Friday 16 November 2007

Guy Fawks Nights: The Irony of Religion

Guy Fawk Night may be associated with merry making and nice and alluring fireworks but the truth is this event is commemorating a very sad event in UK history.

This particular event only highlighted the embittered relationship between Catholics and Anglicans. It was the night when a small group of Catholics (fanatics) tried and almost succeeded in murdering all the high ranking officials of the Land during that time.

Luckily the attempt did not succeed and the plotters were then hunted. Gay Fawk last days were very bad. He died shortly after being captured.

This event is just one classic example of irony and religions. Both Catholics and Anglicans were Christians who believe in God who is Love, and who told us to love our enemies as ourselves. Religions whose essence is Love and yet hatred permeates both sides from inside out and from head to toe.

It's good that at present time both can co-exist harmoniously. Hopefully all religions would be able to do so and terrorism will come to its end.
Interestingly enough, El Filibusterismo, a novel by Philippines national hero, Jose Rizal had a very similar theme to that of Gay Fawke's story. In this novel, Simoun (who was actually Ibarra) came back to the Philippines to overthrow the Spanish regime by attempting to detonated explosive planted in a venue where all the big people in the society would be having a special dinner.

I am just wondering, did Guy borrowed the idea from the novel, or was the novel inspired by the latter.

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