Christians are celebrating Palm Sunday, which is the Sunday before Easter. It commemorates the day when, according to the New Testament, Jesus Christ (pbuh) rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and was welcomed by townsmen holding palm branches.
This BBC photo series shows Christians celebrating the holiday in the Philippines, India, Vatican City and Jerusalem itself.
This year, Western Christians (Catholics and Protestants) and Orthodox Christians are on the same Easter schedule.
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
01 April 2007
Irish holy water to be replaced
A protozoan called cryptosporidium has infected the water supply in parts of County Galway in wester Ireland. The parasite can cause stomach pain and diarrhoea. As a result, the Catholic Church in the area has decided to bless 3,000 bottles of spring water instead of tap water on Holy Saturday, that is, 7 April.
Although the water is meant to be used externally in order to obtain a blessing, some people tend to drink it, according to a priest at Tuam Cathedral (BBC).
Sensible precaution; reminds me of the ultraviolet treatment of water at the Zamzam well.
Although the water is meant to be used externally in order to obtain a blessing, some people tend to drink it, according to a priest at Tuam Cathedral (BBC).
Sensible precaution; reminds me of the ultraviolet treatment of water at the Zamzam well.
31 March 2007
US art gallery cancels chocolate Jesus (pbuh) statue display
In a victory for Catholic protesters, an art gallery in New York has cancelled plans to display a sculpture of Jesus Christ (pbuh) made of chocolate and depicting him naked. The statue, made by Canadian artist Cosimo Cavallaro, measures 1.8 m in height, and is called "My Sweet Lord".
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights called for a boycott of the gallery, especially given the fact that the statue was meant to be displayed during Easter. As a spokesman for the group pointed out, the gallery "would never dare" to show a similar statue of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during Ramadan. She has also described the statue as "an assault on Christians".
After management decided to cancel the exhibit, the gallery's artistic director resigned, complaining of "strong-arming from people who haven't seen the show" (BBC).
I must say it's a wise decision on the part of the Lab gallery. Some may see it as self-censorship, but I would prefer to see the outcome as an act of wisdom on the part of the gallery's management. Toying with people's feelings is never a good idea, whether it be in the realm or religion or anything else that people value. Thoughtful, intelligent criticism is one thing, but depicting a person highly respected by about half of mankind (Christians and Muslims) naked is neither thoughtful nor intelligent, but rather, in my view, a misguided shout for attention. I'm glad that the Lab gallery did not decide to take the route followed by the free-speech fanatics in Europe on the issue of the caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights called for a boycott of the gallery, especially given the fact that the statue was meant to be displayed during Easter. As a spokesman for the group pointed out, the gallery "would never dare" to show a similar statue of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during Ramadan. She has also described the statue as "an assault on Christians".
After management decided to cancel the exhibit, the gallery's artistic director resigned, complaining of "strong-arming from people who haven't seen the show" (BBC).
I must say it's a wise decision on the part of the Lab gallery. Some may see it as self-censorship, but I would prefer to see the outcome as an act of wisdom on the part of the gallery's management. Toying with people's feelings is never a good idea, whether it be in the realm or religion or anything else that people value. Thoughtful, intelligent criticism is one thing, but depicting a person highly respected by about half of mankind (Christians and Muslims) naked is neither thoughtful nor intelligent, but rather, in my view, a misguided shout for attention. I'm glad that the Lab gallery did not decide to take the route followed by the free-speech fanatics in Europe on the issue of the caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
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