Religious Edicts

All religions like an edict ..... 

The Devil And Hot Cross Buns

 

..... that is to say, that although we are mostly all too familiar with the Muslim Fatwah, which usually bans or condemns something (everything), now and again the occasional Christian clergy like to pass a judgement.

For instance, Gavin Ashenden, who had once been the honorary chaplain to the late Queen, at St James Palace, and a bishop in the Christian Episcopal Church, decided in March 2021, that the use of extra ingredients in Hot Cross Buns i.e. ingredients such as Chocolate, cheese or caramel, was not on. In fact is "The devils work." 

He added that "Its not an accident they have been warped. Hot cross buns stand for the struggle between the world as it is, and the world as we want it to be."  Adding that the "indulgent ingredients" are "enlarging appetites" and distracting consumers from the buns true religious meaning.

Firstly, I think that 'consumers' (as Christians were described in the story), have probably long lost the meaning of hot cross buns; and secondly, its nice to know an ex-Anglican clergyman actually still believes in the devil these days .... but that's because Mr Ashenden had converted to Catholicism in 2020 ..... that's why he still believes in the devil (and the sanctity of hot cross buns).

But just to prove that the Islamic establishment haven't lost their edict touch, when Aliyu Na Idris, a tailor in Kano State, Nigeria decided that to alleviate his family debts, he would sell himself to anyone prepared to pay 20m naira (£35,000) ..... he promised to serve whomever bought him "wholeheartedly."

However this cunning plan fell apart, when the local Hisbah (religious police .... yes parts of northern Nigeria are becoming that sort of governance), arrested him, and informed his family and friends that "what he did is forbidden in Islam" ..... although, they weren't able to quote exactly which part of the Quran dealt with selling yourself, nor indeed prohibits slavery.

..... Ah religions .... don't you just wonder what the world would be like without them?