Masks play an important role in religion. This role extends from the carved tribal masks of animist faiths to the ornate clothing that adorns the ministers of templar creeds. Carved or woven, masks become a celebration of the mystery and intrigue that is spirituality.
The rugby masks worn last weekend made me think of how sport is becoming more like a religion every day and has taken on the popular role of religion in many countries. Fans choose a team. Unfalteringly attending to every appearance, they purchase devout wear that proclaims their allegiance and dogmatically defend every fact that attaches itself, however obliquely, to the chosen team. Devotion seemed to have culminated in the christening of children in honour of the saints of sport, but the masks bring sport a step closer to becoming a religion.
There are two situations when the wearing of masks is understandable. Individuals and families often feel the need to mask something private in their lives. These are social masks and as long as they do not cover a public threat they are acceptable and must be respected. Religion uses ritualistic masks to stress the fact that there is something mysterious beyond its actions. These masks serve only to highlight the representative role of the wearer - these masks are transparent! However, when the financial, political, commercial and sporting worlds start wearing masks it is time to ask questions.
What need have these groups to wear masks of any kind in the public domain? The stock markets have developed a mask of "cautious reporting avoids panic!" Where is the money that is flying out of technology shares going? Politics has a highly effective mask of "eloquence quells public unease!" As world leaders speak of dark, evil forces we may consider the moral discussion of a just war as read. Commerce has developed a mask of "expensive equals quality!" - so we walk about in logo-emblazoned clothing like unpaid sandwich-board people.
But how are the stocks in the armament industries doing? What dark, evil force would employ as indiscriminate a weapon as the AC130 gunship? Were my designer clothes made in a developing world sweatshop? It is time to say "enough!"
The role of the theologian is to chip away at the mask that hides God from us. In the wake of endless referendums and recent scandals, moral theology has almost had its voice censored but it still speaks. Behind the masks afforded by titles, logos and rhetoric lie ordinary human beings. The theologian must unmask them.
The corporation may need to make internal changes, but if it does so simply because the opportunity arises and incurs a human cost, it too may be a sinner. However, it is not the corporation that sins; it is they who force the decision and are hiding behind the corporation's mask.
The leader may speak well, but if the leader uses position or eloquence to push an agenda and destroy others on the way, then the leader is a sinner and must be told so.
If the manufacturer of expensive goods takes care of the shareholders' interests at the expense of the workers, this too must be challenged.
Sport has not yet matured enough as a religion to issue these challenges. Before it reaches that stage let those Christians who successfully used their talents to dismantle the non-ritualistic masks surrounding religion turn their attentions to the myriad masks that sin unchallenged by our silence. Does any believer claim that indifference isn't a sin?
F. MacE.