Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• An economic activity is one that sustains the life of a human being and the lives dependent on that activity on any day of a year. When daily wage earners from various walks of life in Nagaland are now being imposed work even on Sunday's and the ones deciding to work on these days are mostly of a different faith, an economic activity is taken up and lives sustained.
Festive season or not, a person of true faith will stick to their beliefs and as per the requirement of their faith will observe whatever duty is required of them on any day of the year. If a believer of a certain faith or religious group is required to observe a day of fast or rest or congregate on any day of the week, it is but an obligation to an individual and not the society or the State. In terms of the Biblical perspective, we are more and more leaning towards the life and the ideologies of the Pharisees and the Sadducees of the yesteryear and still holding them to high esteem. (Mathew 12: 1-13 is a good read). At least, we should be proud of ourselves on how well we are adding up to their statures while still adding newer and newer personalities to their characters.
• Yes... With precautions.
• Non Christians should be allowed to do their business
• 60% Naga Christian are hypocrites. Opening shop on Sundays won’t make any differences.
• True Christian won’t be lying, cheating, arrogant, violent, corrupted, and disobedient or display any unchristian or sinful habits from Monday to Sunday. The church leaders should be more concern with spiritual matters rather than opening or closing of shops on Sundays. I want to hear the church member’s voice out about corruption, nepotism, violence, and extortion, unnecessary collection of funds by church for this and that program or feast. Once the church is vocal about this issues, I’m sure skeptical Nagas like me will Stop and listen to the church council even over small issues.
• As in majority we people get time only on Sunday.
• Shops should be allowed to open every Sunday be it festive or not. We Christians observe Sunday as holy but it's just another day for non-Christians, so why don't we just go to church and do whatever has to be done and let non-Christians do their normal business? Why do we have to force them to close shops when they have nothing to do with Sunday? Isn't this a form of forcefully asking them to observe Sunday as holy since it is holy for us Christians? Can't we stop this hypocrisy? If we force someone to follow our Christian principles in Nagaland, we don't have any right to cry of discrimination and religious persecution in mainland India. Nagas should stop living in the world of hypocrisy.
• Yes. Many working people don't get time for marketing during weekdays. Most of the church services are over by 1 pm. better to open shop on Sundays after 2 pm.
• What is opening of shops in festive season got to do with our faith? Is our faith so weak that we have to appeal to the authority to strengthen it?
To our church leaders, let us focus on the spiritual matters and the soul of the congregation. Leave the earthly laws to the authorities who also have been placed there by Almighty God. We cannot continue to keep both our feet on both sides. Once our members are spiritually matured, we don’t need to impose our will on the authorities to safeguard our faith and religious practice. We will be known by our fruit. There are more perilous matters like corruption, bad governance, bribery, violence which needs more attention and priority than this issue. Let’s involve in this matter and address it without being afraid of displeasing the influential church members. To our government authorities do hear what the church leaders have to say as it is a democratic society, but do not be swayed by their forceful imposition to implement which may suit the church leaders only. Think more of the citizens as a whole, as the government is for the public welfare. As for me and my family, we will continue to do what is right and good, and place our trust in the Lord only.
• Yes, but after church hour as it is festive season with precautions.
• Yes. I don't consider it sinful.
• It makes festive season livelier.
• Yes. After 12. Essential services like bakery, pharmacies and grocery shops should be open.
• No option consumer is king.
No:
• No... Because Sunday is a day of worship and rest… and that should not be mess with other worldly things ... let's keep it holy.
• COVID 19 is not over and it has been observed that people are not careful about social distances and the same time shop owners are too.
• Sunday is a day to rest. If we don't give importance to this call, we lose one aspect to obtain peace of mind. If Sunday is kept open for activities, cases of depression, failures, bodily suffering will be compounded. Sowing seeds for more restlessness in the years to come.
• During festivals spend time with family cleaning decorating and cooking in the house. Moreover, one day for prayers a d service to God.
• Christmas can be celebrated without shopping. Simple as that.
• Sunday is considered a national holiday. And moreover, being a Christian state, businesses must remain closed. Six days is more than enough to do businesses and resting for one day should be mandatory. Not doing business for a day won't give you any loss. Apart from the Christians, other religion do considers Sunday as a holiday.
• As a Christian at least kept Sunday one day to our God, you can do anything for 6 days.
• Festive or no festive, shops should be close on Sundays.
• Let there be one day to remember and thank God and to spend time with whole family at home especially for shopkeepers and other service persons.
• Whether it is a festive season or the usual normal days, let us keep the Sabbath day holy, a day for rest biblically, on the other hand let us not degrade our cultural identity, things may evolved and change at a rapid rate but what needs to be at static should stay static no matter what the circumstances cost.
• Let non Christian do that. Else close down all the shops of even non Christians on Sunday.
