Religious Imposition.

D

davebtelford

Well-Known Local
Weaver
I went to the supermarket today (which I sometimes do on Sunday afternoon) but it was closed due to trading laws imposed through (Christian) religious tradition. No big deal I suppose (and I picked up the few things I wanted from our local Spar shop)

I was brought up essentially without religion and I have seen no need to seek it out in adulthood. As we are now a multi-cultural, multi-religion (and none) society is it right that we should all be bound by such sectarian laws or should business and commerce be separated from religious beliefs? And are Spar employees/customers in some way less obligated (morally) to be bound by Christian tradition than those of larger shops? The logic behind this is very puzzling!
 
Agree its beyond us, we have been saying how stupid we think it is, small shops can open,larger uns can't, this is sod all to do wi religion as far as we are concerned.:rolleyes:
 
We can shop for 363 days of the year.......shops close on Christmas Day and Easter Day.
Two days a year when the shops close. You may not have a religion, but others who work in the shops may have a religious belief.
I am sure that most of the large stores have had their opening times over the Easter break well publicised. Surely it is not beyond your ability to make sure that any shopping you needed was done before they took a day off.

Don't you think that those who work in the supermarkets want to spend a little time with their families?

Anyway, it seems that you got yourself sorted by patronising a Spar shop(which is very likely to be run by someone who is not Christian).
Live and let live.
 
Shops under 3000 sq ft can open today, just as they can after 4pm on a normal Sunday (unlike larger supermarkets which have to close today and can only open for restricted hours on a normal Sunday). The reason for this is to give the little independent shops a fighting chance against the big supermarket chains who are taking so much of their business.
 
The Spar near us is open 364 days a year. It serves the local community, who, in general, seem to be neither here nor there when it comes to religion in general. I don't see the point in closing at specific times these days. It suits the owners and it suits us, the customers. All good, all round.
 
The last time I looked this was still a Christian country.....now so many people want to deny Christianity. Get rid of it and what may take its place.......and then what impositions may be put into place.
It is perfectly possible to shop for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The internet makes this possible. During my working life I was required to work many of the times when families get together......so I know what it is like to be working when everyone else is having a fine time with their families.
 
The issue to me is simple, i aint bothered one way or the other, they should all be closed, or all be open if they choose, if thats hard fer some to grasp. it dont surprise me.:rolleyes:
 
Well Cashy, at one time they were.......and this was when shops all closed on Sundays......and here in Clayton they also closed Saturday afternoon......and do you know what? We got through. No-one starved..... I think that in general the world(or at least my bit of it) was a better place.

There is only so much money to go around......the shops opening longer doesn't necessarily mean that they make more money.....especially the smaller ones, because they have to pay someone to man the place whether it is busy or not.
Shop workers deserve a break as much as anyone else.
 
Margaret Pilkington said:
Well Cashy, at one time they were.......and this was when shops all closed on Sundays......
Click to expand...

Even worse things used to happen, thanks to religion the pubs used to shut on Sundays except for genuine travelers.

Thank God those days are no longer with us.
smiley-beer-3081697507172742080.jpg
 
Less said:
Even worse things used to happen, thanks to religion the pubs used to shut on Sundays except for genuine travelers.

Thank God those days are no longer with us.
smiley-beer-3081697507172742080.jpg
Click to expand...

They also used to have restricted hours....Close during each afternoon......opening again at tea time until 10:30 pm.....people still managed to get bladdered......and the landlord got to spend some time for himself.

And if you went to Wales the pubs were closed all day on a Sunday.....totally dry(well, unless you were welsh......then you were let in by the back door).
I remember going to Wales with my gran in the late sixties.....she liked a drop of beer. She was totally disgusted that she couldn't get a beer because the pubs were shut ......especially as she had walked something like three miles from the cottage to the village. She was as dry as an old maids kiss when she got back.
 
Last edited:
Margaret Pilkington said:
Well Cashy, at one time they were.......and this was when shops all closed on Sundays......and here in Clayton they also closed Saturday afternoon......and do you know what? We got through. No-one starved..... I think that in general the world(or at least my bit of it) was a better place.

There is only so much money to go around......the shops opening longer doesn't necessarily mean that they make more money.....especially the smaller ones, because they have to pay someone to man the place whether it is busy or not.
Shop workers deserve a break as much as anyone else.
Click to expand...
Aint arguing wi that, just saying simply it should be one way or the other.
 
It always amuses/amazes me when it's a long weekend at the number of people who buy extra big the day before the shops are closed - like they're never going to open again. These people seem to cover every possible emergency that MIGHT happen.

I totally agree with Margaret, why do you need every day to shop. I dislike shopping ANY day, my other half does most of it.

Also remember that if it wasn't for the religious bit there wouldn't be a holiday anyway - you can't have your cake and eat it too, well you can if you include an extra one on your shopping list - just in case....
 
davebtelford said:
I went to the supermarket today (which I sometimes do on Sunday afternoon) but it was closed due to trading laws imposed through (Christian) religious tradition. No big deal I suppose (and I picked up the few things I wanted from our local Spar shop)

I was brought up essentially without religion and I have seen no need to seek it out in adulthood. As we are now a multi-cultural, multi-religion (and none) society is it right that we should all be bound by such sectarian laws or should business and commerce be separated from religious beliefs? And are Spar employees/customers in some way less obligated (morally) to be bound by Christian tradition than those of larger shops? The logic behind this is very puzzling!
Click to expand...

That's the problem with the English...they are so quick to forget their traditions...is it any wonder that ever so slowly they are being replaced by alternative cultural values.

Can't ever recall in my youth being dragged around a supermarket on Easter Sunday....train to Blackpool or a Frasers coach trip, yeah..but a day out looking at two for ones or Bogofs...nah!

I was brought up WITH religion..fish on fridays..yada..yada, and dumped it into the logic bin as soon as I could.

Thing is..a 'traditional' public holiday is a holiday that should be enjoyed by the public...even those public that work in Tesco!
 
But it's nothing to do with whether the shop owners are Muslim or not. If you're a Muslim and you own a store with over 3,000 sq ft floor space, you're required to shut on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. If you're a Christian with a shop with under 3,000 sq ft floor space, you're free to open on those days.
 
Wynonie Harris said:
But it's nothing to do with whether the shop owners are Muslim or not. If you're a Muslim and you own a store with over 3,000 sq ft floor space, you're required to shut on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. If you're a Christian with a shop with under 3,000 sq ft floor space, you're free to open on those days.
Click to expand...
Exactly, thats what i find stupid. The rights n wrongs irrelevant, its the stupidity gets me.
 
Wynonie Harris said:
But it's nothing to do with whether the shop owners are Muslim or not. If you're a Muslim and you own a store with over 3,000 sq ft floor space, you're required to shut on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. If you're a Christian with a shop with under 3,000 sq ft floor space, you're free to open on those days.
Click to expand...

No argument from me on that one Wyn....that appears to be a screwed up law made by screwed up politicians, probably advised by their unpaid interns (are you reading this Graham?)...wonder which party thought that would be a good idea?

Orginal poster brought religion into it..was just countering his argument
 
It's one of those laws that's possibly well-meaning in theory but doesn't actually work in practice. The idea's to give the little independent shops a chance to recoup some sales from the big boys, by forcing people to use their corner shops at certain times. Whether it has the desired effect or not, I wouldn't know. Personally, I never go anywhere near a store on those days, as I'm either dossing round the house or, as today, up the pub!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top