Sgian dubh in church?

**Macman** · 14th January 16, 07:34 PM

I realize you're in the UK, but I wouldn't think twice about it in my area.

**LANCER1562** · 14th January 16, 09:08 PM

When I still lived in California, I attended Church every Sunday and I carried my SD. No one said anything about it other than how nice a given SD looked.

**The Wizard of BC** · 14th January 16, 11:38 PM

Let me preface this with - I am not a religious person. The closest I would come to would be agnostic.

But, that said, I'm sorry, I must be the exception.

If I were to enter a place of worship, any place of worship, where peace is preached, taught, and expected, I would not carry a weapon of any kind, sort or description. You may call it a tool if you must, call it part of the uniform if you wish, that is your choice. I was taught that inside that building is sacred and special. I can not think of any need or justification for a tool or weapon during service.

I don't think I would want to hold up my ethnic rights or anything else that would justify a weapon in such a place. I also think that the concept of selflessness is taught there. The concept that it is not me, myself, and how good I look in my finery that is most important.

I would also not carry a weapon out of respect. Respect for the others in that place. Respect for what concepts that are being taught.

I guess to me there are three places that I hold sacred and would never carry a weapon. (Even a weapon some would justify as a tool.) Those are 1) A place of worship, 2) A place of learning, and 3) A place of Law. So call me weird but I would never carry a Sgian Dubh into a church, a school or a courthouse.

**Liam** · 15th January 16, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

Let me preface this with - I am not a religious person. The closest I would come to would be agnostic.

But, that said, I'm sorry, I must be the exception.

If I were to enter a place of worship, any place of worship, where peace is preached, taught, and expected, I would not carry a weapon of any kind, sort or description. You may call it a tool if you must, call it part of the uniform if you wish, that is your choice. I was taught that inside that building is sacred and special. I can not think of any need or justification for a tool or weapon during service.

I don't think I would want to hold up my ethnic rights or anything else that would justify a weapon in such a place. I also think that the concept of selflessness is taught there. The concept that it is not me, myself, and how good I look in my finery that is most important.

I would also not carry a weapon out of respect. Respect for the others in that place. Respect for what concepts that are being taught.

I guess to me there are three places that I hold sacred and would never carry a weapon. (Even a weapon some would justify as a tool.) Those are 1) A place of worship, 2) A place of learning, and 3) A place of Law. So call me weird but I would never carry a Sgian Dubh into a church, a school or a courthouse.

I don't disagree with your sentiments Steve, however I have never considered a sgian dubh or a pocket knife to be a weapon. I do tend to wear my sgian bru or nothing if dressing casually.

**The Wizard of BC** · 15th January 16, 02:18 AM

I don't ask or expect anyone to agree or disagree. This is just my personal feeling.

Everyone will make up their own mind about how they will act. A question was asked, I answered.

**Geoff Withnell** · 15th January 16, 04:09 AM

I certainly can't say you are wrong, Steve. Just for cookies and grins, being a Jew, this is how I handle the Synagogue (which could easily be considered to fit in all three of your categories, Steve). During the week, I carry my sgian. It's a tool, and there is no problem with carrying a tool during the week. On the Sabbath, however, I am not supposed to work. So it is against the spirit of the Sabbath to be carrying around a tool, so as to be ready to work. So I leave it off.

**OC Richard** · 15th January 16, 06:36 AM

The sgian, not being a weapon, but a utility knife, would fall under the same considerations as the latter.

I have a sgian but I rarely wear it any more. For one thing, it's another bit of kit to put on, and I've tried to streamline my kit as much as possible (no sgian, dirk belt, kilt pin, etc). For another thing, more and more venues here in the USA have "zero tolerance" policies regarding weapons, and they tend to regard anything remotely resembling a weapon as such.

I wouldn't wear Highland Dress to church anyhow. (I'm Catholic BTW.) For me, church is about community, about everyone coming together as a body, and the last thing I want to do is to wear anything that shouts "Look at me, everybody!"

The exception is of course if I'm performing on the pipes at the service in question, in which case Highland Dress is expected.

**kilted firefighter** · 15th January 16, 09:41 AM

As they say, because everybody has one "opinions are like..." well never mind that. But my opinion is yet a further variation, in that while I would carry a knife/tool into my house of worship, for similar reasons to those expressed by OC Richard, I would not wear a kilt there. But this has much to do with being keenly familiar with the general feelings of the congregation.
KF

**jetstar63** · 25th January 16, 07:44 PM

I wouldn't have something like a sgian dubh in church, but I wouldn't care if someone else did.

**AFS1970** · 26th January 16, 11:32 AM

I think the best advise so far here has been that if you were not a member of this site you would not think twice about wearing it. I got my first sgian dhu with my first kilt. It was part of a package deal, and for the most part is considered part of the costume/uniform. Almost everywhere I have ever gone in a kilt, including events with other kilted folks, someone will ask about the knife and if it is sharp. Big deal. I have never worn a kilt to my own church but have done so at other churches, including my own wedding, and at all times I have had a sgian dhu on. I don't know of any church that has ever said no to this. The distinction between weapon and tool is a minor one at best.

Think of the original question like this. I have to go to dinner right after church. I will not have time to go home. Should I go to church dressed for dinner or go home and change or miss church. Obviously going dressed for dinner is the best choice, and if anyone were to ask why you were dressed other than you normally do you could tell the truth and say you were going to dinner right after the service. I for one think there will be more questions about the kilt and TCHD in a general sense than any one item included in what you are wearing.

Like with most of life, don't over think it.