I feel Christmas is a special time of year for Christians throughout the world. Why are we being penalized for believing in Christ? I have no problem with Jews, Budhists and Muslims celebrating their holidays without changing the names and holidays they believe in.
2006-12-02 07:59:04 · 36 answers · asked by Tim_90046 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
We are changing it to be politically correct. That does not mean that we can't celebrate Christmas with our friends and families, though.
I know that we decorate for The Holidays at work so we aren't leaving any religion or custom out. It's just common courtesy.
2006-12-02 08:01:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Some corrections to your premise:
1) Happy Holidays is not being "exchanged" for Christmas. Both greetings have always existed quite happily side by side until some moron invented the whole "War on Christmas" nonsense.
2) No-one in the free world is or ever has been "penalized" for believing in Christ. On the other hand, many Christians seem to be very enthusiastic about "penalizing" anyone who doesn't believe in Christ.
3) No one has even suggested that you have to change the name of the holiday you believe in. No-one wants to ban Christmas, no-one wants to prevent you from celebrating Christmas. Anyone claiming otherwise is either confused or paranoid.
4) I've never seen anyone get offended at being wished a Merry Christmas--however I've seen many people verbally attacked by uptight Christians for wishing them a "Happy Holidays". And you wonder why people are less willing to respect the Christian holiday?
Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays to all.
2006-12-02 11:11:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is to all the people who think that Christians, or Christmas, is the reason for this season....... What religion came first dudes, Judaism or Christianity? JUDAISM!!! You branched off of us! Without our religion, there would be no Christmas. And you do know that you can trace your blood-line back to Jews?
Anyway, to answer the question, I am not penalizing anyone for believing what they believe. I have no problem with people who practice other religions, but I do have a problem when people say that one religion is better than another. Because no religion is better than the other- they are all equal.
And hey- isn't this country's foundation based on equality for everyone? So why can't christians be equal to Jews, and Buddhistis, Muslims, and Hindus, and all the other religions out there, and say Happy Holidays? I don't hear anyone saying 'Happy Hanukkah' so why should people say 'Merry Christmas' to make the 'caucasion, female, christian' feel better? And honestly, the caucasion female christian isn't the minority- check again.
AND stop being so 'Christianity is the Best Religion' people. It is very offensive.
2006-12-02 10:22:54 · answer #3 · answered by Halliwell 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No one is being penalized. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, and is therefore a Christian holiday. During the Christmas holidays there are also other holidays and religious celebrations going on. Usually Hanukkah falls around Christmas and also Kwanzaa. The Pagan celebration of the winter solstice is always December 21, the shortest day of the year. The Pagans celebrate the rebirth of the "sun". The Christians celebrate the "son". Actually, no one knows the exact day Jesus was born, so the Christians, who in early times had to compete with this Pagan holiday, made Christmas as the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The point is, there are many celebrations, of different faiths and beliefs, going on during this time; and in order to not offend or leave anyone out, "happy holidays" is used to cover everyone. It is not used as a persecution or rub toward Christians, but instead it is a tactful and meaningful way to spread good will and cheer to everyone during the "holidays".
2006-12-02 08:15:09 · answer #4 · answered by danaluana 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
the world is becoming more and more diverse...a lot of people do say they don't care about others celebrating their religious holidays, and most of who say that mean it, which is a good thing. However, if in stores during Christmas time for example, instead of the holiday section being all Christmas related, there was one aisle for christian holidays, one for Jewish holidays, one for Muslims, and so on, many people would wonder "why is my holiday being pushed out for all of these?? the minorities are taking over!!" when in reality, it would just be everyone celebrating their own holiday......I've gotten off track, i know....but to simplify....just because someone says happy holidays doesn't mean they're taking Christianity out of it...a)they could be including all holidays since there are many this time of year..thanksgiving, Christmas, new years, etc...aka "the holiday season" b) they don't care what your particular holiday is called, they just hope you have a good one and so on......I'm not sure how anyone saying happy holidays can be seen as a penalization. it's a kind greeting that covers everyone.....or, we could question people on their religious beliefs before simply wishing them a good day this time of year...i would think having to do the later would be more of a penalization.
2006-12-02 08:18:36 · answer #5 · answered by the WOG 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What I don't understand about those who are offended by "Happy Holidays" is why they want people to be excluded. It seems for the greater good, why not just be inclusive? Because that's not what Christians do.
I also find it funny that Christians believe Xmas to be "their" holiday. It was most definitely a Pagan celebration of the winter solstice. Christian leaders stole it so they could make their job of forcing Christianity on the country bumpkins (the original interpretation of Pagan) easier.
Christ was NOT NOT NOT born in December - by all accounts, including the BIBLE.
But again, the Christians keep on stealing, conning, undercutting, and excluding. Some things won't ever change.
2006-12-04 11:20:16 · answer #6 · answered by ziagirl1970 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
quit whining! Christmas is still Christmas! the greeting 'happy holidays' is used to include people who celebrate different holidays around this time of the year-INCLUDING Christmas, not INSTEAD of, or EXCEPT Christmas...by the way, it's so very kind and condescending of you to have 'no problem with Jews, Buddhists, and Muslims celebrating their holidays'...i'm sure they're all so very grateful... can they drink at the same water fountain as you? in spite of what the con artists at 'faux news' would have you believe, especially when they're hyping a book by one of their own, there is NO atheist agenda to do away with Christmas...there never has been...this little load of horse puckey first made an appearance back in the 50's as a sidebar to the 'Red scare'...it was baloney then, and it's baloney now...you'd think we would be, as a nation, 50 years smarter...but, apparently not...P.T. Barnum was right...
2006-12-02 14:10:39 · answer #7 · answered by spike missing debra m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not offensive. Happy Holidays can include Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims and any one who celebrates a holiday at this time of the year. It is the kind thing to say. You can continue to say Merry Christmas to fellow Christians, but I also say Happy Holidays when I don't know the belief system. Anyway, God knows what you mean, so don't worry.
2006-12-02 08:04:03 · answer #8 · answered by makeitright 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps you should ask yourself why It's not called Jule/Yule, or Winter Solstice- The traditions of "Christmas" were stolen from the religions of other cultures. Factually the bible is made up from books and scriptures from many other holy books. Why should Christianity be held higher than any other religion when it has stolen from every other religion.
December houses many of the worlds divine births and celebrations. Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, Christmas- these all come in December- right after another.
As a caring Christian you should say Happy Holidays, instead of excluding happy wishes to those of other faiths.
2006-12-02 08:30:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I am Christian too, but why do people who arent Christian have to say Merry CHRISTmas? We dont OWN the holiday season and there is no reason why we cant say Merry Christmas to eachother.
I dont understand why certain Christians take this so personally. As Christians, we should accept that there are other religions out there and Happy Holidays is a nice way to cover all of them.
2006-12-02 08:04:16 · answer #10 · answered by stephasoris 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Some stores in London are advising their staff to say Best Wishes instead of Merry Christmas, just incase they offend Muslims.
1. Who's country is it?
2. Who could ever be offended with such a positive message? If I was given a Diwali greeting, I'd be grateful, regardless of culture or religion
3. Is it just me, or are things just getting really, really silly.
4. From what I can observe, Muslims look for any excuse to be offended.
5. It's positive discrimination.
Very sad.
PS. Happy Holidays means absolutely nothing here in the UK - unless you are going on "vacation"
2006-12-02 08:06:37 · answer #11 · answered by Sherlock 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