Does this have enough merit?

Question

My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a crche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away .
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.

I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.She said,

"I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.
Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide) We said an expert should know

what he's talking about. And we said OK Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW." Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing?
Ben Stein

Answer 1

Very well said!

Answer 2

Sorry, but is there a question here? I am not sure what you are asking.

But to a Christian:

GOD is a Spirit and those that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

Christians do not have to make a public display of their Christianity by putting up religious scenes. Neither does a Christian have to have 'In GOD We Trust' printed on their money or have a plaque with the 'Ten Commandments' hanging in every public building just to prove a point.

A Christian worships GOD by the way they live and act. There should be no question if a person is a Christian or not. Their actions will speak volumes about their love for GOD, HIS truth and for mankind.

Christians are to have humility. This does not mean they are be spineless and weak but it means they are to have their strength under control. They should have a courteous respect for another's opinions, wishes and judgments.

Christians are to stand firm on the WORD of GOD.

And remember just because a person says they are a Christian, doesn't necessarily mean they are. Actions speak louder than words.

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

I am sick of this idea of persecution when %80 of the country is christian.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Nobody has ever said we are an atheist country. We are secular. There is quite a difference. I would recommend picking up a history book before you begin criticizing things you obviously have no clue about. The idea of not murdering or raping did not come from the bible. (Just look at all the civilizations that existed before the bible.) That is the basis of how civilization came into being in the first place. The fact that our nation is so celebrity crazy only proves to me that as a species we will look for anything to worship or hold in such high regard. In fact, this make Christianity look bad, not atheists.

Answer 4

You are free to worship God in any way that you deem fit. You are not forced to worship Nick and Jessica or read all about them, but it appears as if you believe that everyone should agree with your religion and stop reading gossip mags or being entertained by television and movies.

People like you are exactly what the constitution guards us from.

You have the right to call me a sinner, claim that I deserve hell fire, call me moraless etc. But you don't have the right to tell me how to worship God, or force me to worship God.

That is what makes America great, and what most Christians forget.

Answer 5

I don't mind creches or minorahs, either. If people wish to put up statues and altars to their silly superstitions, that's their business.

It's only when the government promotes religion that I get my hackles up. Put up as many hanging Jesuses that you want. Just don't do it on government property or expend my tax dollars to do so. BTW, I also don't want government pushing atheism, either. Government shouldn't address religious issues at all. It should just govern.

The Capital building is not a church, no matter how much some would wish it to be. And if you think Christians, who are in the majority, are tired of being pushed around, how do you think us atheists feel? We are discriminated in the media, goverrnment, and social circles.

Answer 6

"I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period."

Do you think that a singular religion has the right to run amok unchecked, doing whatever they want, pushing around whoever they want? Do you think one singular religion has the right to have it's dogma taught as fact to our children of all faiths in the public school system, or the right to have it's religious figurehead mentioned in a national pledge or on our national currency or in our courthouses?

Christians are FAR from being pushed around...they're the ones doing the pushing!!!! Keep your religion in your homes and in your churches, where it belongs...and not in our public schools, off our currency and out of our national pledge, and I don't think anybody will bother you anymore.

Until you're willing to do that...stop whining about how you guys are being "persecuted" by the nonbeliever. It's beyond tiring.

Answer 7

Merit for what? Its a fine thought and I agree completely. I would add, however, that people who don't believe in God, or don't know are equally sick and tired of getting pushed around. Period.

Answer 8

The people who FIRST protested Christmas trees being called Christmas trees were CHRISTIANS.

I know a garden supply store chain that referred to them EXCLUSIVELY as "Fresh Seasonal Evergreens" in 2002 because of nasty Christians complaining that wreaths and trees disrespected Christ.

I think y'all, regardless of religion, should back off.

Answer 9

We're exposed constantly to things that try to tempt our faith, to get us to stray from that path. I choose to pray and not let anything get in the way of my faith. Sure, others can care about Nick and Jessica, and the best that money can buy. But there's nothing eternal in a new sports car or celebrity gossip. We are all brothers and sisters here and that's what matters most.

Answer 10

I think you are totally right! I'm a Pentecostal christian and I dont like it when people make fun of my beliefs. I'm glad that you dont find our christmas offending but I think it's offending that people arent supposd to say merry christmas anymore.....were all supposed to say happy holidays, I mean the holiday was created to celebrate christmas....so were has it gone? into santa big red bag I bet!.....this is to the athiests: STOP IT! were sick of it! at least we have something to beleive in...we have a place were we believe we're going when we die.....do you seriously not think about where YOU will go when you die?

Answer 11

Hello, If a persons life is empty like a drum they will sound hollow,( just nosing around half full.)