Before we say goodbye and exit the
extravaganza of the Gypsy and Traveller world let’s just take a breather and
consider the original purpose of this blog.
Can
Gypsies and Travellers justify certain traditions and behaviour that seems in
such contradiction with being a ‘Christian’?
Well one thing I hope we’ve all learned
from our journey is that the answer to this question is certainly not
clear-cut. Though certain traditions can be seen as ingrained in the community
there will always be disparity, just like we found in Christianity. Nothing is
simple.
Maybe the best solution is to argue that
Christian traditions and Gypsy and Traveller traditions will always be
sew-sawing between compatibility and contradictory.
Certainly I wouldn’t be surprised if there
are specific traditions that you see as 100% incompatible with Christianity, as
I myself reflected in some of my posts.
But for those of you who read this blog and
ended feeling the Gypsy and Traveller community to be completely incompatible
with Christianity I have to raise a precaution. Be aware this is a subjective
matter and we are ‘outsiders’ - maybe when evaluating others we should always remember
to keep looking in the mirror?
A
unique religion?
One last point, what became apparent
through this blog was that culture and tradition plays a major part in our
life, so what does this mean for Gypsy and Traveller religion? Ultimately,
doesn’t their own unique history and way of life suggest their own unique form
of Christianity, which allows them justification for some of this behaviour?
Just like in our culture and religion.
“I'm born a man
and I'll die a man. I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees” – declares Hughie Doherty in
‘Big Fat Gypsy Weddings’
Before you say anything, I’m not too naïve to realise that
the media shown violence of Gypsies and Travellers is most likely exaggerated but
there’s certainly no denying that violence is ingrained in Gypsy and Traveller
culture. So how violent are they?
Watching that video three key expressions of violence in
Gypsy and Traveller become apparent to me. These are the use of violence to
settle any dispute through a ‘fair fight’, the constant unreserved association
between the notion of honour and, more specifically, manhood and standing up
and fighting, and lastly that fighting is a tradition passed down through the
generations of Gypsy men, therefore keeping it forever an integral part of
Gypsy and Traveller culture.
This violence is so ingrained in the community that it
surpasses just fighting and is witnessed in other aspects of life. Would you
believe it even in courtship?! Through ‘Grabbing’
a boy physically hurts a girl until she gives him a kiss with the aim to ‘win
her heart’. I know right, violence is so rooted in their culture they condone
behaviour which to us would be completely unjustified. But, is it compatible
with Christianity? Surely God doesn’t really agree with use of violence to get
what we want?
Certainly, historically Christianity has a violent side. You
only have to look back to the
Crusades!! However, let’s not rush to the hasty conclusion that a ‘good’
Christian should condone violence. In fact there’s much conflict and controversy
in Christianity over this matter. Arguably, Christianity is split into two ‘camps’
over violence…
Just a quick note – in the following section I’m not arguing
that there’s no overlap in the presentation of God between the Old and New Testament
but that each focuses on certain characteristics more frequently.
Arguably, the God of
the New Testament is one of ‘Love’ who expresses the ultimate ideal for
Christianity to be peace, love, compassion and forgiveness. Therefore this
approach packs a punch for the side for non-violence.
And it’s this ‘Agape’
love that’s governed what are arguably some of the greatest achievements of
Christianity and some of the most celebrated Christians throughout
history…recognise any of these faces?
Justin Martyr
Dorothy Day
Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
Surely, if these individuals achieved such inspiring things
through this interpretation, then wouldn’t the rational thing be to propagate
it further as the ideal?
In this case the Gypsies and Travellers are out. Even their
smallest acceptance of violence would set them outside the realm of what it is
to be Christian. However, as I’ve already identified there’s another ‘camp’.
Arguably, the Old Testament
shows a God of vengeance who expresses ideas of judgement and retribution,
enforcing His ‘wrath’ on individuals. It’s not hard to combine this violent
nature of God with the idea of justice and present a justification for violence
as it allows us to enforce retribution on Earth. As Christians Gypsies and
Travellers fit comfortably into this camp.
BUT for this discussion I can only use one criteria of a
‘Good’ Christian. So which interpretation is it to be? Or is there a third
‘camp’ I’ve overlooked?
The solution to our problems, a question all Christians
should ask themselves. As the central figure in Christianity and arguably the
divider of it from other faiths it’s vital to always try and follow Jesus’
teachings.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you
on the right cheek, turn the other also” (Matthew
5:38-39)
From this passage and many others it’s not hard to find a
Jesus who openly rejects violence. This ‘love your enemies’ approach doesn’t
really allow for any adherence of violence in a Christian’s life and therefore
flares up a contradiction between the Gypsies and Travellers’ culture and being
a good ‘Christian’.
However, as per usual in holy scripture there are many
contradictory teachings. Jesus’ ‘Cleansing
of the Temple’? Maybe there is some saving grace for Gypsy and Traveller
violence after all?
The ‘Third’ camp
Arguably then to be a ‘good Christian’ there’s no one stance
on violence, instead there’s a general scale which has no clear-cut lines for
the rightness or wrongness of violence but instead offers us a vague see-saw of
tolerance based on liberal interpretations of the Bible. So what does this mean
for Gypsies and Travellers?
Well, it’s rather subjective but ultimately it’s not hard to
argue that yes in most cases the violence of the Gypsy and Traveller community
is ‘un-Christian’ as it shows a desire to fight rather than a ‘just’ cause.
This approach seemingly works on a principle of the ‘ends
justifying the means’ (within limits) and for the majority of Christians, and
general public, today the use of violence to show oneself a man or to settle a
dispute when words can be used is not justified.
However, what about when the ‘ends’ is ‘stable social
functioning’ and the ‘means’ a ‘fair fight’?
Before we say goodbye and exit the
extravaganza of the Gypsy and Traveller world let’s just take a breather and
consider the original purpose of this blog. 
