Cardinal and Christmas cheer!

By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith is a religious leader I hold in very high esteem. In fact, to show my admiration, I wrote an article, titled “Cardinal Ranjith, the godsend!” (The Island, 20 February 2021). He does not mince his words and sets an example to other religious dignitaries, too, as to how they should behave. I watched with admiration a clip broadcast on television news where he made an excellent analysis of how religious leaders should handle politicians which made me feel ashamed as a Buddhist, considering the behaviour of some Bhikkhus. Quite rightly, he blamed not only the politicians but also the religious dignitaries who have let down Sri Lankans so badly. However, I was left puzzled when he stated the following:

“It is reported in the newspapers today that a request has been made to allow the sale of liquor––arrack, whisky and brandy––in Tourism Ministry approved hotels and restaurants during Christmas. How nice, to get drunk over Christmas and die! Is this the wonder of Asia? Is this the vistas of prosperity? Christmas is being desecrated! Isn’t the Minister in charge from this area? If liquor is banned for Vesak, the same should apply to Christmas.”

This made me wonder whether the ‘Covid-induced confusion’ I referred to in my piece “Yanne koheda? Malle pol!” (The Island, 7 December) had unfortunately affected the Cardinal as well! After all, Christmas is associated with cheer in the form of many alcoholic drinks such as mulled wine and Christmas punch. In fact, rock and roller turned Christian musician Sir Cliff Richard who produced, in his musical career spanning more than 60 years, four ‘UK Christmas No 1 singles’ titled one of these “Mistletoe and Wine”. This beautiful Christmas song, which is bound to become a Christmas carol one day, starts as follows:

“The child is a king, the carollers sing, the old has passed, there’s a new beginning

Dreams of Santa, dreams of snow, fingers numb, faces aglow

Oh, it’s Christmas time, mistletoe and wine, children singing Christian rhyme with logs on the fire and gifts on the tree, a time to rejoice in the good that we see”

Maybe, the Cardinal avoided mentioning wine in his discourse as wine is intimately associated with Christmas or Christianity itself. Perhaps, he is against ‘hard’ liquor, a stand I can well understand as one of the great evils that is eroding the fabric of our society is alcohol addiction. Remember the long queues and fights in liquor shops as soon as trading was allowed!

Though some minor sects of Christianity abhor alcohol, the vast majority of Christians think wine represents the ‘Blood of Christ’.

The ‘biblestudytools.com’ website has the following paragraph in reference:

“Jesus demonstrated the significance of His blood as part of the Last Supper with His disciples. As the disciples sat together, Jesus said, ” ‘Take it and eat it, for this is my body’ ” (Matthew 26:26). He then gave thanks and offered them the cup and said, ” ‘Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many ” (Matthew 26:27-28).”

Vesak and Christmas, the two most important days in the Buddhist and the Christian calendar, respectively, may have some similarities but dissimilarities are even greater, the most important one being the consumption of alcohol. Even Buddhists who have temporary amnesia of the ‘Fifth’ precept, most of the time, abstain from alcohol during Vesak. In contrast, even Christians who do not regularly take alcohol, tend to have a drop of Christmas cheer. There lies the big difference which the Cardinal seems to have overlooked.

Though one of the ‘Five Precepts’ in Buddhism is the avoidance of alcohol and intoxicating substances, as far as I can gather there is no ban on the consumption of alcohol in Christian teachings, there being no reference to alcohol in the ‘Ten Commandments’.

The early Christians held the belief that the Bible and Christian tradition taught that alcohol was a gift from God that made life more joyous, but that over-indulgence leading to drunkenness is sinful. Perhaps, witnessing the ills of alcoholism with the resultant social vicissitudes during the Middle Ages, some Protestant churches, particularly Methodists, advocated abstentionism and were the early leaders in the temperance movement of the 19th and 20th centuries.

However, ‘moderationism’ is the position held by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans and Reformed Churches, which argues that, according to the biblical and traditional witness, alcohol is a good gift of God that is rightly used in the Eucharist and for making the heart merry, and that while its dangers are real, it may be used wisely and moderately rather than being shunned or prohibited because of potential abuse. Moderationism holds that temperance, which is moderation or self-control, is in one’s behaviour and is the biblical norm, not abstinence.

Considering all this, I beg to differ with the Cardinal that the sale of alcohol should be banned during Christmas, simply because it is banned during Vesak.

In fact, I just cannot see any reason why the sale of alcohol should be banned during Christmas. From the language the Cardinal used, it was obvious that he wanted to criticise the government. Considering what is happening today, no one can blame the Cardinal for turning out to be a strong critic of the government. But when are enough issues to flay the government for, I wonder why inappropriate ones should be made use of?