I'm tired of hearing about how it's so "offensive," especially from people who supposedly celebrate Christmas! If you want to celebrate a holiday but not adhere to what it's for, that's your own issue in my opinion.
Then there are people of other faiths who are offended, and honestly I think that is silly too. I am not offended by the mention of a Jewish or Muslim holiday, so why should someone be offended by a Christian holiday? The fact is, this whole festive season exists BECAUSE OF Christmas--whether anyone likes it or not.
Sorry to get up on my soap box, but I am really sick of people acting like it's perfectly fine to try to suppress Christianity... but to do so to anyone else is WRONG! Right? I don't think so. By the way, I am a Democrat and not at all the stereotype that some may think of me just because of this question. But I'm tired of it.
2006-12-19 15:15:54 · 29 answers · asked by Holly 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Um, for all of you going on and on about how Christmas is celebrated at the time when the Winter Solstice was... I'm sorry, but I don't see how that has anything whatsoever to do with it.
The world was in a time of great religious transition at that point, so it made logical sense to incorporate the new traditions with the old. That made for an easier transition--easier for both the leaders and for the people. It's easier to incorporate something new into your traditions than to be commanded to abandon them all. Did you ever stop to think about that? hmmm...
2006-12-19 16:10:06 · update #1
P.S. To the person who said that I'm "ethnocentric and narrowminded":
My boyfriend of more than a year is African. My best friends are Asian and Hispanic. I have travelled out of the country three times. By the way, Christians comprise almost one third of the world's population. Yes, it is a "minority," but certainly not as obscure as you'd like people to believe. That is, judging by the wording of your answer.
2006-12-19 16:55:32 · update #2
being a christian myself makes me definatley agree that it is stupid to take Christ out of Christmas. Thats the whole reason we have christmas isnt it!? but im not just agreeing with you on this because of my christianity. I get what you mean that this is just one of many political arguments.. we now cant do this because it offends someone, or we cant say that because it puts down someones culture.. its getting to the poitn where its completely ridiculous. And out of respect for God, i think he takes alot mroe bull sh!t than any other religion out there - (im from aust) ie. muslims are allowed to wear formal culture dress to public schools because its their religion or are allowed to have statues in their gardens because they are proud of their culture. christians are not allowed to have giant crosses in thier garden, an majority schools wont even allow a necklace with a small cross on it beause of 'no jewllery policies'...
2006-12-19 15:25:38 · answer #1 · answered by WomanSoHeartless 3 · 7⤊ 2⤋
Whoa, people sure have got their panties in a bunch here!
I think all we're trying to say is that it is WRONG to say that you can't speak of Christmas, yet speaking of other holidays is okay.
That is what is unfair. I am ALL for saying Happy Holidays, but to specifically ban saying the word Christmas is outlandish! It is absolutely crazy to avoid using the word Christmas as if it were a curse word.
I am all about being fair. I like to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, etc. But if you are specifically saying that we can't say Christmas because it will offend someone, that is where I draw the line.
If you can't say Christmas, then you shouldn't be able to say any other holiday, either!
It just doesn't make any sense. To say that you can mention one holiday but not another is not right. And it doesn't matter which holiday that is.
I'd prefer if we could all just accept everyone's differences, including Christmas, and be happy. Just don't ban one specific holiday because you don't want to offend anyone. It offends me for you to ban it!
2006-12-19 16:10:27 · answer #2 · answered by ReeberKaseyMarcus 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Actually, for a few THOUSAND years before the Christian conquest of Eruope, the predominant holiday was Yule or Winter Solstice. Christians began to celebrate Christmas in December BECAUSE that's when the old religion celebrated the birth of the God. Until then, Christmas wasn't celebrated as it wasn't considered an important holiday. A study of the Bible, and the nature of the seasons in Judea clearly shows that Christ was most likely born in September or October.
Celebrating Christmas in December became a way of more easily assimilating a culture that celebrated the birth of the God in December.
Much of the celebration of Christmas is Pagan in origin. Winter Solstice was a celebration with candles, fires, trees, etc. Important at this time were the Holly King and the Oak King. Holly is still found in Christmas celebrations, as well as lights, the Yule log, and more.
The fact that it remains in as much the way that it does is testament to the power of the Solstice and Yule celebrations of the past. It is still celebrated by a great and increasiong number of Pagans.
I have no problem with people saying "Merry Christmas" though some have a problem when I respond "Have a blessed Solstice". I do tend to get a bit defensive when Christians say it's a purely Christian holiday.
