4 - 1999

Shopping on Sunday

A Dam Threatens to Break

Interview with the chairperson of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD)

Manfred Kock

The churches’ initiatives for the defense of Sunday as a day of rest from work and of recreation has livened up the discussion in the German media and public life about whether a legal protection of Sunday is necessary and meaningful. The chairperson of the Council of the EKD voiced his opinion on the issue in an interview with the Frankfurt newspaper "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung".

If public services are offered on Sundays anyway, why shouldn’t a department store open?

Because then it is no longer clear where one should draw the line at all. Why can’t a person hand in a tax return on Sunday, too, and take care of other business at public offices?

And then why should work in production not take place on Sunday? Why not optimize the running hours of the machinery even more? What is happening at the moment I view with great concern, because here a dam is threatening to break.

Many people are of the opinion that we live on the weekends in a kind of entertainment and activities stress already. Store opening would then be just the cherry on top.

No, it would be a large push for a change in society that is very alarming. The issue involved is that of whether this day is still used as the chance that it represents through its tradition. When the churches protest now, that has nothing to do with superficial criticism of consumption. The day symbolizes something that is indispensable for the society.

And that is?

Three points. The first is that this day is, in its biblical roots, a gift of a day of rest for people who work non-independently. The rich have never needed Sunday, the Sabbath. This social aspect displays the realization that people always need the rhythm of work and rest. If they are not granted this, then they become sick.

But is it not just biblical-religious tradition that is involved, but an essential need?

This basic condition is mirrored in the biblical tradition. In all societies this or something similar was demanded.

The second point is that a cultural aspect joins this social side. This is that people use this seventh day for joint exchange, for communication, for family life, for contemplation and reflection.

The third point is directly linked to the Christian tradition. The gift of this free day should keep us free to notice that we live as receivers of gifts. Freedom results from this. It is not accidental that in the Jewish tradition the Sabbath is explained with the remembrance of the exodus from Egypt: you should remember that you were freed. The dignity of persons is not dependent upon their achievements or work.

How much regimentation do people actually need in order to do what is good for them? Is it not possible without it?

It doesn’t work without regimentation as long as people live in differing stages of freedom. Some can shape their lives with their work. For the others, work is foremost bread-winning. The salesgirl lives in a dependent employment situation. For her there must be protection. Especially when there is a surplus in the work force people can be played off against each other.

Isn’t there also a general uneasiness, because there is less and less consideration for traditional social standards, hiding behind the criticism of store opening on Sunday?

It’s true that these are connected. But I do not want to be pessimistic about our culture. And it is not a matter of defaming the people who would find it nice to be able to shop on Sunday, saying to them, "You are only slaves of your own desire to shop." We must, however, make it clear to them what they lose through the leveling down of the difference between Sundays and working days. And we must ask them if they really believe that they have more money if they can also buy more. This is naturally not the case. With regard to this aspect, too, there is no sense in giving up such a valuable day just for a structuring of consumption.

Excerpts from an interview in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung" from 8. August 1999. Translated for publication in this issue.