Things just get better!

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Tesco give hope of employment to utter numpties.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39587226

[Gordon]

Which numpties are you referring to?

Can't see the problem here: it is a holiday weekend after all.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Vlad,

Tesco give hope of employment to utter numpties.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39587226

I'm not aware that they're forcing Christians to buy their products, so what's wrong with it?

[Rhiannon]

I tried to start a thread about this earlier and got the 'Forbidden' error. I don't think it was the term 'cobblers' that did it so it must have been something else...

[bluehillside Retd.]

Gordon,

Which numpties are you referring to?

I think I've worked out what Vlad's getting at. The article says:

"Vicar and broadcaster, the Reverend Richard Coles, said the advert was "extraordinarily and unnecessarily ignorant".

Vlad's saying that Tesco are giving hope of employment as a BBC rentaquote type to numpties like Coles. I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but I actually agree with him here.

[Gordon]

It seems unlikely to me that most Christians would expect 'Good Friday' to be any more than the start of a holiday weekend for those of us who aren't Christian, and possibly some Christians will enjoy the spring holiday weekend much on the same basis as non-Christians.

The outrage expressed in the link seems to be that Tesco (and the likes of me, among others) aren't treating tomorrow with the same reverence that these Christians clearly do: can't see why we should though, and can't see how whatever the Tesco promotion is prevents these same Christians from spending tomorrow as they think fit. 

Times have changed: it used to be the case that horse-racing was illegal on 'Good Friday' but no longer; there are three meetings tomorrow.

[Gordon]

Gordon,

I think I've worked out what Vlad's getting at. The article says:

"Vicar and broadcaster, the Reverend Richard Coles, said the advert was "extraordinarily and unnecessarily ignorant".

Vlad's saying that Tesco are giving hope of employment as a BBC rentaquote type to numpties like Coles. I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but I actually agree with him here.

Me too: so we both agree with Vlad: wow!

[bluehillside Retd.]

Gordon,

Me too: so we both agree with Vlad: wow!

What are the flippin' chances eh? Maybe we should declare tomorrow a national holiday to celebrate the occasion.

Oh, hang on a mo...

[Walt Zingmatilder]

You both have a great future in retail Ho Ho Ho.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Gordon,

You both have a great future in retail Ho Ho Ho.

Blimey, willya look at that. After all these years old Vlad finally posts something a rational person can agree with, and this is the thanks we get for doing so!

Oh well. Charm never was his long suit I guess...

PS Re the "Ho Ho Ho" - I'm pretty sure he's got the wrong holiday there though 

[ProfessorDavey]

"Vicar and broadcaster, the Reverend Richard Coles, said the advert was "extraordinarily and unnecessarily ignorant".

I agree - but it isn't just Tesco's who seem unaware of the origins of the term 'Good Friday'. Many Christians, including major denominations are also extraordinarily and unnecessarily ignorant when failing to recognise the origins of the term 'Easter', for example talking about the 'true meaning of Easter' which would of course be a celebration of the spring, not a commemoration of the death and purported resurrection of Jesus.

So people in glass houses, and all that.

[ProfessorDavey]

The outrage expressed in the link seems to be that Tesco (and the likes of me, among others) aren't treating tomorrow with the same reverence that these Christians clearly do: can't see why we should though, and can't see how whatever the Tesco promotion is prevents these same Christians from spending tomorrow as they think fit.

I'm not sure I read it like that.

To me the issue seems to be that Tesco didn't recognise that their advert might be considered offensive to those who see Easter as a important religious festival.

I don't think that means that those who aren't religious shouldn't mark Easter and the bank holiday weekend as they wish. But I don't think that want to celebrate Easter in a non religious manner wish to cause offence to those that do, and that's the problem with the advert.

But, of course, those who are marking the 'real' meaning of Easter are those that are celebrating the spring and marvelling at the new life bursting into flower, wing and song all around us. And I suspect that include the vast majority of those who see Easter as a secular holiday, whether or not they overtly note it. Frankly it is pretty well impossible to fail to note the significance of the season, with longer evenings and new leaves and blossom all around.

And hence the challenge to the Christians - the older pagan meaning of Easter is obvious, needs no study or convoluted thinking. It simply 'is' and is obvious to all regardless of upbringing etc. How hard must that be for those that believe in the Christian version of Easter, which is (let's face it) completely unbelievable to pretty well everyone unless you are brought up to believe. If a message is only believable if you are brought up to believe, then it is a weak message indeed. Strong messages are as readily accessible and believable by all regardless of upbringing.

[Harrowby Hall]

To me the issue seems to be that Tesco didn't recognise that their advert might be considered offensive to those who see Easter as a important religious festival.

I just want to clear up something which might get you into a little hot water with Christians, Prof.

Good Friday is not part of Easter.  Easter begins on Sunday.

[Gordon]

I'm not sure I read it like that.

To me the issue seems to be that Tesco didn't recognise that their advert might be considered offensive to those who see Easter as a important religious festival.

Why though should Tesco concern themselves unduly with religious sensitivities by using the term 'Good Friday' in a colloquial sense Those offended need not avail themselves of the Tesco promotion.

