Problem
Disruptive secular impact of holy days
Other Names:
Discriminatory effect of holy day observance Nature:
Days of religious observance such as Sunday, the Sabbath, and religious holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Yom Kippur, Rosh Ha-Sha-nah, Passover, for different religions occurring in the same country may cause conflict, especially if one religion predominates and national holidays are based on the days of observance of that religion to the detriment of the others.
Incidence:
For the Jewish religion, Saturday is the Shabbath, or day of rest, in which all activity ceases, including the closing of shops. For Jewish shop owners to be forced by governmental law to be closed on Sunday as well means they can operate only 5 out of 7 days a week, thus putting them at an obvious disadvantage to non-Jewish entrepreneurs who operate 6 days a week. In Christian countries there is social and commercial pressure to buy Christmas presents and to send Christmas cards, which may be done by non-Christians. In Christian countries, some Jewish communities provide services on Sunday as well as the Sabbath because of the practical impediments for some to observe the Sabbath.
Broader Problems:
TraditionalismReligious intoleranceReligious discriminationUndue religious influence on secular life Narrower Problems:
Inefficiency due to mismatch of religious or national holidays Related Problems:
Desecration of holy spacesDistorted exclusiveness of social groups Aggravates:
Religious and political antagonism Strategies:
Designating sacred area Subject(s):
Religious Practice → LaityReligious Practice → Religion
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST