magazine (March 2007), Fr. Vincent Twomey stated that, "it is time to reclaim St Patrick's Day as a church festival". He questioned the need for "mindless alcohol-fuelled revelry" and concluded that, "it is time to bring the piety and the fun together"." [1]
Point is, should such a major event that is celebrated by people the world over be allowed to be hijacked by the so-called moral police, who claim to know everything when it comes to religion? St Patrick’s Day is an event celebrated by millions across the globe, and it is definitely not limited purely to Christians.
Agreed, it is a Christian festival, but if the event has morphed into a mega showcase for the entire world to enjoy and revel, whatever be the religious background of the revelers, so be it. Is the celebration of the event by non-Christians only adding to the Christian religion in some way?
The very fact that non-Christians see St Patrick’s Day as an event they can participate in, adds to the all encompassing nature of the Christian religion and acceptability of all faiths. I have seen people of different religions wish each other with lovely fresh cut flowers on the day, and found absolutely nothing wrong in it.
Let me clarify that I am not a Christian, but it is the increasing polarization of the world in the name of religion that worries me. Why do religious leaders have problems if the world is turning increasingly secular?
The answer perhaps lies in their internal insecurities, which make them feel they are likely to lose control over their faithful followers if they do not issue such motivated statements from time to time, rousing their religious passions and creating a controversy out of practically nothing.
My personal view, therefore, is that people like Fr. Vincent Twomey should be listened to, thanked, and then we should continue to do what the world really requires today – spread less of hatred and more of love amongst its people.
Point is, should such a major event that is celebrated by people the world over be allowed to be hijacked by the so-called moral police, who claim to know everything when it comes to religion? St Patrick’s Day is an event celebrated by millions across the globe, and it is definitely not limited purely to Christians.
Agreed, it is a Christian festival, but if the event has morphed into a mega showcase for the entire world to enjoy and revel, whatever be the religious background of the revelers, so be it. Is the celebration of the event by non-Christians only adding to the Christian religion in some way?
The very fact that non-Christians see St Patrick’s Day as an event they can participate in, adds to the all encompassing nature of the Christian religion and acceptability of all faiths. I have seen people of different religions wish each other with lovely fresh cut flowers on the day, and found absolutely nothing wrong in it.
Let me clarify that I am not a Christian, but it is the increasing polarization of the world in the name of religion that worries me. Why do religious leaders have problems if the world is turning increasingly secular?
The answer perhaps lies in their internal insecurities, which make them feel they are likely to lose control over their faithful followers if they do not issue such motivated statements from time to time, rousing their religious passions and creating a controversy out of practically nothing.
My personal view, therefore, is that people like Fr. Vincent Twomey should be listened to, thanked, and then we should continue to do what the world really requires today – spread less of hatred and more of love amongst its people.
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