We love parades. It is a pleasure to watch them. If we have taken part in them, we may even have enjoyed the idea being on display. Tattoos, massed bands, regimental mascots, marching and counter-marching, bearskins, pith helmets, ceremonial swords etc make for a memorable day in the sun. Horse-soldiers with cuirasses escorting a gilded coach complete the array.
And why not? When we talk of defence forces, we talk of the business of killing an enemy or convincing him he can’t win. That is not a pretty occupation. If it has to be done it is best done by those who are honoured rather than despised. Hence we have medals and bands and resplendent uniforms. They are the glitter on a grimy task. We need a counterpoise to the job in hand; they underline the worth of what is necessary to defend a homeland. We have a red carpet parallel in the entertainment industry where awards and acclaim are conferred at glitzy ceremonies on actors who have learned their lines and played their parts.
Parades are an inevitable part of organised society. They may be only distantly related to a job that is actually being done or contemplated but they are agreeable accents in what might otherwise be a dull routine.
And then we turn to the Sermon on the Mount and find Jesus saying: ‘Be careful not to parade your religion before others.’ He underlines this by adding: ’If you do, no reward awaits you with your Father in heaven.’ Common sense goes along with this. It dislikes nothing more than the habit of ramming religion down people’s throats. It is not so much processions of robed clergy and thousands-strong attendance at open-air celebrations that offend. It is rather the experience of being dragooned into belief by religious spokespersons who know what’s what better than anybody else. Could it be that there was a slight twinkle in the eye of Jesus when he launched into this topic? Clumsy and ill-considered attempts to convince sceptics are not without their humorous aspect – like chimpanzees at a key-board.
Ordered homage is one thing. Religious exhibitionism is something else. We have it in black and white which we should favour.
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I have mentioned Ian Paul’s Psephizo blog before. He has notable contributors. Two items just included deserve attention. ’Where are the working class?’ asks Gary Jenkins, a Bermondsey vicar. Dr Julie Maxwell surveys the implications of a judgment on transgender treatment.
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