Isn't the "attack on Christmas" really just an effort to be sensitive to those who hold different beliefs?

Question

I work for a fortune 500 company and even though I celebrate Christmas, I'm fairly sure that not everyone on my floor does. We have a Christmas tree (giving tree - for donating gifts to needy family) and a couple of "Merry Christmas" banners. I don't have a problem with the tree but I think the banners are a little over the top. I work with a lot of smart people but I'm mystified that some of these smart people apparently don't understand why these displays are not appropriate at work. Why don't we start our business meetings out with a prayer?? When these people push their beliefs of others.... people naturally will want to push back. The attack is defensive and not offensive as the bible thumper would have you believe. Your thoughts?

These banners are not in anyone's cube so your assumtion is wrong and you know what happens when you assume. Earl, your thoughts are just silly and pointless.

Answer 1

Wow, Pretty complex question all in all, Brother. The short answer to your query is: yes, what is described by some as the " attack on Christmas" REALLY is just an effort to be sensitive to to those who hold different beliefs.

Despite what you may have heard, the United States was not founded as a "Christian Nation". The Founding Fathers ( for the most part, very well educated men of their times) of this country were products of the Age of Reason. Many ( including Thomas Jefferson) were "Deists", (defined by the Merriam- Webster dictionary as) "a movement or system of thought advocating natural religion, emphasizing morality, and in the 18th century denying the interference of the Creator with the laws of the universe."

As such, their idea of God was not at all similar to what modern day Christians mean when they talk about their God. Unfortunately, while the idea of deity has evolved a great deal, the descriptive language used in every day speech has not.

This linguistic disparity causes much confusion for current day evangelicals whose religious fervor often exceeds their knowledge of history.

In fact, the season during which we moderns celebrate Christmas has been ceremonially significant for most of mans' history, occurring as it does around the time of the winter solstice ( the shortest day of the year) which usually falls on our calenders as Dec. 21.

The early Christian church willfully sought to uproot and supplant the early pagan rituals by choosing to celebrate the birth of Christ on the foundations of those primitive rites. There are still remnants of those early traditions to be found in our current Christmas holiday. Christmas trees and evergreen wreaths, the notion of Santa Claus or St Nicholas are among the still vibrant examples of this primitive legacy.

" Why don't we start our business meetings out with a prayer," you ask? You answered this part of your question yourself, Brother. Simply put, Unless religion IS your business, prayer is not appropriate and not what we are paid for in today's business world. "

why does the "bible thumper" attempt to foist his beliefs on the rest of us " unenlightened " souls. Hmm, I suppose for many it is part of their creed to share their " truth" . If pressed for an answer, I can only state for the record, I barely understand why I do half the things I do, much less explain the behavior or motivations of people I don't even know

I realize this all may sound a little pedantic, but as I stated at the beginning of my efforts, this is a most complex question. I hope I have answered at least a small part of it for you

Answer 2

For some it is to be sensitive to other religions. For some it is to abolish Christianity in the U.S. We use to be a Christian country and this was not an issue. Everyone celebrated Christmas, but not everyone did so as a RELIGIOUS holiday. That is the beauty of Santa Claus. The non-Christian can enjoy the season too in a secular way. When I was a child my family celebrated Christmas, it was un-American not to. We didn't go to church, but Santa came and gave us gifts. What is so wrong with that!! And Christmas IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY!! So call it what it is. And if someone want to put up a Merry Christmas banner on their cubical so what? You can put a Happy Hanukkah one too, I don't care. The person with the Merry Christmas banner might not even BE a Christian. They don't have a Jesus Saves You banner. Geesh...

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I wouldn't use the word "attack" at all in this situation. I would say the broadening of the holidays or the expantion of celebrations. You are exactly correct...there is no attack on christmas...just more tolerance for those that believe and celebrate differently. I don't think that when the early christians copied all the pagan trimmings of Yule that the pagans went around hollering about an attack on Yule. It's typical propaganda.

Answer 5

That's exactly it. I'm not Pagan, but I do point out the actual Pagan roots in the holidays because I have people tell me I do not have the right to celebrate with my family because I'm an Atheist. And when they are presented with the history, they shrug it off and say that I am a "whiner" and a "party pooper" when they are the ones who started it in the first place.

Answer 6

If it really isn't about attacking Christians, then why is a Mennorah OK or a Kwanza display (please forgive my spelling), or for that matter, a Christmas tree (which is a symbol of a pagan holiday). Why is just the manger scene not permitted to be displayed. All those other feasts I noted, that come at this time of year, celebrate spiritual occasions for those not Christian.

Answer 7

There is no attack on Christmas.

The call is more about equality, there are a lot of religious Holy days around December 25th, why should one get priority in a nation that says it encompasses all its people.

Answer 8

It is the taking of the meaning of CHRIST-MASS out of its original meaning. And making it a Holiday meant for only children. Those of different faiths do not have to participate unless they wish to. As that time of year is also sacred to other religions. as the start of the return of the SUN (SON) back to longer warmer days.
You can come to your business meetings early and have a silent solitary prayer before the others arrive ( maybe after having their own morning prayers by themselves.).

Answer 9

I'm not christian but I am happy to celebrate the season. I have a tree in my lounge room and gifts under it. I enjoy the feeling of this time of the year, the decorations and the festivities.

Answer 10

we should be free to celebrate our religious festivals. at my wife's work they explained to the kids what Muslim's Eid is all about, they participated in Hindu Diwali, but they were told not to mention anything about Jesus when coming to Christmas.

Being "sensitive"? I don't see the logic nor consistency.

it's either all in or all out. or it depends on the constitution- which will vary for a secular and a muslim nation, for example.