andrewducker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
andrewducker) wrote2009-03-25 10:58 am
andrewducker) wrote2009-03-25 10:58 am
Ignorance is...
Apparently only 22% of people know that Easter is about Jesus.
At least, that's what the article says. If you look at the actual questions that got that result, it's clear that only 22% of the population _care_ about Jesus and his relationship with The Easter Bunny.
[Poll #1371630]
At least, that's what the article says. If you look at the actual questions that got that result, it's clear that only 22% of the population _care_ about Jesus and his relationship with The Easter Bunny.
[Poll #1371630]
Re: Ooh you and your absolutes!
Yes, but the statement is so vague that in 99% of cases people will need a considerable amount more information before being able to have an opinion.
I do care that she was denied it. etc
Yes, she gave notice - in fact in this particular case she was denied it because she wanted it as a religious holiday and her boss was a fundamentalist atheist. Had she asked it for it off for other reasons she might have got it. Thinking about it, this could be part of the source of my dislike of fundamentalist atheism, and yes I know she should have taken her to court because believe me that was just the start of it but anyway she didn't and that's that.
That's effectively what we have at work - our bank holidays are just added onto our holiday days and we can take them whenever we like
Yes but presumably they need to be approved - if a whole department wanted to take Easter Monday off then it wouldn't be? My hypothesis was that you would get them automatically - with notice etc of course, perhaps by completing a form on commencement of employment stating which religious holidays you want to take (religion referring to a set of beliefs - if you're agnostic but believe you should have the 23rd of May off, then fine)
I should be forced to care about whether people believe in Jesus?
That's what I mean about the statement being ambiguous. You shouldn't care whether people believe in Jesus, but you should care (forced to care is a moot statement due to it's inherent impossibility) that, if they do, they have the right to be respected and not to be persecuted. To be cared about. As they should care about you. As everyone has a right to be cared about. What worries me is people not caring about others on the grounds that they are Christian/white/female/old/a banker/too intelligent/ginger/fat etc etc to the point where we have no society.
Largely I see this as a government thing. If the bank holiday were called Spring bank holiday, fine. To refer to it as Easter whilst people have no idea why is what is wrong.
Re: Ooh you and your absolutes!
That's really, really wrong. I totally disapprove of that. I can understand why she didn't sue him, but I'd also understand if she set fire to his car.
That's what I mean about the statement being ambiguous. You shouldn't care whether people believe in Jesus, but you should care (forced to care is a moot statement due to it's inherent impossibility) that, if they do, they have the right to be respected and not to be persecuted.
Aaah. I'm absolutely on the side of _them_ being respected, if not their ideas. Everyone should be given a certain level of basic respect - it demeans us all to treat each other badly.
Re: Ooh you and your absolutes!
I agree with this.
At a basic level, I don't see why anyone should get a particular right because of their beliefs. This includes wearing particular things, taking certain breaks. To implement this would be somewhat difficult however, as to do so you're probably either giving the rights to all & leaving them open to interpretation, or denying rights to all & thus making the workplace less flexible for everyone.
On a more pragmatic level, I don't believe in making life difficult for people (so if someone wishes to wear a cross / headscarf / bangle as long as it doesn't affect their ability to carry out their job effectively, I don't really care).
Where I can get a bit pissy is around holidays though: I can be flexible, but ultimately if I get my holiday booking in first & it's approved, I don't expect to be forced to reschedule because of colleagues religious choices or e.g. kids holidays. I am more than happy to be asked, but I don't expect that anyone's beliefs or choices will take precedence unless there's some kind of emergency / crisis.