This, from the article, suggests that some religious types think that what they treat with reverence should be treated equally reverentially by the rest of us too.

Tesco "got it badly wrong" with the "crass" advert, Michael Wakelin, from the faculty of divinity at Cambridge University, told BBC 5 live.

It was also a "decidedly poor way of treating such a holy day", said Mr Wakelin, a former head of BBC religious programmes.
"I'm sure there was no attempt to offend, I'm sure that wasn't in their mind.

"It is just religious illiteracy; ignorance if you like, around what religious people hold dear, and that is my main concern," he added. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39587226

I 'hold dear' that I should be able to behave reasonably and legally whenever I want to!

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Why though should Tesco concern themselves unduly with religious sensitivities by using the term 'Good Friday' in a colloquial sense Those offended need not avail themselves of the Tesco promotion.

Well I'm sure that crassness and ignorance is why many do not avail themselves of the New Atheist promotion. Which is like Tescos.....a great retail operation.........how many ''units'' have been shifted to date?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Why though should Tesco concern themselves unduly with religious sensitivities by using the term 'Good Friday' in a colloquial sense Those offended need not avail themselves of the Tesco promotion.

Because they are not axe grinding swivel eyed antitheists?

[Rhiannon]

As a pagan who used to be a Christian, I think that it does show stunning ignorance on the part of Tesco for them not to realise that Good Friday is a day when suffering and sacrifice are the themes of the day. I think the offence is due to the play on words.

HH is correct; this is Passion Week. Easter begins on Sunday followed by Easter week. And just to be clear, the pagan festival Ostara has been and gone with the Equinox. Easter is dated by Passover.

[Nearly Sane]

It seems both crass and unimportant  to me. There are people being killed for their religious beliefs , or lack of them!  This and the pish filled cant about the egg hunt are a nonsense.

[Rhiannon]

It seems both crass and unimportant  to me. There are people being killed for their religious beliefs , or lack of them!  This and the pish filled cant about the egg hunt are a nonsense.

Yes. I understand the reason for the offence and it does show incredible ignorance, but there are bigger things for Christians to get fussed about.

Actually I think there is an unspoken fear here - once upon a time many people knew what Good Friday symbolised. I can remember not getting newspapers, shops shutting, no sporting fixtures. Therein lies the fear for Christians - people don't know what the day means, and don't care, and they are highly unlikely ever to get that influence back. It's more proof we are culturally Christian rather than religiously so.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

It seems both crass and unimportant  to me. There are people being killed for their religious beliefs , or lack of them!  This and the pish filled cant about the egg hunt are a nonsense.

I disagree. The idea put on here that it is ok to upset minority or indeed any people as long as sales aren't affected or indeed to increase sales is appalling.

[Nearly Sane]

Yes. I understand the reason for the offence and it does show incredible ignorance, but there are bigger things for Christians to get fussed about.

Actually I think there is an unspoken fear here - once upon a time many people knew what Good Friday symbolised. I can remember not getting newspapers, shops shutting, no sporting fixtures. Therein lies the fear for Christians - people don't know what the day means, and don't care, and they are highly unlikely ever to get that influence back. It's more proof we are culturally Christian rather than religiously so.

There are bigger things for anyone to worry about. Last night I was at a protest against the rapeclause. This on the other hand is a sad joke.  Theresa May got upset about an incorrect idea of not using the word Easter for some chocolate eggs in a while trying to sell arms in a country that will behead people for apostasy. That was offensive. This is people taking offence for the sake of it.

[Nearly Sane]

I disagree. The idea put on here that it is ok to upset minority or indeed any people as long as sales aren't affected or indeed to increase sales is appalling.

No, it really isn't. The idea is that no one really thought about it. And while it is indeed crass, no one has been killed, no one has been harmed. Getting upset about nonsense means you allow real offence and harm to take place.

[Gordon]

I disagree. The idea put on here that it is ok to upset minority or indeed any people as long as sales aren't affected or indeed to increase sales is appalling.

I think it is more the case of some people feeling offended by relative trivia (be it Tesco adverts or the sale of chocolate eggs) - when there are better reasons to feel offended than these.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Therein lies the fear for Christians - people don't know what the day means, and don't care, and they are highly unlikely ever to get that influence back. It's more proof we are culturally Christian rather than religiously so.

The only thing to fear here is the tyranny of a secular humanist majority given to casual bullying because you can bet your bottom dollar not every minority can expect this sort of thing.

Also this post denies the view that we still live in a religious society or that Christianity has power. The prime culture is secular and humanist and memories of our religious heritage have been accurately discouraged by Humanist.

That gives lie to the claim that people convert to Christianity because of their culture.

In any case that would mean that people are culturally and perhaps nominally atheist i.e not as fanatical as people who post on here.

[Rhiannon]

Well the good thing is that this has directed me to Richard Coles' Twitter feed, which is actually quite entertaining.

Just to say, it is possible to get offended by this and the rape clause, and the massacre of the Copts, and the fact that Trump exists. Christians don't have a finite store of it that runs out once they've finished reading the Daily Telegraph.