Sgian Dubhs in Church: Opinions, please

[mbhandy]

Be it a Knife or a Kilt does the pastor allow a Kilted wedding if so then that is total ground for Discrimination. My father was Pastor for the United Methodist Church in the Houston Conference and he use to do Weddings where many of the weddings were kilted. I guess It might be He was use to seeing his Grandfather Wallace wear his kilt that he was more tolerant about clothing except when I wore Beatle boots to Church?????
We were in Texas an lots of men wore Cowboy boots?????


MrBill

[michael steinrok]

Wearing the Sgian in church would largely depend on what was in your heart. Let's face it a sgian is not much of a weapon. On the other hand " In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king" God will know what is in your heart. Let that be your guide. It serves me well.

[gilmore]

This may be something that has been extensively discussed before, but I'm looking for some current perspectives.

What is the conventional wisdom regarding wearing sgian dubhs in church? I'm going semi-formal to an (Episcopalian) midnight mass tomorrow night: kilt, belt, argyll tweed jacket, tie, ghillie brogues, flashes; but I am ambivalent on whether to wear my sgian dubh. The ceremonial aspect appeals to me, but a sgian dubh is an actual, functional weapon to some extent, and the idea of wearing a weapon in church seems wrong somehow. If I knew someone was carrying a bowie knife, or a switchblade in church, it would bother me. I don't want anyone to make that judgement of me. On the other hand, there is the heritage argument, almost (though not quite, given the theological sanction), the way a Sikh might wear his kirpan to temple.

Where does everyone stand? Up or down on the sgian dubh in church?

Merry Christmas to all,

Cirthalion

There is a saying about situations like this that goes something like, "If you feel you have to ask, you probably shouldn't."

[beloitpiper]

It's sad when a church (not a religion) dictates your life so strongly. I mean, I might understand why a church would be uncomfortable with somebody wearing a sgian dubh, but to forbid a kilt?!?!?! That seems extreme and discriminatory. If the church was really devoted to God and Christianity, wouldn't they allow everybody and everything that wanted to worship? Personally, if a church tried to dictate my life (and my heritage is a BIG PART of my life too) I'd find a new church that accepted and welcomed be for who I am.

[Captain]

Beliot... I agree with you as a worshipper and attender. But if your employer says no kilts it's not quite the same as just the church you attend...

[beloitpiper]

Beliot... I agree with you as a worshipper and attender. But if your employer says no kilts it's not quite the same as just the church you attend...

Agreed.

[gilmore]

It's sad when a church (not a religion) dictates your life so strongly. I mean, I might understand why a church would be uncomfortable with somebody wearing a sgian dubh, but to forbid a kilt?!?!?! That seems extreme and discriminatory. If the church was really devoted to God and Christianity, wouldn't they allow everybody and everything that wanted to worship? Personally, if a church tried to dictate my life (and my heritage is a BIG PART of my life too) I'd find a new church that accepted and welcomed be for who I am.

For a view counter to yours, see Matt Newsome's well-reasoned article on why he does not wear a kilt to church on Easter Sundays. It is either in his blog or in a thread here on X Marks.

What one can do and what one should do are not always the same.

[beloitpiper]

There's a difference between a choice and an order. If Matt doesn't want to wear his kilt church on Easter, that is his decision. If the church tells him he cannot wear his kilt on Easter, then it's a bit different.

[Tartan Texan Trenton]

I for one am having a hard time understanding why an on-duty police officer would leave his weapon in his cruiser when entering a church. Oh, I understand the symbolism - but he's on duty, 'to protect and serve' - and how is he going to 'protect' if unarmed? Sure, the Pilgrims carried their weapons for self-protection on the way to church and then stacked them at the front door before entering - but I can reasonably infer that somebody guarded those weapons - with rifle in hand - while the rest of the congregants were inside.

[neo71665]

Its a small town and most people here have enough respect that they aint gonna do anything stupid in a church that would make a police officer need a gun. But as most officers of the law they still have mace/pepper spray and if you aint ever been hit with it, don't. As for the pilgrams, I dont think the need to protect one self from indians attacking (just saying indians as it popped in my mind first) makes us need to carry weapons with us all the time. They still have their radios (with earbuds) so if they are called out the can go.

I still say the lack of one little peice of your outfit (the sgian) will not bother anybody but you. If its that big of a thing to you then wear it, I just dont see any need for it in a church or bank for that matter. To each their own.

I for one am having a hard time understanding why an on-duty police officer would leave his weapon in his cruiser when entering a church. Oh, I understand the symbolism - but he's on duty, 'to protect and serve' - and how is he going to 'protect' if unarmed? Sure, the Pilgrims carried their weapons for self-protection on the way to church and then stacked them at the front door before entering - but I can reasonably infer that somebody guarded those weapons - with rifle in hand - while the rest of the congregants were inside.