Religion: Difference between revisions

From Cunnan
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
 
(Consolidation, G&PD6)
Line 1: Line 1:
Sometime during its history, the [[SCA]] decided to ban all obvious use of religion. This is in order to stop any kinds of religious persecution, etc. occuring.
Sometime during its history, the [[SCA]] decided to ban all overt use of religion. This law was enacted because incidents showed some kind of ruling was required.<sub><small>1</small></sub> While it does dispose of a very important part of medieval times, it also takes away many of the bad aspects. (e.g. it's not fun to be on the wrong side of a [[Crusade]]r, a Catholic in [[Reformation]] [[England]], etc).
I believe this law occured because incidents showed some kind of ruling was required. While taking away some period aspects of medieval times, it takes away many of the bad aspects as well as the few good. (eg it's not fun to be on the wrong side of a crusader, a catholic in reformation england, etc).
In general, a guideline is to not inflict religion on anyone else, and everyone will get along fine. So while a catholic monk [[persona]] is out in the SCA, a scholar who dresses in monk like clothes, but with no obvious religious symbols is ''generally'' accepted.[1]


In general, a guideline is to not inflict religion on anyone else while attending an SCA event, and everyone will get along fine. Many people adopt [[persona]]s that are deeply religious, because their medieval counterpart would have been deeply religious. The problem is only with inflicting your religious beliefs (even if they're only "pretend" ones) on other people who might find that offensive. (And some people might be offended if you pretend to hold religious beliefs or positions you don't actually hold; this is the actual problem with monk or nun personas, assuming that actual monks or nuns are not likely to join the SCA.) Feel free to carry or use a rosary or other religious artifact; just don't rub other people's faces in it, and ''don't force them (or appear to force them) to be a part of your religious observance.''
One of the most obvious repurcussions of this ruling is the ban on certain potentially offensive symbols (eg the swastika, star of david,... ) in SCA [[device]]s.


One of the most obvious repercussions of this ruling is the ban on certain potentially offensive symbols (e.g. the Swastika, Star of David,... ) in SCA [[device]]s.<br><br>
[1] Actually, the ban doesn't really extend this far. Many people adopt personas that are deeply religious, because their medieval counterpart would have been deeply religious. The problem is only with inflicting your religious beliefs (even if only "pretend" ones) on other people who might find that offensive. (And some people might be offended if you pretend to hold religious beliefs or positions you don't actually hold; this is the actual problem with monk or nun personas, assuming that actual monks or nuns are not likely to join the SCA.) Feel free to carry or use a rosary or other religious artifact; just don't rub other people's faces in it, and ''don't force them (or appear to force them) to be a part of your religious observance.''
<small>
1. According to [http://history.westkingdom.org/AHP/AnnotatedHistoryOfTheWest.pdf The Annotated History of The West], Governing & Policy Decision No. 6 (as it was then called) was instituted in [[AS]] VI due to problems with evangelism and "wizards" threatening people.
</small>

Revision as of 22:20, 27 August 2003

Sometime during its history, the SCA decided to ban all overt use of religion. This law was enacted because incidents showed some kind of ruling was required.1 While it does dispose of a very important part of medieval times, it also takes away many of the bad aspects. (e.g. it's not fun to be on the wrong side of a Crusader, a Catholic in Reformation England, etc).

In general, a guideline is to not inflict religion on anyone else while attending an SCA event, and everyone will get along fine. Many people adopt personas that are deeply religious, because their medieval counterpart would have been deeply religious. The problem is only with inflicting your religious beliefs (even if they're only "pretend" ones) on other people who might find that offensive. (And some people might be offended if you pretend to hold religious beliefs or positions you don't actually hold; this is the actual problem with monk or nun personas, assuming that actual monks or nuns are not likely to join the SCA.) Feel free to carry or use a rosary or other religious artifact; just don't rub other people's faces in it, and don't force them (or appear to force them) to be a part of your religious observance.

One of the most obvious repercussions of this ruling is the ban on certain potentially offensive symbols (e.g. the Swastika, Star of David,... ) in SCA devices.

1. According to The Annotated History of The West, Governing & Policy Decision No. 6 (as it was then called) was instituted in AS VI due to problems with evangelism and "wizards" threatening people.