What does “sectarian” mean on this train poster?

Question

I was astonished to learn that in Britain you can be sentenced to five years in prison for using the technical jargon of a particular religious denomination in public. This is based on this poster:

To my understanding of the word "sectarian", this means that if a Catholic mentions the sacrament of reconciliation, a Jew speaks of a bar mitzvah, a Muslim discusses the sevenfold circumambulation of the Kaaba, a Lutheran talks about the ninety-five theses, or a member of the Church of England wonders who will be the next archbishop of Canterbury, that's a criminal offence if done while the speaker is a passenger on a train.

This makes me wonder if in Britain the word sectarian means something very different from what I've always thought it meant. Then I found this Wikipedia article, which says:

Sectarianism is a form of bigotry, discrimination, or hatred arising from attaching relations of inferiority and superiority to differences between subdivisions within a group. Common examples are denominations of a religion, ethnic identity, class, or region for citizens of a state and factions of a political movement.

I would never have guessed that that's what anyone means by that word. I live in Minnesota, a state whose constitution forbids the use of taxpayers' money for the support of "sectarian schools", and that simply means schools with a particular religious affiliation.

Should this usage be classified as a regionalism?

Answer 1

Just to add to Nigel J's answer and particularly that it is a regionalism.

The Scottish Government have an Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland. This, in itself, shows that they feel sectarianism is something to be tackled.

In 2015 they came up with the following "working definition" of sectarianism:

Sectarianism in Scotland is a complex of perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, actions and structures, at personal and communal levels, which originate in religious difference and can involve a negative mixing of religion with politics, sporting allegiance and national identifications. It arises from a distorted expression of identity and belonging. It is expressed in destructive patterns of relating which segregate, exclude, discriminate against or are violent towards a specified religious other, with significant personal and social consequences.

see section 3.9 of the interim report

By 2015 they proposed a new one:

Sectarianism in Scotland is a mixture of perceptions, attitudes, actions, and structures that involves overlooking, excluding, discriminating against or being abusive or violent towards others on the basis of their perceived Christian denominational background. This perception is always mixed with other factors such as, but not confined to, politics, football allegiance and national identity.

see Section 5 of the 2015 report

Without delving into what these mean, it does show that the word "sectarianism" is used in Scotland, especially, in a particular sense, and that even the Scottish government doesn't quite know what. It refers to a culture dependent on people seeing themselves as members of either the Protestant community or the (Roman) Catholic community, and to generations of rivalry, at least, between them.

In Glasgow particularly Rangers is supported by Protestants, and Celtic by Roman Catholics. There are wider loyalties beyond Scotland to other parts of the British Isles, with Rangers fans often waving Union Jacks and Celtic preferring Republic of Ireland flags.

Supporters of Rangers and Celtic have many traditional songs, some of which contain phrases which most people would consider offensive such as "F**k the Pope", or Queen, as the case may be. Others do not contain anything particularly offensive in themselves, but if sung on a train, by a group of young men or teenage boys, for example, may result in a response from another group, and while this may be good-natured, it often isn't, and can end violently. Even if it doesn't, it can be un-nerving to other passengers.

The Scottish Government claim that this law is intended to reduce such happenings, but opposition parties are generally opposed to it and it is under review. While poor relations between Protestants and Catholics, and football violence, or violence at other community events (e.g. Orange Parades involving Protestants), is a problem; the Scottish Government is pro-independence and has been accused of being uncomfortable with loyalties beyond Scotland.

It does not prevent two friends discussing their divergent theological perspectives; and this particular rule does not apply in England, Wales or Ireland. but only in Scotland.

Answer 2

The posters on Scottish trains relate to the Offensive Behaviour Act which is designed to tackle football violence.

As @NigelJ has said, much of the issue surrounding football is linked to religion. In Scotland, this conflict, which is as much cultural and political as it is religious, is archetypally seen in the Central belt where support for the football teams collectively and colloquially known as 'The Old Firm' is traditionally aligned on Roman Catholic support for Celtic and protestant support for Rangers.

The antagonism between these branches of christianity is not confined to football and also accretes round events like Orange Walks and is underscored to some extent by segregated education.

This divide between the communities represented by the different branches of Christianity is widely described as 'Sectarian', to the extent that this is the default understanding of the word in Scotland. Sectarianism in Glasgow, the central belt and Scotland generally is a wide subject which I will not attempt to tackle in detail, but the wikipedia link and associated Talk page gives a decent grounding.

'Sectarian language' as referred to in the poster, is therefore to be understood as language deliberately intended to antagonise and provoke members of the 'opposing' community and will be understood in that light by those to whom it is relevant.

Answer 3

The posters have been set up by Scottish Police in order to quell criminal behaviour on public transport by rival football supporters. In Scotland, there is significant support for particular teams based on religion, and I am not even going to bother to mention the religious groups involved.

There is a long history to this. I lived in Glasgow as a boy (50 years ago) and I remember going to a Rangers/Celtic cup final with my brother - now deceased - where the teams did not change over at half time and supporters were segregated to opposite ends of the pitch.

This was mostly to protect the relevant goalkeepers from being pelted with bottles. What on earth my older brother was doing taking me to such an event I cannot think ; we were lucky to get home in one piece. I was still living in Glasgow, not far from the Hampden stadium, when the 1969 event mentioned on Wikipedia took place.

As a boy I remember preachers in Glasgow on the streets - it was a common sight. These days, they are bated by hecklers to speak about matters which it is now illegal to mention in public and I know of one American Preacher who was prosecuted and decided to plead guilty and pay a fine rather than go through lengthy criminal court proceedings and delay his necessary return to the USA. What a way to treat guests to our country.

In that situation also, Police are suppressing potential crowd trouble by showing zero tolerance to verbal exchanges.

So, yes, I would agree that this particular usage of the word 'sectarian' is very localised indeed, since Police are really showing zero tolerance to that which precipitates criminal behaviour, targeting the verbal exchanges which could be a preliminary to violence.

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Action on Sectarianism

Scotland - No place for Sectarianism

Football Violence - Scotland

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