My local fruit and vegie shop

[Oh_hunnihunni]

has been taken over by an Indian family and is a vast improvement on the previous business in variety, service, and price. They have opened another shop a bit further up the main route so now we have one close to each of our competing supermarkets, which keeps them honest and competitive.

Yesterday though I noticed a wee sign by their door that said they were open on Christmas Day, and it made me wonder about the way our legislation supports religious holidays of the Christian variety, but doesn't pay the same respect to Muslim, or Hindu, or Jewish or any of the other faith based celebrations. 

If our local fruit guys get clobbered with a fine as has happened in the past, would they not then have a case for state based religious persecution? 

Is it time we took a hard look at our own social bias towards one faith?

[crafters_corner]

Maybe it's time that we let anyone and everyone open up on Christmas Day, no matter what business they are?? Then we don't upset anyone, and we just become a more diverse society, that allows each individual to run their business how they want, without religion, ethnicity, or whatever, come into it.

The religious aspect of Christmas, doesn't mean a thing, in many people's Christmas's, I'm sure. People want to shop, and relax, be with the people they love...etc etc. We need to be much more relaxed about life in general. Surely we must have learnt this over the past two years.

[harm_less]

As online trading becomes ever more prevalent the boundaries of prohibited trading days becomes increasingly irrelevant.
Our website runs 24/7 irrespective of the day's status in that regard. We often see sales start to come in as people relax during their Xmas festivities so the demand is obviously there. Especially noticeable if Xmas day weather is wet which doesn't look like being the case tomorrow.

Incidentally we were contacted by Google recently questioning the "store hours" we have posted with them. They failed to believe my telling them we never close until I stressed to them that "We are an online business trader. Our customers can place orders whenever they like." That settled the issue.

I do see the issue for B&M retailers trading on statutory holidays as they have to actually front up for physical sales activity which denies them and/or their employees a welcome break. We only have to check our emails on the next day that suits us and courier availability.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I'd much rather have celebrating religious festivities and holidays up to the individual than be legislated into our society, and it would be a much more open and respectful thing to do for our diverse population.

---

As online trading becomes ever more prevalent the boundaries of prohibited trading days becomes increasingly irrelevant.
Our website runs 24/7 irrespective of the day's status in that regard. We often see sales start to come in as people relax during their Xmas festivities so the demand is obviously there. Especially noticeable if Xmas day weather is wet which doesn't look like being the case tomorrow.

Incidentally we were contacted by Google recently questioning the "store hours" we have posted with them. They failed to believe my telling them we never close until I stressed to them that "We are an online business trader. Our customers can place orders whenever they like." That settled the issue.

I do see the issue for B&M retailers trading on statutory holidays as they have to actually front up for physical sales activity which denies them and/or their employees a welcome break. We only have to check our emails on the next day that suits us and courier availability.

The Pukekohe New World boss has closed his store on Boxing Day, of his own volition, as a gift to his staff.

Now that kind of business management is exactly what we should be aiming for, in my opinion. We should only need to legislate against negative business practices and leave other business decisions to those who are taking the risk.

[harm_less]

How does giving people the freedom to behave as they feel inclined in respect to its repercussions on others become a acceptable practice in this regard relate to any such argument raging presently?

[Lilith7]

I'd much rather have celebrating religious festivities and holidays up to the individual than be legislated into our society, and it would be a much more open and respectful thing to do for our diverse population.

---

As online trading becomes ever more prevalent the boundaries of prohibited trading days becomes increasingly irrelevant.
Our website runs 24/7 irrespective of the day's status in that regard. We often see sales start to come in as people relax during their Xmas festivities so the demand is obviously there. Especially noticeable if Xmas day weather is wet which doesn't look like being the case tomorrow.

Incidentally we were contacted by Google recently questioning the "store hours" we have posted with them. They failed to believe my telling them we never close until I stressed to them that "We are an online business trader. Our customers can place orders whenever they like." That settled the issue.

I do see the issue for B&M retailers trading on statutory holidays as they have to actually front up for physical sales activity which denies them and/or their employees a welcome break. We only have to check our emails on the next day that suits us and courier availability.

The Pukekohe New World boss has closed his store on Boxing Day, of his own volition, as a gift to his staff.

Now that kind of business management is exactly what we should be aiming for, in my opinion. We should only need to legislate against negative business practices and leave other business decisions to those who are taking the risk.

I think that heaving it up to the individual, (providing we've laws preventing people from exploiting their workers in place) could work best in the long term.
That way people who observe a different religion would be free to close their business for important days, if they were inclined to or to have workers of a different religion work those days in an exchange for the worker covering those days having the same number of days free, either for religious reasons or to make the days worked fair for everyone.

