I was aghast at Revd Claire's blogpost on Random Hugs.
Of course, in this modern touchy-feely world, hugging is just another of those "informal" things - like holding hands during the final blessing. In theory I'm fine with this - it breaks down barriers, gives one a feeling of solidarity, and generally puts off the kind of blokes who might be overly possessed of testosterone.
But on this occasion, I'm with Revd Claire. I remember last time somebody tried to hug me during the Beaker "Snog of Peace". He's never played the piano since. These days I avoid this sort of unpleasantness by wearing the hi-viz with the special message written on the front - "Please do not hug me uninvited, as a smack in the mouth often offends".
None of those new-fangled unhygienic ways when you've got good solid oak box pews. If God had meant us to go round hugging and kissing he wouldn't have given us the Prayer Book.
ReplyDeleteHugging is at least more hygienic than shaking hands, though. And wayyyyy more hygienic than sharing a communion cup...ew!!!
ReplyDeleteAnon, assuming you're the same Anon - my guess is that shaking hands is less hygienic than sharing a communion cup. I'm not going into any details, I'm just going to leave it there.
DeleteAnon-from-the-wild-NW-America, yes...shaking hands is disgusting, but I keep a bleach wipe hidden in my pocket for afterwards and I don't take the communion cup. My dear, late father said after a priest told him a really stupid lie about the communion cup said, "you got me on the resurrection, but you cannot convince me that God kills all the germs on the communion cup."
DeleteHugs are normally reserved for appropriate occasions. When somebody needs one. Spurious hugs and kisses can be an intrusion into somebodies personal space.
ReplyDeleteI actually have no problem with hand shaking and the common cup, I think we probably carry more germs on us to donate to others than we receive. And the free exchange of Germs takes place via airborne vectors all of the time. I serve at Holy Communion and those who dislike the cup have the option which some take, of retaining the host and dunking it into the wine. Off course, this leave crumbly bits floating about, which can be off putting to the next recipient.
But, somebody I know well, who was recently widowed, spoke to me in church virtually in tears yesterday. The response needed was a hug, which overcome the need for a series of platitudes that I might have spouted. And, it was appropriate, and it worked. So, horses for course, listening and pastoral sensitivity needed. Each time it's different and you need to be alert and aware of each ones different needs and wishes.
Someone's teaching local children to sneeze into the crooks of their elbows instead of into their hands, which is what we were taught to do. Is this spreading worldwide? It does seem sensible from the point of view of disease transmission, although pretty unnatural to someone brought up to use the hand to cover the mouth.
ReplyDeleteI always figure a few germs just give my immune system a workout. What's that old saying about having to eat a peck of dirt before you die?
This only works in hot countries. The thought of small children sneezing into their school jumpers and you not being able to send them to the bathroom to clean themselves up is too awful for words.
DeleteThat sneeze-in-crook-of-elbow thing is being taught in the wilds of NW America too. And we actually spent money to discover that intincting (dipping the host oneself into the wine) actually creates a cesspool of germs in the cup. But on the hugs, I agree that hugs can save one from the dreaded foot-in-mouth disease. But there have retreats I've gone to where it's just all hugging all the time. I do not have enough estrogen for that.
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