There's no "war on Christmas". There's a desire by those who don't celebrate "Christ"mas to be included in the celebrations, as many people who are not Christian celebrate other holidays (Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Hanukkah, winter solstice, or nothing by name and just celebrate togetherness) .
Is it wrong to want to be inclusive? Is it such a horrible thing to
say "Happy Holidays!" instead of "Merry Christmas!" so that people who don't celebrate that holiday feel like you're talking to them, too?
2006-12-01 00:35:26 · 16 answers · asked by slippie 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
on one hand, I understand this, and on the other, I don't.
In the US, Christians have had a monopoly of public religious expression for a long time. Being forced to give that up is not comfortable.
This is a push back. It's predictable.
I'd like to mention in passing, though, that the whole "They're taking Christ out of Christmas" thing is just plain silly, and this is why:
"Christ" is not a name for a person, but a Greek word meaning Messiah, or "anointed one". And there was a whole lot of anointing going on in the Bible.
Anointing, or the pouring of oil on a person's head, was a common practice in Bible times. A guest in a home was anointed, partly as a token of honor, partly to moisten the skin because of the hot, dry climate in Palestine.
Anointing was also a distinct religious rite among the Jewish people. A person was sometimes anointed to set him apart for a particular work or service. Saul was anointed when the Israelites demanded a king (1 Sam. 8:4-22; 10:1).
Samuel anointed David as king of Israel (1 Sam. 16:1-13), and Solomon was anointed as David's successor (1 Kings 1:39).
These kings, called "anointed ones", were anointed by prophets acting on God's behalf. They ruled as God's representatives to the people and were to rely on God's wisdom as leaders and rulers.
Anointing also refers to a spiritual process in which the Holy Spirit empowers a person's heart and mind with God's truth and love (1 John 2:20, 27). On the Day of Pentecost, after Jesus' Ascension, the disciples were anointed for special service in a great outpouring of His Holy Spirit on believers (Acts 2:1-4).
The apostle Paul declared that all followers of Christ are anointed as God's own and set apart to do His service.
In the New Testament, anointing was also frequently used in connection with healing. Jesus' disciples anointed the sick (Mark 6:13) and James instructed the elders of the church to anoint the sick with oil (James 5:14). This anointing was for the purpose of healing.
AND, as has been pointed out here many times, Xmas is absolutely in keeping with the Church's long-used abbreviations, and no mark of disrespect in and of itself.
************
But we really need to keep in mind that this isn't about being rational. This is about pushing back. This is the absolutely predictable response from a group of people (whether ethnic, or religious, or whatever) who have had special privileges for a long time being forced to accommodate a more level and equitable society.
2006-12-01 03:14:36 · answer #1 · answered by Praise Singer 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Due to the commercialism of the season, and because many Christians do not realize that Xmas is an abbreviation for Christmas featuring the first letter for the Greek rendition of Christos, it appears to some that believe that this time of the season is an exclusive time for Christians only and they are having to give up some of that exclusivity. Because, as I stated elsewhere, I am a Messianic (Jewish Christian) believer, and because I know that Jesus wasn't born circa 12/24 or 25, yet because I also believe that this time of the year (as much as any) ought to be a time to enjoy each other, it would make sense for us all to learn more about the person to whom we're giving a greeting. In another posting, I shared, and will share on my 360 page, an A-Z of what I call the End of The Year season.
2006-12-01 08:52:15 · answer #2 · answered by Peace W 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, let me ask you this, would you tell a Jewish person that he/she couldn't say Happy Hannakah because it might offend someone? I don't think so, but no one has a problem telling a Christian that they shouldn't say Merry Christmas. I have gotten yelled at by people because I'm used to saying Merry Christmas. It's second nature to me, but people have yelled at me (in stores, mind you, where I worked) that my Merry Christmas offended them because I couldn't tell by looking at them that they celebrated a different holiday. But if I went off on anyone like that for wishing me a Happy Kwanza or Yule, I'd be the bad guy.
2006-12-01 08:53:20 · answer #3 · answered by sister steph 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am a Christian and I use the terms that apply to the specific holiday at hand. I do not celebrate holloween because that is the day of the devil. When I approach the celebrated day of or Lord's birth even though it is not the actual day of His birth, I address it as "Merry Christmas, and not happy holidays" With Thanksgiving, I address it with" Happy Thanks giving".
What good is a title if is is not used according to what it was named after. If your name was John, and people just wanted to call you Hey you all the time, it would not sit well with you because you name was John and not hey you. It is a form of respect to address things properly and not use blanket descriptive wordings that essentually remove Christ for example from His own birthday celebration.
2006-12-01 08:48:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Frankly I am Jewish and most people who don't know it say Merry Christmas to me. It does Not offend me as I consider the good will in the statement. I love seeing our Jewish menorah and also the beautiful Christmas lights and even mthe manger scene, Itr is all part of the American culture where I live
2006-12-01 08:40:51 · answer #5 · answered by devora k 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is the one day in the whole year that the Christian peoples celebrate the birth of Christ, and a great time of adoration of God become man, and it is not just another eat and drink fest that can be done on any of the remaining days of the year.
people who want to be included as you say should go and have their kind of feasting but if they do not do so in the spirit of Christs birth, then they can call it a happy holiday if they wish, but do not pretend to be involved with the real Christmas meaning.
2006-12-01 08:44:05 · answer #6 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
I think that's exactly what they're whining about--that their holiday and religion are being treated as one among many. This keeps up, and they won't be the 800-pound gorillas of American society anymore!
I wrote about it here:
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/10/25/105719/06
2006-12-01 08:47:48 · answer #7 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
no it's not. I'd say have a nice holiday as a way of saying merry christmas twice. People are getting too sensitive these days.
2006-12-01 08:38:49 · answer #8 · answered by l2wh 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Respect everyone, so long as they agree with our beliefs. Otherwise screw em'!
This is my understanding of the common application of Christ's teachings in American society.
2006-12-01 08:38:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's because everyone who feels they are being insulted are making it that way.....and we don't have anything left....we used to have christmas vacation at school, now its winter break, used to have easter vacation at school, now its spring break, used to be able to say Merry Christmas, now it's Happy Holidays....what's wrong with Merry Christmas anyway....if you don't like it, ignore it. And I won't say anything about Happy Holidays to you. You see, with everyone else being insulted, we can't do our thing, but they can do their thing and we are supposee to accept it and be done with it. Why should all of ours get taken away?
2006-12-01 08:42:42 · answer #10 · answered by Shari 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