Most business people are reasonable & tend to treat their workers fairly; its just those who don't who cause the problems.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

How does giving people the freedom to behave as they feel inclined in respect to its repercussions on others become a acceptable practice in this regard relate to any such argument raging presently?

Maybe trusting people to behave respectfully towards each other, but legislating to cover negative outcomes would be better than requiring everyone to observe the customs of one increasingly minor faith.

[Lilith7]

That would make sense; most people have the maturity to be able to respect the beliefs of others.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

And I would be so happy to never ever hear of Easter ever again...

I might be just a tad biased.

[Lilith7]

I tend to ignore easter - except for chocolate. Whittakers, obviously...

[crafters_corner]

You ignore chocolate creme eggs?? No way!!
I could eat those until I burst.

[Lilith7]

Nah - you're welcome to them; I really only eat Whittakers these days, apart from the occasional ginger chocolates.

[Wainuiguy]

How does giving people the freedom to behave as they feel inclined in respect to its repercussions on others become a acceptable practice in this regard relate to any such argument raging presently?

Maybe trusting people to behave respectfully towards each other, but legislating to cover negative outcomes would be better than requiring everyone to observe the customs of one increasingly minor faith.

No one is forcing them to do anything - the beauty of living in a free society.  They aren't forced to go to church or prostrate themselves before the cross.

As for minor faith- you may want to double check that as there is around a third of the world population who consider themselves Christian followed by Muslims on about 25%.  Therefore we'll over 50 % of people believe in a singular God.

[yousnoozeyoulose]

Hadn't realised the size of the drop-off of Christianity in New Zealand. The 2018 census data might be a little shonky thanks to the people who find answering a few questions every five years too onerous for their busy/sedentary lifestyle, but it's indicative at the very least. The churches are dying out. Once the congregation goes, they go.

2001 59%
2006 54%
2013 48%
2018 37%

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Maybe trusting people to behave respectfully towards each other, but legislating to cover negative outcomes would be better than requiring everyone to observe the customs of one increasingly minor faith.

No one is forcing them to do anything - the beauty of living in a free society.  They aren't forced to go to church or prostrate themselves before the cross.

As for minor faith- you may want to double check that as there is around a third of the world population who consider themselves Christian followed by Muslims on about 25%.  Therefore we'll over 50 % of people believe in a singular God.

No one is what?

Good heavens, we have just been through the Christmas period, which begins in September and runs through to January, during which wherever you look you cannot escape the trappings of a once religious festival. The vast majority of our citizens no longer consider themselves Christian, and yet we are legislatively wrapped in this faith based anachronism.
Why not just do away with those laws, and let the few who do consider it important do their own thing? Why make the rest of us put up with the restrictions, the downtime, the waste, the stress, and the commercialism of a festival that is more about profit than faith?


After all, as a priest in a local church pointed out - it aint our birthday!

[Wainuiguy]

No one is forcing them to do anything - the beauty of living in a free society.  They aren't forced to go to church or prostrate themselves before the cross.

As for minor faith- you may want to double check that as there is around a third of the world population who consider themselves Christian followed by Muslims on about 25%.  Therefore we'll over 50 % of people believe in a singular God.

No one is what?

Good heavens, we have just been through the Christmas period, which begins in September and runs through to January, during which wherever you look you cannot escape the trappings of a once religious festival. The vast majority of our citizens no longer consider themselves Christian, and yet we are legislatively wrapped in this faith based anachronism.
Why not just do away with those laws, and let the few who do consider it important do their own thing? Why make the rest of us put up with the restrictions, the downtime, the waste, the stress, and the commercialism of a festival that is more about profit than faith?


After all, as a priest in a local church pointed out - it aint our birthday!

Baa!  Humbug!

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Exactly!

But I am grinchy about all religious festivals, the big one though gets my biggest humbuggery...

[Lilith7]

Exactly!

But I am  grinchy about all religious festivals, the big one though gets my biggest humbuggery...

I think for most people these days it no longer has much - or any -  religious element & has become more a time for families to get together (including friends as well) & exchange gifts, eat a bit too much & just generally relax & enjoy themselves.

The falling away of the Christian belief system has shown how some really interesting things can be done with the resulting unused churches, turning them into homes.

[yousnoozeyoulose]

The falling away of the Christian belief system has shown how some really interesting things can be done with the resulting unused churches, turning them into homes.

Given us a new meaning to "pull up a pew."

[Lilith7]

The falling away of the Christian belief system has shown how some really interesting things can be done with the resulting unused churches, turning them into homes.

Given us a new meaning to "pull up a pew."

It does - & I think they'd probably do well to 'lose' the pulpit.