I don't understand the fuss about playing sport on Good Friday. I checked on the web and found that the most catholic of countries, Vatican City, don't observe it as a public holiday. So what would be the big deal?
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A game of footy would have gone down well today
- Thread starter Rosy
- Start date
Easter is the holiest of Christian festival. Now we say that most people are not religious here yet we still have the day as a public holiday surely that in itself signifies it is important to this country. Christmas would be the next important now there is no way cricket would be played on that day. If it is not that important then by all means play football however the public holiday should also no longer happen.
As it is we get a game on Thursday and then a game on Monday leave it as it is and we can take solace in the knowledge that NRL and yawnion and their supporters are all going to hell.
As it is we get a game on Thursday and then a game on Monday leave it as it is and we can take solace in the knowledge that NRL and yawnion and their supporters are all going to hell.
Good Friday. Where do I start?
First of all I believe religion is a scourge on society. If religion was banned 2000 years ago, planet earth would be a utopia. But I do not judge people, and I respect them for their beliefs… As long as they are committed to their beliefs 100%, and not simply turning to religion when it suits them.
I love my history, and if Jesus Christ did exist, then I truly believe he was a brilliant man. But even the most religious person would find it hard to believe the myths about the man... It’s a ridiculous notion to believe JC turned water into wine, that he rose from the dead, etc.
Historian’s widely acknowledge Jesus was crucified on Friday, March 20, AD33. So what significance does April 10 2009 have on us? None of course.
There are many Christian countries in the world, but if you asked me to think 2 christian countries, the first 2 that come to mind is the home of the Catholic Church (Italy) and the world's superpower (the USA). Someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but I do not believe either of these countries celebrate good Friday as a public holiday. And if you want me to go further, the USA play NFL and NBA games on Xmas day.
Now Australia... Historians say are that we were founded on Christian values. I have no problem with that, but times have changed. Whether you like it or not, we now live in a secular society. True Australian society revolves around Ockerism. You may dispute this, but I believe ockerism is cultured on 3 things:
1. Drinking
2. Gambling
3. Sport.
So should Good Friday be a public holiday in Australia? No *smiling* way!!! My personal opinion is that it should be replaced with May 9 (the first day parliament sat in Canberra in 1927).
But if we are to keep Good Friday as a public holiday... well then let us do something constructive. There is bloody nothing to do. No shops open, no supermarkets open, not many pubs open, etc. Bloody nothing!!! It’s a snorefest to say the least. It’s ridiculous!
Life is supposed to be fun. So let’s make the most of a public holiday… In the true Australian tradition, let’s play some footy.
If Collingwood and Essendon get ANZAC day, give Richmond and Carlton Good Friday. No one would argue if 10% of the gate takings go to the children’s hospital appeal, it's a given. But let's turn good Friday into a day we would look forward to... not a day so boring that we'd wish we'd all be at work. how depressing is that...?
First of all I believe religion is a scourge on society. If religion was banned 2000 years ago, planet earth would be a utopia. But I do not judge people, and I respect them for their beliefs… As long as they are committed to their beliefs 100%, and not simply turning to religion when it suits them.
I love my history, and if Jesus Christ did exist, then I truly believe he was a brilliant man. But even the most religious person would find it hard to believe the myths about the man... It’s a ridiculous notion to believe JC turned water into wine, that he rose from the dead, etc.
Historian’s widely acknowledge Jesus was crucified on Friday, March 20, AD33. So what significance does April 10 2009 have on us? None of course.
There are many Christian countries in the world, but if you asked me to think 2 christian countries, the first 2 that come to mind is the home of the Catholic Church (Italy) and the world's superpower (the USA). Someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but I do not believe either of these countries celebrate good Friday as a public holiday. And if you want me to go further, the USA play NFL and NBA games on Xmas day.
Now Australia... Historians say are that we were founded on Christian values. I have no problem with that, but times have changed. Whether you like it or not, we now live in a secular society. True Australian society revolves around Ockerism. You may dispute this, but I believe ockerism is cultured on 3 things:
1. Drinking
2. Gambling
3. Sport.
So should Good Friday be a public holiday in Australia? No *smiling* way!!! My personal opinion is that it should be replaced with May 9 (the first day parliament sat in Canberra in 1927).
But if we are to keep Good Friday as a public holiday... well then let us do something constructive. There is bloody nothing to do. No shops open, no supermarkets open, not many pubs open, etc. Bloody nothing!!! It’s a snorefest to say the least. It’s ridiculous!
Life is supposed to be fun. So let’s make the most of a public holiday… In the true Australian tradition, let’s play some footy.
If Collingwood and Essendon get ANZAC day, give Richmond and Carlton Good Friday. No one would argue if 10% of the gate takings go to the children’s hospital appeal, it's a given. But let's turn good Friday into a day we would look forward to... not a day so boring that we'd wish we'd all be at work. how depressing is that...?
As a 'God botherer' myself I don't see why we cannot have a footy game on Good Friday. It is not as though we are a Christian country any more, those who want to go to church still will.
If you want a family day off without footy there are the months of October to February.
As for April 10, I will freely admit some early Christians hijacked a pagan festival which has something to do with the moon so it changes from the original date.
Ian, as for abolition of religion creating a utopia..... many recent wars were started for completely atheistic reasons, but that is a different discussion for a different board
If you want a family day off without footy there are the months of October to February.
As for April 10, I will freely admit some early Christians hijacked a pagan festival which has something to do with the moon so it changes from the original date.
Ian, as for abolition of religion creating a utopia..... many recent wars were started for completely atheistic reasons, but that is a different discussion for a different board
To keep both sides of the argument happy, the AFL should declare a Christian day sacred and that there will never be an official game fixtured for Christmas Day.
LeighW said:
yeah easter is held on the weekend of the first full moon after the northern hemisphere spring equinox. which usually falls on march 20... coincidentally the same day JC was believed to have been crucified.
as for wars... most are started on religious differences or ethnic clensing, which of course is related to reigious differences.
but i agree, that's a discussion on a different board. i just wanted to make my point that good friday needs to be australianised.
Tigerblood said:
Yeah but the only problem is, we don't look like rising from the dead for quite some time
If a healthy society accomodates special cultural things does this mean we can take a month off for Ramadan? ;DAstroboyUK said:
Gotta love the old chestnut of taking days off to celebrate different things, like horse races and royal birthdays and religious ceremonies, specially when not only does no one even know what day they are supposed to be celebrating the special event on, but different flavours of the same religion can't even decide to celebrate the event in the same week.
Australia, like the rest of the world is full of Christians, Moslems, Buddhists, Athiests and a smorgasboard of flavours in between.
There is no one that has a mortgage on being more right or better than the other mob so as far as I'm concerned we'd be better off with a bit of live and let live.
If you wan't to run around spending your day raising money at a charity event or watch a sporting event or go to work and earn a dollar to feed your family. Good luck to you, so you should be entitled.
If you want to spend the day contemplating your faith good luck to you, so you should be entitled.
Just don't force your choice on me!
I really can't understand the fuss over Good Friday Footy. To claim it's the holiest of holy days is a laugh. Italy and Ireland, two of the most Christian/Catholic devout nations where the Church does have a fair bit of pulling power in the government, don't observe Good Friday as a public holiday. People work, play sport and whatever, expect maybe eat fish, on Good Friday.
Easter Monday is a holiday though and I'm pretty sure they play sport on that day.
Easter Monday is a holiday though and I'm pretty sure they play sport on that day.