Should sport be played on Easter Sunday?

BlackCountryBob · 12-04-2009, 8:30 PM

I know this can be seen as a sports question but I feel it is more about religion TBH so is better suited to this forum.

Archbishop of York John Sentamu has criticised the playing of 2 Premier League football matches (Villa Everton and ManCity Fulham) on Easter Sunday. I understand the wider context of his arguement about the commercial nature of sport and also the history of the clubs as religious organisations of a sort but the point of this thread is purely to ask;

Should religious deference dictate that everything but churches shut in celebration?

See to me, I don't mind that the shops are shut, not for the religious arguement but frankly I think the people who work in Sainsburys are bloody deserving of a day off like everyone else. While I could understand the anger of some of the stewards at not getting to spend the day off with their family, I can't see why it would matter that those who are not particularly religious should wish to go to the football, maybe as a family.

Just a side note; in the USA this year, 5 NBA games were played on Christmas day with little to no problem so is a game in Easter Sunday really all that bad?

**Steven** · 12-04-2009, 8:32 PM

My local Sainsbury's was closed today

My gym is not reopening until Tuesday but the swimming baths is not closing at all

By all accounts the Villa ~ Everton game is one to watch tonight on MOTD2

I'm returning to The Masters now

Mep · 12-04-2009, 8:38 PM

Yes it should.

Reepicheep · 12-04-2009, 9:03 PM

Can't see what difference it makes being Easter Sunday - not everyone is religious!

I dropped my kids off at an ice rink today and went to a nearby out of town shopping mall only to find it shut! Me and the wife then had to find something to pass away two hours before we had to pick the kids up again!

Ended up having a very nice carvery lunch at a country pub so not all lost

dBrowne · 12-04-2009, 9:10 PM

Does an Easter Egg hunt count as sport?

Noggin1980 · 12-04-2009, 9:34 PM

The only day I'd give special significance too is Christmas day, I think thats the only day that the majority of the country celebrates properly. Easter means very little to the majority of people imo other than a nice roast dinner and some chocolate.

Religon shouldn't be decideing sporting events, shop opening hours at all.

lostinspace · 12-04-2009, 10:33 PM

I can't really see a problem with sport on Sundays- I used to play for my local team on a Sunday so can't be hypocritical.
But I do hanker for the old days when I was a kid when Sunday was a completely different day to all the rest. Not on religious grounds particularly, but for me at least it was more of a family day when "normal" activities didn't get in the way of spending time as a family. It was good to have a day which felt different to the rest of the week.
What bothers me is that when stores opened on Sundays for the first time (the way they do now), staff were promised that Sunday working would be voluntary, and paid at double time (I was in retail then), but now it's just another day. Unless you're a doctor, solicitor. dentist, teacher, MP etc.

pixelated · 12-04-2009, 11:50 PM

Due to City's performance and result today... no, it bloody well shouldn't.

GasDad · 13-04-2009, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackCountryBob

Just a side note; in the USA this year, 5 NBA games were played on Christmas day with little to no problem so is a game in Easter Sunday really all that bad?

For Christians, Easter is of far greater importance than Christmas.

**Steven** · 13-04-2009, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noggin1980

Religon shouldn't be decideing sporting events, shop opening hours at all.

At school every one of us used to celebrate every major religious festival. Any reason to try and get out of lessons

Sonic67 · 13-04-2009, 5:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noggin1980

Religon shouldn't be decideing sporting events, shop opening hours at all.

Religion also gave everyone in the UK a few days off and some decent TV (-I presume, it's been just another few day here). I presume you would have preferred to go to work over Easter? Same thing with Christmas. How about those who are religious get the holiday, everyone else goes to work and takes time off when they like at some other time? Or Mayday is a workers paradise given from communism so aethists could have that as their Christmas.