Religion and Gunpowder

Submitted by Daddy-YO on 17 April, 2008 - 10:42.

Call me dense cause I don’t understand the connection between fireworks and special church holidays in Nicaragua (& Latin America, for that matter). In León our neighborhood church, San Felipe, lobs mortar bombs over our apartment at 5 AM on these holy days. Wouldn’t the peel of bells be sufficient? I mean I can somewhat rationalize the visual brilliance of pyrotechnics in the evening, eliciting oohs & aahs in the name of Saint __(whatever)__. But loud, wall-shaking bombs at 5 AM? Please God.

Maybe I don’t get it because I come from a country where traditionally fireworks are used mostly on one national holiday, one with a military origin: independence day. That day marked the beginning of the ‘righteous’ war of self-determination, the beginning of deadly fireworks. Hey, bombs are weapons of war, so what’s the church doing with mortars & rocket bombs anyway? Does it have to do with some scriptural (mis)interpretation I’m unaware of, like . . . make a joyful noise unto the Lord?

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Crazy -

Submitted by cmoore56 on 18 April, 2008 - 07:51.

I remember waking up startled one day last August in Granada at 4:45 and thinking "What is that ungodly noise?!?" It was one of the local iglesias' "oompah" band parading down the street AND bombas going off!!

how can

Submitted by Che Guevara on 17 April, 2008 - 16:49.

how can any war be justified, "one with a military origin: independence day. That day marked the beginning of the ‘righteous’ war of self-determination, the beginning of deadly fireworks?" i am thinking of a song...

when government grows, liberty yields, thomas jefferson

Even though many fabricas de

Submitted by marlies on 17 April, 2008 - 18:53.

Even though fabricas de polvora blow up "all the time" in Nicaragua and kill many... the bombas continue. Didn't I read about another fireworks factory explosion in Nicaragua in the last week or so?

Perhaps fireworks bring people closer to God???

in honor of the sage,

Submitted by Che Guevara on 17 April, 2008 - 17:13.

War, huh, yeah What is it good for Absolutely nothing Uh-huh War, huh, yeah What is it good for Absolutely nothing Say it again, y'all

War, huh, good God What is it good for Absolutely nothing Listen to me

Ohhh, war, I despise Because it means destruction Of innocent lives

War means tears To thousands of mothers eyes When their sons go to fight And lose their lives

I said, war, huh Good God, y'all What is it good for Absolutely nothing Say it again

War, whoa, Lord What is it good for Absolutely nothing Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing But a heartbreaker War, friend only to the undertaker Ooooh, war It's an enemy to all mankind The point of war blows my mind War has caused unrest Within the younger generation Induction then destruction Who wants to die Aaaaah, war-huh Good God y'all What is it good for Absolutely nothing Say it, say it, say it War, huh What is it good for Absolutely nothing Listen to me

War, huh, yeah What is it good for Absolutely nothing Uh-huh War, huh, yeah What is it good for Absolutely nothing Say it again y'all War, huh, good God What is it good for Absolutely nothing Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker War, it's got one friend That's the undertaker Ooooh, war, has shattered Many a young mans dreams Made him disabled, bitter and mean Life is much to short and precious To spend fighting wars these days War can't give life It can only take it away

Ooooh, war, huh Good God y'all What is it good for Absolutely nothing Say it again

War, whoa, Lord What is it good for Absolutely nothing Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker War, friend only to the undertaker Peace, love and understanding Tell me, is there no place for them today They say we must fight to keep our freedom But Lord knows there's got to be a better way

Ooooooh, war, huh Good God y'all What is it good for You tell me Say it, say it, say it, say it

War, huh Good God y'all What is it good for Stand up and shout it Nothing

when government grows, liberty yields, thomas jefferson

maybe a bishop..

Submitted by Doug on 17 April, 2008 - 11:31.

with a fireworks factory?

although 5 AM is bit on the early side.

I am usually up with the sun, it would be fun to watch the effects of this on my dear , loves to sleep in, wife

-Doug

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate

Most

Submitted by thorvin55 on 17 April, 2008 - 12:48.

Latinos love to make noise and the church wants to make sure with all that noise that the unrighteous are not sleeping off a drunk buzz.