• No, because we have time for everything, time for shopping, time for going to churches, time to be with friends, so why should we open shops on Sundays (other than important shops and hospitals)
• As a Christian State, we should practice to keep close of all shops as a respect of Sunday. Let other religions know how holy Sunday is for Christians.
• Because the sentiments of the Christians who are religious majority in the state must be respected. And to those Christians who are propagating this idea, they must read the ideals of the Bible once again. One cannot compromise faith for the sake of worldly needs. I strongly support the NBCC response with regard to this issue.
• One day should be dedicated to remember God and be with family at home. In festive season, time is spent at home to make and decorate things at home.
• Not required. Need not make excuse for festive season rush. These are not normal times. In normal times too Sunday's are closed.
• If we the Nagas profess ourselves as Christian we have the highest duty to uphold the sanctity of the Lord’s Day. It's a day of obligation. There a seven days a week. We need to uphold this. What if the government of India imposed Sunday as working day? Who will be the first to protest? We need to respect our faith and the whole state should have a uniform closure of all business establishments except for medical store.
• Like NBCC stated Christmas is not about Shopping and Entertainment.
• No. Because Jesus Christ is the reason and center of this festive season, not shopping and business and lights and decorations. We should not compromise with it as a Christian state.
• A big No...we eat on Sunday doesn’t mean shops need to be open on Sunday too, we have another 6 working days open in this days... Let's respect and give appreciation to God on Sunday at least.
• Opening our heart to Jesus Christ is much important than opening shops.
• No... Ecclesiastes 5:10, "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless."
• No... Sunday is meant for worshipping God alone, not for business. Nagaland is a Christian state, likewise other should also respect that...so do we must respect others as well
• 6 days is more than enough... Perspectives.
• No. Sunday is a day of rest. We should all rest. It will only help in more productivity too.
• I say no, if you think you are Christian please stop going for shopping on Sunday instead go to church and do visit the needy people.
• Shouldn’t, rather open our heart to receive the greatest gift from above, and that Christ Jesus be born in our lives.
• My conscience says it's not a proper manner... it's like spotting dirt in ourselves (Christian). In this age and time all of us are well educated we know very well what is right and wrong... therefore we must keep this day holy. It's festive season and Nagaland is a land of festivity so what? We have been living ages but by opening shops and promoting business on this day will not really help us. We have 6 days to do everything we want and we have to do and therefore being a Christian majority state we must maintain our principles and keep this day holy...also enrich our spiritual life. Together let's keep this day holy forgetting our greed
Others:
• It should be the will of the individual to decide on the opening of shops on Sundays throughout the year. However, dictating people to open shops on certain occasions brings negative outlook and hurts people sentiments as well.
• I think it's up to the people to go or not to go shopping on Sunday. So should not put any restriction on that.
• Why we should only 6 days in a week we should open Sunday also may be after Church Time.
• I think we Nagas got this backward. No one is being forced to open shop against their will. I don't think the government or any organisation should be involved in dictating when a shop can be opened or not. That decision should be left with the owners of the business.
• I don't think we should decide whether shops should be open or not. If we really want the day to be one of rest and worship, then we can simply stay at home. No need to force others to close their shops. I mean, how would you feel if ‘Beef’ Ban is imposed in Nagaland (because, technically, we are a Hindu-majority nation)
• Would love to see a change in the result, thought it will not be surprising to see a great percentage of 'Nos'! I must ask if the next week's poll can be the same questions but with a different audience (the shopkeepers) with reasons, provided they were given an opportunity to open. Or rather say, how'd they justify the reason to open the shop for just another day? How will that 10 hours change their day? Food for thought!
• If we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ....it is not a big deal to open shops....so I would say yes and sorry to those who are saying no they have no brain just showing off that they believe in Christ.....be a true and a trustworthy person to him you will see our Lord Jesus Christ in every men n women.
• It'll not matter much if the believers really value the day.
• Only reason people go to church on a Sunday is cause there is nothing much to do since all the shops are closed and you can’t get any work done!
• Believers should not open their shop. But i don't think that buying goods on Sunday is sin.
• Before you give your opinion on this issue, first question why you don't support the ban on beef. Nagaland is a majority Christian state like India is a majority Hindu country but we can't enforce the 'Religious' believe of the majority to the minority.
• Nagaland for Christ our motto
• In simple words, we should respect all our fellow citizens who are not Christians. Just because we are living in a Christian majority State doesn't give us the right to impose Christian principal forcefully to all the citizens of the State. But at the end of the day, if rules for closure of shops on Sundays are imposed, it should be followed strictly. If it is imposed, why should it be relaxed during festive season? Does God go on leave/vacations during the festive seasons? Is it justified? I would rather say that we are "Hypocrites.”
