Let's be honest. The supposed hot cross bun issue is just a means of airing deepset differences. Today it's about religion, tomorrow it'll be about race. Do we not live in a non-segregated society, where freedom of association and expression makes it one of the most sought after societies world-wide? Is it not in this very society where a toasty hot cross bun with a thinly sliced gouda can be enjoyed without prejudice? Yes the same society, where mince samoosas; dim-sum; breyani; koeksisters and even 'half moon' shaped Croissants can be eaten by any who please…cross or star of David on it or not?
The recent debacle over the 'Halaal Hot Cross Bun' saga is a clear illustration that societal segmentation still lies dormant, preying on moments of cinnamon-bun-like madness to lash out at each other from the relative safety of mobile phone twitter status updates. It however is as much a sign that a change in mindset is clearly needed; that idiocy still exists but cannot be seen by the idiots, and that hot-cross buns are going to be eaten with a fair degree of guilt by many Christians this coming easter. Mind you, with the star-and-moon sign on the pack, I'm sure it'll taste exactly the way it did since you bore teeth at the age of 2.
What many fanatacists fail to realise, is that many of the adopted celebratory customs in the Christian faith, are not inherently 'Christian'. Please point out the verse and chapter where Moses struggled to find the perfect bauble to go under his conifer Christmas tree. Or perhaps the Parable about the Easter Egg hunt by the disciples?
An interesting fact I've found with incredulous research, is that the hot cross bun itself in a slightly altered format was eaten by 'pre-Christian' Saxons in celebration of their pagan God Eostere (kinda rhymes with Easter, doesn't it?). The 'cross' represented the four quarters of the moon. Added thereto, and with contemptuous cynicism, the affiliation of 'eggs' to a religion was celebrated FIRST in ancient Iran by followers of a prophet Zoroaster! Like the cinnamon bun, the chocolate coated Easter egg is not yours, Christians.
With the clear distinction between religion and state, South Africa grants you the freedom to pray to whom you want to pray, eat where and whatever you want to eat, wear suits and ties to your tabernacle or fez's and fedoras…as long as you do so in a respectable fashion. However, you lose both respect and respectability by snarling at the practices of another religion 'on yours' when you feel it's insulting your customs…especially when you weren't smart enough to firstly establish whether it is truly your religion's custom!
I insinuate only because I propose that the 'blinded-by-faith' fanatics take this to heart before commenting. Hot cross buns are not a religious object. Pickled hake is a secular add-on to a 'religious' custom. Christmas trees with shiny glittery decorations in no way has religious significance. There is no Santa Claus, they lied to you. Think carefully about how you defend a custom as your own, when its actual significance is not so much yours to claim.
So, I don't propose this write up to induce a sudden societal 180, but perhaps think of this when the good Reverend delivers his word about this contentious topic on Sunday (the chances are quite high). Next week is the start of Good Friday. Do the supposed Christian thing, and welcome all and every other person into the celebrations of your religion, let them see that your practice is about love for humanity, sharing and kindness toward one another.
Isn't that what religion ultimately is about?
