Apropos of our discussion of Islam in Europe last week comes this news from Denmark.
The latest dust-up involves the Egedalsvænget housing complex in Kokkedal, a town situated some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Copenhagen where Arab and Turkish immigrants now comprise more than half the total population.Cue the predictable surprise and outrage.
At a recent meeting of the Egedalsvænget tenants’ association, the Muslim majority on the Board of Directors refused to authorize spending 7,000 Danish kroner ($1,200) for the community’s annual Christmas event. The vote came shortly after the same Board of Directors authorized spending 60,000 kroner ($10,000) on a large communal celebration of the Muslim holiday Eid. Five out of nine of the board members are Muslims.
But here's the interesting thing: less than 5% of Danes actually attend church. So why are people upset? Why are a bunch of for-all-practical-purposes atheists upset that there's no Christmas tree in the public square (or whatever)?
The article goes into an interesting discussion of religion as culture, rather than as faith. According to some Danes, Lutheran rituals are part of what it means to be Danish. Everyone is free to believe whatever they want, but cancelling the Christmas celebration is like cancelling the 4th of July celebration in the US. Scholars of religion sometimes talk about how difficult it is to define religion--this is an example of how that difficulty mucks with politics, too.
Perhaps Danish people are upset because this “religious” affiliated custom is a part of their identity as a country. Even though only 5% attend church, they can still be compelled to practice, or at least observe, something that is religious. The increase in Muslim immigrants has become an attack on Danish culture, and more specifically, their identity. It demonstrates how Denmark’s demographics are changing and how that change doesn’t please the majority. It’s not about the Christmas display, it’s about Danish culture being overtaken by Muslim practices that people are not comfortable with.
ReplyDeleteTraditionally religious holidays are becoming more and more culturally affiliated these days. For example, in the United States, a lot of people put up trees and lights for Christmas even if they are not Christian. They also participate in easter egg hunts and such for Easter, which is also a Christian holiday. These holiday practices have become tradition for many people who do not consider themselves religious at all. The Danish people being referred to in this article are probably upset for the same reason that we would be upset if the government no longer endorsed Christmas practices in America. The holiday traditions associated with Christmas have become a cultural thing for these people, whether they are religious or not. They have probably been participating in Christmas activities for their entire lives, and to have that taken away is like having a part of their cultural identity taken away. In other words, they have every right to be upset.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Josh and Meghan. Holidays have more of a traditional significance these days than a religious one. And if you think about it, the lights, the presents, Santa, reindeer and other "Christmas-y" things have little to nothing to do with the actual meaning of the holiday itself. So when the idea of only 5% of Danes attending church is brought up it really doesn't surprise me that they were still so upset. This is just a difference of opinions in what should be spent on what. There is most likely a bias to spend more on the Muslim holiday because there are so many on the board. But I do not think it should be made into a religion thing, when it is clearly just a tradition that has been monetarily prohibited. The Danes should be mad, I would be if I were put in the situation. I love christmas, but I do not consider myself religious and if someone were to tell me that I could not celebrate it i would be furious.
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