Chinese government doomed as it bans St Patricks Day

**gaelic cowboy** · 03-07-2011, 14:01

Shanghai cancels St Patrick's Day parade over fears of revolt

I can see it now as thousands of thirsty Irish expats (pun not intended) become enraged for lack of Guinness.

**Hooahguy** · 03-07-2011, 18:29

I want me lucky charms!

**Louis VI the Fat** · 03-07-2011, 18:54

DONT MESS WITH THE IRISH THE CHINESE WILL REGRET THIS

**Populus Romanus** · 03-08-2011, 01:47

They banned St. Patrick's Day?

Sometimes I wonder...

**Rhyfelwyr** · 03-08-2011, 02:22

St. Patricks day is the second biggest day of the year here in Scotland, after the 12th of July. Nobody gives a

about St. Andrews day apart from some Braveheartophiles.

It has actually become a source of unity rather than division, Protestants and Catholics both like to embrace the history of St. Patrick and the Celtic Church, it's regarded as quite pure and is outwith the typical sphere of western Christianity, so everyone can celebrate it is some respect. Even my fellow Huns celebrate it.

Plus, most people like an excuse to get drunk, its Scotland after all!

**gaelic cowboy** · 03-08-2011, 02:28

Sure Paisley thinks St Patrick was a protestant, I heard him say few time on RTE

**Rhyfelwyr** · 03-08-2011, 02:35

St. Patrick is kind of like Hitler, he's all things to all people.

But it's not all about saying St. Paddy (who comes from my hometown, BTW!) was a Protestant or Catholic, he was neither. But there were elements that modern Catholics and Protestants can embrace and share from his legacy.

I've studied Celtic Christianity a bit (academically I mean, not just from the leaflets my Plymouth Brethren relatives send me, which make him look like a Puritan sent back 1,000 years in a time warp!) and IMO if its going to be compared to any modern church it would be the Orthodox, its quite heavy on the mysticism, and its monastic focus makes it different from the more episcopal Catholic Church or the presbyterian Proddies.

**Megas Methuselah** · 03-08-2011, 03:13

Originally Posted by Rhyfelwyr

Plus, most people like an excuse to get drunk, its Scotland after all!

Canada, too. Hell, through my Metis blood, I've got some Scottish and Irish ancestry.

**gaelic cowboy** · 03-08-2011, 03:33

Originally Posted by Rhyfelwyr

St. Patrick is kind of like Hitler, he's all things to all people.

But it's not all about saying St. Paddy (who comes from my hometown, BTW!) was a Protestant or Catholic, he was neither. But there were elements that modern Catholics and Protestants can embrace and share from his legacy.

I've studied Celtic Christianity a bit (academically I mean, not just from the leaflets my Plymouth Brethren relatives send me, which make him look like a Puritan sent back 1,000 years in a time warp!) and IMO if its going to be compared to any modern church it would be the Orthodox, its quite heavy on the mysticism, and its monastic focus makes it different from the more episcopal Catholic Church or the presbyterian Proddies.

Yes and that makes sense when one considers that it's likely Ireland attracted that Coptic/Orthodox monastic style religion purely cos it was the end of the world in those days. If I had to put money on it I would say it is as likely that Christainity arrived in Ireland through trade with Spain and the Med as it was coming from Britain.

Egyptian papyrus found in ancient Irish bog

**Rhyfelwyr** · 03-08-2011, 03:47

Originally Posted by gaelic cowboy

Yes and that makes sense when one considers that it's likely Ireland attracted that Coptic/Orthodox monastic style religion purely cos it was the end of the world in those days. If I had to put money on it I would say it is as likely that Christainity arrived in Ireland through trade with Spain and the Med as it was coming from Britain.

Egyptian papyrus found in ancient Irish bog

Yeah, it does figure. Although at the same time, there seems to be a trend in recent historiography saying the Celtic Church maybe wasn't as unique as we used to think, and that the monastic focus in particular maybe wasn't as strong. I just wrote an essay on the role of the Celtic Church in conversion and pastoral care. Looking at Columba and the Picts, then Columbanus and his foundations on the continent like Bobbio, then for pastoral care I actually argue that bishops did play a major role, as opposed to just the monks.

Serious historical study is no fun, I prefer sectarian flame wars.

Originally Posted by Megas Methuselah

Canada, too. Hell, through my Metis blood, I've got some Scottish and Irish ancestry.

Good man! Scots-Irish blood is the best anybody could wish for!

**gaelic cowboy** · 03-08-2011, 04:01

Well unique is pushing it in my view afterall of course the monastic element is going to survive in Ireland it's too far away from the agro in Europe in a sparsely populated Island to notice Rome is gone.

Anyway using terms like Coptic or Orthodox has no meaning for the time they were pretty much fluid in terms of order of which of the 4 see was the top dog.