The point is that Christians can celebrate the birth of Jesus whenever they like, thought they should be a bit more educated about the actual date, and the reasons it's celebrated when it is. they should also be just a bit accomodating as to recognizing that they aren't the only ones celebrating a holiday right now, and that it isn't only Christians.
Anyway, that's my view.
2006-12-19 15:30:32 · answer #3 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 3⤊ 6⤋
It would not inevitably trouble me whilst human beings use "yule", yet i do trust you that Christmas is meant to be celebrating Christ's delivery, and that taking the Christ out of Christmas is fairly sacrilegious. Im specific that once human beings use yule, they are purely purely abbreviating so as that it makes use of much less attempt, so they are not attempting to disrespect, yet Christmas is approximately Christ's delivery, so in that appreciate, confident. i do agree that it could be stored Christmas. :D have an exceedingly merry Christmas!!!
2016-10-18 12:37:12 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually this whole festive season exists because the early church adopted the date of Dec. 25 for Christ's birth to compete with the Solstice and celebrations of Mirthra. Most scholars theorize that Christ was actually born in March. The war on Christmas was invented by Bill O'Reily and the like to get the religious right in a twist. I'm an Episcopalian and we technically are in Advent, not Christmas. So, Happy Advent.
2006-12-19 15:24:30 · answer #5 · answered by Purdey EP 7 · 6⤊ 3⤋
what really makes me mad is how the government has taken separation of church and state and twisted it to mean there can be no church representation in the government which is a completely wrong reading of the way it was written.
when that was written in the constitution it was written to mean the Church can't run the government and vise versa. when you look At the era and where the writers were coming from you can see how they didn't want what had happened in England to happen in America where the government made it's own religion (the Anglican church) and forced its beliefs on the state.
the problem is that the reading isn't in context and if it was taken in context it would be read correctly.
and the last thing that makes me mad and then I'm done is how it is now politically incorrect the say "marry Christmas" and the now widely correct phrase is "happy holidays".
2006-12-19 15:25:41 · answer #6 · answered by harrison b 2 · 8⤊ 2⤋
Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be "TO ALL PEOPLE."
Not metter were you are or what you are goin through, no matter how rich or how poor. No matter if you belive or don't belive!
The Spirit of Christ is The message that is TO ALL PEOPLE!
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
The First Christmas Gift:
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Jesus is the Gift that keeps on giving!
And this message should be shouted from the roof tops!!!!!!!!
Merry Christmas and God Bless!
2006-12-19 15:23:10 · answer #7 · answered by DP_Hawgs 2 · 6⤊ 2⤋
If your going to insist that it's a christian holiday, than making the whole country recognize it and take off for it is wrong (though I don't know anyone that would want to loose it as a national holiday).
If you want to keep it, it seems reasonable that it be made more secular so that the general population is offended less. I mean, really, it's not even a christian holiday in it's roots. I'm sure it was horribly offensive to the pagans when the christians came in and tried to make it christian.
everyone right now is whining about it because of SOMETHING. I'm not sure which is more annoying, the holiday itself, or the whining over it. I got an idea for you: just shut up and enjoy the holiday whichever way you want to without bothering others. hmm?
2006-12-19 15:29:42 · answer #8 · answered by hobo 6 · 2⤊ 6⤋
I was raised in a Mormon church however I am no longer religious at all. However I found it offensive that no business was allowed to mention Christmas last year. We had the town "holiday tree" yet on the other hand we had a Menora all lit up for the Jews. It was absurd...
This year Christians had a little more freedom, but it wasn't like it used to be!!!
2006-12-19 15:28:39 · answer #9 · answered by sugarpacketchad 5 · 6⤊ 3⤋
There is still time to do this:
Wanna have some fun this CHRISTMAS? Send the ACLU a CHRISTMAS CARD!
As they are working so very hard to get rid of the CHRISTMAS part of this holiday, we should all send them a nice, CHRISTIAN, card to brighten up their dark, sad, little world.
Make sure it says "Merry Christmas" on it.
Here's the Address, just don't be rude or crude.
(It's Not the Christian Way, ya know?)
ACLU
125 Broad Street
18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Two tons of Christmas cards would freeze their operations because they wouldn't know if any were regular mail containing contributions.. So spend 39 cents and tell the ACLU to leave Christmas alone. Also tell them that there is no such thing as a Holiday Tree. . . . It's a Christmas Tree! Also, send this to your e-mail buddies.
2006-12-19 15:19:30 · answer #10 · answered by Lily P 3 · 6⤊ 5⤋