We are coming up to that time of year again and as usual im looking forward to the decorations and the good spirit that the country generally gets into around Christmas time.
But I had an experience last year with a muslim girl. I was discussing with a friend of mine how the Christmas tree in the town centre looked great with the lights etc and this girl turned to me and said "i would prefer if you would call it a winter tree please". Now im not racist and believe everyone is entitled to their beliefs, but this kinda hit me hard in the face. If i want to call it a Christmas tree and i want to say merry Christmas(cos thats what ive known it as all my life) then i should be allowed surely without having to feel like im treading on some other faiths toes?
2006-10-08 20:59:08 · 37 answers · asked by beardedbiker84 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes... We all know that it is the Christmas season and there are those in society who want purge everything having to with Judeo-Christianity out of this country and it is doing more damage than good. Just read the newspapers and watch the news.
2006-10-08 21:00:32 · answer #1 · answered by Adyghe Ha'Yapheh-Phiyah 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Other faiths have to understand that Christmas is a Christian celebration where we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The tree is not a winter tree but a Christmas tree started by a Christian Martin Luther in Germany way back in the 16th Century I believe.
We have called it Christmas, Happy Christmas, Merry Christmas, Christmas Cake, Christmas tree, Christmas pudding, for centuries now! I'm not going change this just because it offends others - Merry Christmas!!!!
2006-10-08 21:13:02 · answer #2 · answered by No-ni-nu 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a believer, "atheist" if you will, but as just common wording I have never had a problem with Merry Christmas. I think those with the real problem are those people that freak out over "happy holidays" and "seasons greetings." I personally find those people very self centered and greedy, wanting to entirely dominate a period of winter in a mixed country where more then one group is having a holiday.
And now...winter tree is just silly... We SHOULD use the inclusive words like happy holidays in public places such as stores, etc. Those are greetings. But to start changing the names of things goes a bit too far.
2006-10-08 21:23:50 · answer #3 · answered by Indigo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Muslims I have come across are mature enough to not be offended by Christmas and its associated trappings. I have been to Christmas dinners (pre Christmas ones with friends) with friends who are not Christian but they do enter into the spirit of the season and the festival. I wish that they enjoy their religious festivals too. The thing is that Christmas is a festival that youcan celebrate without the religious bit now due to all the commercialism and Pagan influences. I think the girl in question needs to grow up and mature abit. Maybe if you were in Saudi Arabia or another Islamic country I could understand the reaction and een accept it but if you are in a mainly Christian country she should just grow up and mature a bit!
2006-10-08 21:13:39 · answer #4 · answered by ehc11 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is well known even among Christians that Christmas is basically Pagan holidays glossed over with their own meaning. Changing the meaning of festivals was part of the way the church converted Pagans. I prefer Happy Yule myself. If someone wants to say Merry Christmas or any of the other greeting of holidays that's fine. Season's Greetings is a good term that is all inclusive. It is just the people who get all bent out of shape to insist it is only Christmas that get annoying.
2006-10-08 21:16:35 · answer #5 · answered by Sage Bluestorm 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are constantly urged by the pc brigade that we should show tolerance and understanding to our fellow man/woman, irrespective of race, creed etc etc.
How can this be achieved when simple, traditional, British christian values are being eroded at a fantastic rate. The Red Cross can't use the symbol that has been their name for generations in case anyone finds it offensive. We can have "fcuk" on advertising hoardings and t-shirts, but god forbid (sorry, "g*d forbid") a red cross. No hot cross buns in some schools, no harvest festivals or St Georges day celebrations - you could go on for hours.
As a christian country, we celebrate christmas. We have christmas cards, christmas decorations, christmas cake and christmas trees. If anyone finds this offensive, they have a choice - tolerate in silence, acknowledging that everyone has the right to choose who, how and why they celebrate certain things, or alternatively take a long vacation to a place where they will not be inconvenienced by baubles and tinsel.
So, Merry Christmas one and all - ho, ho, ho.
2006-10-08 23:00:25 · answer #6 · answered by mpr7274 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is the reason for the season. I say go right on sayign Christmas in everything to do with the holiday. If someone is offended then they can call it what they like but you have every bit as much a right to call it what it is to you and to hold it sacred and reverent. That is the premise behind freedom of speech and freedom of religion. It is not stepping on someone's toes at all. Quite frankly I think it is the other way around. Simply tell your friend that you celebrate the holiday to respect and praise Jesus and that she should respect your right to do so.
2006-10-08 21:18:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only wackos are offended if you say Merry Christmas. I have
Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Agnostic, and Atheistic, aquiantences
and they all tell me Merry Christmas. Because of where I worked I
have a lot of Muslim and Agnostic aquaintences. They have never said anything negative about Christmas.
I Cr 13;8a
10-8-6
2006-10-08 22:27:54 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Merry Christmas, it's a Christmas tree and the UK is a Christian country. Anyone who is offended by the beautiful celebration that is Christmas is quite frankly deranged and so shallow in their own beliefs that they feel threatened by the overwhelming joy that Christmas brings to more people in the world than any other event.
It's about time we (christians) became as militant about our rights as the followers of that cranky, jealous "religion" islam.
2006-10-12 02:30:34 · answer #9 · answered by John H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes here in America land of what use to be the free has gotten ridicules on this subject. i don't want to step on any toes either.and i respect what ever race or faith you are.but for hundred of years people have said marry Christmas usually followed by and happy new year.i have had other faiths tell me they hope my Christmas was a marry one. so why all the sudden is it insulting for some one to hear the words merry Christmas. so let me say im very sorry, right now to all that reads this i mean no disrespect to to you and to all the rest i hope we all have a marry Christmas and all your holidays are joyful this year.
2006-10-08 21:39:22 · answer #10 · answered by BLOODHOUND 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suggest that you tell her that that is, at least nominally, a Christian country.
If she has a problem with that, point her to Heathrow Airport and tell her to buy a single ticket to a Muslim country.
We will, in this house, have CHRISTMAS trees, Merry CHRISTMAS etc etc.
I do not get upset by Diwali, or Jewish New Year, so why are Muslims so touchy?
PS I ignore ALL Muslim festivals, and anything that the "Muslim Council" says.
2006-10-11 08:58:54 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