In the most recent outbreak of that uniquely crippling mental illness CPS (Christian Persecution Syndrome) we learn of a midwife who refused to wear scrub trousers in an operating theatre claiming that it was against her religion. For those apologists who kid themselves that all those awkward Bible edicts are understood as outdated or allegorical by Christians, check out Deuteronomy 22:5 which Hannah Adewole cites specifically, she's reading it as I'm sure most of us would,
"The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God."
One of the other complaints allegedly made by this Christian lady is that Muslim midwives have special dispensations for this kind of thing (although, it is the Daily Mail so caution is advised when it comes to Muslims).
I must admit that as long as you think belief in Bronze age Palestinian mythology should be offered the same respect as scientific medical best practice then she is correct on two counts, her religious instruction book does indeed mandate what she says it does, and if special allowances are made for Muslims whose holy text is simply a plagiarised version of the same book then we have a totally unfair and nonsensical situation on our hands.
My view is a simple one, there are certain places and situations where a secular approach is the only fair and practical path, certainly religious people have a right to believe whatever they like but they should simply avoid jobs or roles where this is impossible for them.
2 comments:
I didn't think Bronze Age Palestinians wore trousers - more a baggy cloaky thing - a bit like what women wore.
CB, good point, but far too rational for these folks.
Remember, Christianity is about identifying the cultural and social norms that you are personally indoctrinated with or invested in and then cherry picking verses of the Bible which support those and ignoring the rest, that's the way it works.
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