Just a thought on my mind. Prayer has been taken out of our schools and the 10 Commandments no longer in our Government/Federal buildings. We can no longer go to a store and be wished a Merry Christmas or Happy Easter.
I'm not knocking anyone for not believing, that's your decision. Several surveys that I have read say that the majority of Americans believe in God. Usually 70 to 80%. Why do other 20/30 % (and yes, I know it's not all) celebrate by not having to work, or take off from work? Why are the courts not in session? Why is there no school? Oh, and I would like my mail delivered on Sunday as well.
Again, I'm not trying to knock anyone or ruffle any feathers. But this just doesn't make sense to me.
2006-12-23 12:02:03 · 8 answers · asked by roy_10_3_99 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
While a vast majority of Americans believe in a divine being not all believe in the Christian God. You bemoan the fact that prayer was taken out of public schools, but what if a Wiccan or Hindu wanted to say a prayer, or God forbid a Muslim wanted to pray in Arabic? How would the right-wing fringe Christian parents act then? Instead of trying to accomodate the hundreds (if not thousands) of religions as well as those who have no religion isn't it better to leave that part of child rearing up to the parents and not the government?
I have been wished a Merry Christmas at almost every store this year so that complaint doesn't hold water-- as for those that didn't, they did wish me Happy Holidays (which is just a contraction of Holy Days) which there are at least 4 between Dec 8 and Jan 6 in the Catholic Religion. As for Easter-- most shopping for that is candy, other than that there really isn't and increase in retail sales so retailers can't be faulted for that. You want to be wished a Merry Christmas and Happy Easter, but when is the last time you wished a Muslim a good Ramadan, or a Jewish person a good Sabath? it works both ways.
If you want your mail delivered on Sundays tell people to mail things to you Express mail that is delivered 7 days a week 365 days a year even on Christmas!
Courts are not in session on Saturdays either-- would you want to serve on jury duty on Christmas? How about the Lawyers and all the people it takes to make the court system work? There is no court on Christmas, nor are retailers open because people want to spend it with their families.
Schools are closed for about 2 weeks as this is the time of year that people travel to be with family. It has nothing to do with religion. If it did then they would only be closed on Christmas day. But this is the time of year with the shortest days and by closing, the schools save thousands of dollars.
Christmas is unfortunately mostly a secular holiday now -- most church services only last an hour or two and I would wager that the average American will spend more time talking about gifts that you gave and recieved and the football game than about Christ's birth.
If you want to celebrate Christ's birth I'm right behind you but shouldn't it be celebrated about the time when he was born? That would be sometime in the spring (late March - mid April), but that's a completely different topic.
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
2006-12-23 19:39:54 · answer #1 · answered by jcat80128 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Observing something like the sabbath has simply become a part of our culture.
Why do 20-30% of us dictate and limit our expression of religion? Good Q. Its called tyranny of the minority and its only going to get worse. Its called organizations like the ACLU that have decided to back atheism and file lawsuits on their behalf in order to limit the expression of free religion as much as possible. The only thing that can ultimately stop this is the supreme court being able to read and interpret the constitution properly.
2006-12-23 12:17:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is true that on general principle I feel that God and government should not mix. Consider it, then, to be a gracious concession that our secular government grants you time off for Christmas, Easter, and Sundays. And if you should get it, then certainly that indulgent 20-30% should get it as well.
Merry Christmas!
2006-12-23 13:21:00 · answer #3 · answered by Caritas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only approximately 50% of the US consider themselves Christian. Other religions believe in God but not the Christian version which would include all the things you listed.
And we have two days off of work and school a week, not just the Christian Sabbath.
2006-12-23 12:23:12 · answer #4 · answered by gottabuylots 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God and government do not mix. They go together like oil and water, like Democrats and Republicans, like the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, like pork and Israel or a Muslim country, or like God and Satan. It is stated so in the Constitution, that the two must be separate, and that must be followed.
As far as schools being off for the holidays or mail not being delivered on Sunday, these have been secularized so much that they no longer are religious. I do think the government should take In god we trust" off its currency, and I do think that the government name of Christmas should be changed to Winter Solstice Day.
2006-12-23 12:11:17 · answer #5 · answered by alnitaka 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
very good point, though i'm not complaining about my day off from work.
and why does our money say "in god we trust"
2006-12-23 12:06:28 · answer #6 · answered by addison 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
34-45% aren't sure of god. re-read your statistics.
2006-12-23 12:04:16 · answer #7 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i agree....makes no sense what so ever
2006-12-23 12:05:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