Sgian dubh in church?

[CamelCody]

"The Lord is a warrior, The Lord is his name." Ex 15:3
We are made in his image, therefore we are warriors, regardless of profession.
Where does a warrior go without his weapons?
Where would the Lord accept weapons if not in His own house?
I say carry it, but I'm a crazy American so what do I know?

[Father Bill]

"The Lord is a warrior, The Lord is his name." Ex 15:3
We are made in his image, therefore we are warriors, regardless of profession.
Where does a warrior go without his weapons?
Where would the Lord accept weapons if not in His own house?
I say carry it, but I'm a crazy American so what do I know?

Respectfully and in friendship, and NOT to start a religious or theological discussion as that would be inappropriate (not to mention, contrary to the rules of this forum), I would remind you that scripture from just about ANY holy book can be used to "prove" any argument provided that you take it out of context, out of its sitz in leben, and out of its language.

Caution there in making a point about Highland dress. (Or anything else, for that matter.) What we're discussing here is better considered a cultural norm than a theological one anyway.

Father Bill+

[Dale Seago]

I've often worn a sgian dubh in church when kilted, just as I don't bother to remove the folding knife from my pocket when I'm wearing pants in church.

[Alan H]

I'm with Steve on this one. A weapon in church? Why are you going to church, in the first place? If someone else wants to wear a sgian dubh to church, then I'm certainly not going to flip out. And yes, I have had utility knives in my pocket in church, many times. However, I don't think that a sgian dubh quite qualifies as the equivalent of a swiss army knife. Just my opinion.

Maybe instead of worrying about the appropriateness of a weapon in church, or WHICH weapon in church, maybe the thing to be spending time on is thinking about why you're in church at all, and what's important about being there?

[Liam]

I'm with Steve on this one. A weapon in church? Why are you going to church, in the first place? If someone else wants to wear a sgian dubh to church, then I'm certainly not going to flip out. And yes, I have had utility knives in my pocket in church, many times. However, I don't think that a sgian dubh quite qualifies as the equivalent of a swiss army knife. Just my opinion.

Maybe instead of worrying about the appropriateness of a weapon in church, or WHICH weapon in church, maybe the thing to be spending time on is thinking about why you're in church at all, and what's important about being there?

Not wanting to offend anyone but I ran across a quote a while ago that went something like: " Going to church no more makes you a Christian than going to a garage makes you a car."

[Alan H]

Not wanting to offend anyone but I ran across a quote a while ago that went something like: " Going to church no more makes you a Christian than going to a garage makes you a car."

Sure, I agree. I also think that we need to stop discussing this aspect of the thread ASAP, or it will get shut down. That's partly my fault, so I can't say a lot. We need to focus on why or why not to wear a sgian dubh to church. (Catholic services)

Actually the OP used the word "correct"..... -->> "I am not sure whether it would be correct to wear the sgian dubh in church."

Looking back on his post, I think his use of the word "correct" means that terry m is asking from a sartorial, style-centered point of view rather than a theological, religious, or faith-based point of view. To respond from a sartorial-style point of view I would say ... "why not?". Of course, I would then add commentary about how the use of the word "correct" when it comes to wearing kilts just annoys me to no end, but that's just me. All this worrying about what's "correct" or not? Most of it...not ALL of it, but most of it just seems pointless to me.

A series of faith-based answers, which is the path we're starting down (with me in the vanguard, I admit), is likely to get the thread shut down, so let's not go there, much as I'd love to!

[Downunder Kilt]

I would not worry too much Alan as rule 5 hasbeen violated so many times already, in that, a number of members have stated their personal belief in a religion which is specifically forbidden in rule 5 (sic) "Discussions of the rightness or wrongness of, espousing one over another, perceptions of, or personal belief in, a religion."

[Michael Weatherhead]

I live in rural AZ. At any given time, in my church, if you asked someone to borrow a knife, probably a dozen or more people who offer you theirs. So, in my area, the knife would not be a problem. However, it being a rural area, the wearing of the kilt would warrant funny looks/a wee bit o' teasing. I don't have a Sgean dubh. But if I did, I wouldn't feel hesitant about wearing it, to church.Kilted Mike, and Juli.jpg

[tripleblessed]

Maybe instead of worrying about the appropriateness of a weapon in church, or WHICH weapon in church, maybe the thing to be spending time on is thinking about why you're in church at all, and what's important about being there?

To me, this is NOT a religious statement; it does not espouse a belief in a religion of any kind, certainly not a preference of one above another. It is a strictly philosophical statement. All of us could profit by having a better understanding of our
motives and intentions, and whether we believe we need the approval of others to direct our behavior. If that can shut down reasonable discussion between presumed adults, we may as well shut down the internet, close the libraries and barbershops, and ban the media.

Perhaps a little time could be devoted to contemplation on why we feel the need to TAKE offense in the first place. The thoughts and ideas of others can illuminate our own and drive creativity in all our pursuits.

[thescot]

I wouldn't stop and remove my pocket knife before going to church, and the times I have worn a kilt to church--including presiding over a wedding as a clergyman--I had my sgian dhu in place. It was probably not even noticed, much less mentioned.

And believe me, a clergyman would hear. LOL

As JockScot noted, it's not a weapon. Wear it.