Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

Pointing and laughing at religious lunacy for more than half-a-century

Supermarket chain urged to ditch Sunday opening plan on the Scottish Isle of Lewis

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MORE than 1,700 people have signed a “keep the Sabbath sacred” petition, launched by the Rev Alasdair J Macleod, above, of the Free Church (Continuing), who wants to stop Tesco from extending its trading days.

Macleod’s petition says:

By signing this petition, we are not just standing for a day off — we are standing for the glory of Christ, our Christian tradition, our community spirit, and our right to be different!

Reacting to the petition, Tesco bosses said they believe Sunday trading will smooth trade across the week and help to reduce food waste.

Christian Davies, store director for Tesco in the Highlands and Islands, said: 

We will be listening carefully to customers and colleagues about our proposals to open our Stornoway store on a Sunday.. We are confident we can carefully balance the demand for a seven-day opening while remaining respectful to local traditions and culture.

He added:

While shopping on a Sunday is not for everyone, a store that is open seven days a week would significantly improve the shopping experience for all customers, by offering choice to those who do want to shop on a Sunday and reducing congestion during other days of the week, especially on a Saturday.

The store has remained shut on a Sunday since it opened in 2008 to reflect local religious sentiment.

Lewis, with a population of about 20,000, has a long tradition of observing the Sabbath day, meaning that some shops — including both supermarkets – currently keep their doors closed on a Sunday.

Macleod, who started the petition, said:

Many of us hold cherished memories of island Sundays as a guaranteed day of rest, relaxation and no work — a precious day of family time and worship. However, this simple yet profound day is at risk due to the concept of seven-day trading creeping into our culture.  When stores and businesses open their doors on Sunday, it may seem like a convenience at first, but the resulting ripple effect leaves workers with less time to rest, less time for family, less time for church worship and invariably, a lower quality of life.

And he warned

If Tesco Stornoway, one of the largest shops in the Western Isles, opens on a Sunday then other businesses and organisations will be more likely to open on a Sunday too. They will sadly feel pressured too.

The Tesco store in Stornoway is currently closed on a Sunday, although some staff work to restock shelves.

Antiquated views of ‘Wee Free‘ churches

Apart from regarding Sunday shopping as “sinful”, the church holds ridiculously archaic views on a whole bunch of other stuff — especially abortion and homosexuality. As for women and their place in the church and society as whole, well …

Image via YouTube

One its more prominent members is politian Kate Forbes, above, a Scots politician who campaigned to become leader of the Scottish National Party. Never happened. She lost out to Humza Yousaf after key backers of the Finance Secretary withdrew their support after she said she would have voted against equal marriage laws in Scotland. (Yousaf resigned earlier this year and was replaced by John Swinney.)

In the comments section of The National, Ro Bell wrote:

She is part of an organisation which would refuse to lift her to the highest offices within that faith community because she is a woman and carries all the sins of Eve. Until she can hold that office she should not be acting against the teachings of the Free Kirk by filling herself with pride and speaking out when St Paul instructs: ‘Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.’ 1 Tim 2: 11-12. She seems content to flout this direct instruction but will not speak up for equal marriage. How curious? Maybe the Elders of the Free Kirk, all male (not sure how many will be gay or trans …) will be kind enough to tell us the Kirk’s stand on this brazen impropriety and how they could have Kate as First Minister but not a Minister?

Hat tip: BarrieJohn

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9 responses to “Supermarket chain urged to ditch Sunday opening plan on the Scottish Isle of Lewis”

  1. Broga Avatar
    Broga

    I suppose it would not occur to Mcleod and others who have been similarly indoctrinated that they can lead the kind of Sundays he wants and leave others to do the same. These bigots relish the existing, and rapidly fading, influence they still possess in a few places..

    Their beliefs are not advanced by open debate but by bullying . Their views are assumed to be correct and any difference must be assumed to be wrong. Those who hold different views will be pitilessly abused. They are religious thugs who, given the opportunity, do much harm and cause great suffering. A prime example is the unbalanced Trump who may still cause havoc to the lives of millions.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Matilda Avatar
      Matilda

      We were what I guess you’d call ‘mainstream baptists’ for decades but held strict sabbatarian views as we raised our family. We never shopped on Sundays, didn’t listen to the radio (we had no TV, too worldly), never ate out, mowed the lawns or hung out washing (cos neighbours would be impressed by our obedience to keeping the Sabbath day holy). But we didn’t impose our family rules on others and were privately shocked to learn that in the very x-tian country of the USA, x-tians went to restaurants together after Sunday morning services and stores were open too for them. Friends sometimes commented that they didn’t know how we kept to that strict rule of not shopping on the Sabbath, they would run out of milk or bread and have to pop out to get some, guess we were just that bit better organised, or we did without till Monday! My guess is that Tesco will win this one….they have done so – as have other big supermarket chains in the UK – despite petitions and protests opposing them in many places many times!

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Broga Avatar
        Broga

        Thank God I escaped the indoctrination and miseries of religion in my teens. As a child in rural Scotland I had to attend Sunday school first for an hour and then straight into the utter boredom of the main service. I still remember sitting with a friend and entering a competition to see who could twist their fingers into the oddest shape. Anything to deflect into something that would escape the droning service.

        In the afternoon we were dispatched for a walk in our Sunday best, including brightly shining shoes and told, “Now behave yourselves.” Failure was inevitable as we were obsessed with playing football and took a tennis ball. The shininess soon disappeared. Climbing trees was popular. “Jumping the burn” with dire effects on tidiness. And lighting a fire was a big favourite. Especially if someone landed in the burn. The drying attempts never succeeded.

        So we returned home to a bollocking. But they were happy days and I look back on them with much pleasure. I discovered non belief from reading books. Often fiction.

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  2. stephenharvie Avatar
    stephenharvie

    Traditional Sundays which often means that the lady of the house has a black eye on Monday

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Matilda Avatar
      Matilda

      Not just a black eye on Sundays either. My dad grew up in rural Wales where, decades ago, the ‘chapels’, the nonconformist churches, ruled. He lost his faith as he observed how preachers ranted and yelled about ‘the demon drink’ from the pulpit on Sundays (Welsh eccclesiatical oratory was famous for its eloquence). But these pastors and deacons were known to go to the back door of their local pub with a jug – for ale – in the week. And their wives’ visible bruises were the result!

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. malcolmjdodd Avatar
        malcolmjdodd

        The same used to happen in Guernsey where the spirits-of-the-devil (booze and petroleum products) were not available. I can’t remember if petrol was available in Wales!

        Liked by 1 person

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      2. Broga Avatar
        Broga

        What about RC celibate priests going to “the back door” for sex. I don’t think that the powerful need for sex evolved over millions of years to be defeated by a religious requirement. The urge developed to ensure that the species survived. Many priests may have remained celibate but the price must be high in terms of frustration. Nature is not to be denied.

        It is a cruelty that the RC church continues to try to inflict celibacy on its priests and nuns. For what purpose? What does it achieve?

        Liked by 1 person

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  3. Broga Avatar
    Broga

    Perhaps because the lady of the house was wanting an abortion which her lord and master did not want.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. malcolmjdodd Avatar
      malcolmjdodd

      Beying Scottish, perhaps the master begrudged paying the abortioness with her knitting needle.

      Liked by 1 person

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