Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The silver ring thing
Much fuss about a little girl taking her school to the High Court over not being allowed to wear "Christian jewellry" in school. Obviously an attempt to trump the hijab and veil. My problems with it are 1. The silver ring has never been a part of Christian iconography - it sounds to me like some commercial enterprise is trying to cash in on the publicity. 2. My brand of Christianity has never been one to go in for symbols to be worn for show. The demonstration that one is a Christian should come from how one behaves, but from what one is wearing. Remember what Jesus said about whited sepulchres. 3. Even if one wanted a symbol of Christianity, it would be the cross, not a silver ring. 4. The reason schools have an objection to jewellry is nothing to do with religious persecution, but with an undremarkable wish not to be sued if the jewellry goes missing. 5. Schools are for education, not this silly sort of religious battle. 6. This goes for all the other religions too. The girl with the veil was set up by her parents who used her as a propaganda pawn. I should not be at all surprised to discover that the same sort of thing was going on here.
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2 comments:
"2. My brand of Christianity has never been one to go in for symbols to be worn for show. The demonstration that one is a Christian should come from how one behaves, not from what one is wearing."
Absolutely! Couldn't agree more!
"3. Even if one wanted a symbol of Christianity, it would be the cross, not a silver ring."
I'm not even crazy about this because it only symbolizes the death. How about some kind of symbol depicting the ressurection as well? What could it be? Hmmmm...can't think of one off hand...oh well, how about just forgetting about symbols all together, like you basically said at the beginning.
Hey, but what about the "icthus"?
The point of the cross, rather than a crucifix is that the cross is empty. He has gone past that. He is risen.
The point about the ICTHUS is that it was a secret symbol, a means by which Christians could recognize each other at a time of oppression. The silver ring is not a secret symbol, but a rather boastful declaration.
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