Taking Christ out of Christmas

[MREG2]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Love ya, DK!!

 

[Indy Gal]

Which is: in the true spirit of Christmas, isn't "charity" more important than being right?
quote]
I dont quite understand the question, sorry

 

[GonzoReiter]

Which is: in the true spirit of Christmas, isn't "charity" more important than being right?

Which is more important: that Christmas is on their lips, or Jesus is in their hearts?

 

[Indy Gal]

Which is more important: that Christmas is on their lips, or Jesus is in their hearts?

Thank you I get it now. I would say jesus in their hearts, although it isnt showing today....

 

[MREG2]

Exactly. Except for you and absinthe, nobody here has addressed my basic question. Which is: in the true spirit of Christmas, isn't "charity" more important than being right?

(Let me add that the same spirit of charity should prevent us from bashing those who wish everyone a Merry Christmas.)

I don't see it as being "right" but that is just me. Treat those as you wish to be treated. Wish me whatever with a smile and sincerity and all is well. I just expect the same when I wish someone a merry christmas.

 

[absinthe]

I'm leaving now, but I'm looking forward to reading more later. Peace out!

 

[Nova]

Which is: in the true spirit of Christmas, isn't "charity" more important than being right?
quote]
I dont quite understand the question, sorry

I'm probably phrasing it poorly. I wondering why Christians (and those of us who still hold many Christian values) don't want to use the kindest, most considerate greeting possible. (Not that they should be required to do so, but why don't they want to do so?)

Isn't that a large part of what Christmas is about?

 

[Indy Gal]

I'm probably phrasing it poorly. I wondering why Christians (and those of us who still hold many Christian values) don't want to use the kindest, most considerate greeting possible. (Not that they should be required to do so, but why don't they want to do so?)

Isn't that a large part of what Christmas is about?

Very true and I do change it up, if I know that persons religion. Although I can see now how i cant possibly now everyones religion.

 

[MREG2]

I'm leaving now, but I'm looking forward to reading more later. Peace out!

Me too....

Take care all!

 

[GonzoReiter]

I'm probably phrasing it poorly. I wondering why Christians (and those of us who still hold many Christian values) don't want to use the kindest, most considerate greeting possible. (Not that they should be required to do so, but why don't they want to do so?)

Isn't that a large part of what Christmas is about?

You phrased it well, as usual...Nova

 

[Dark Knight]

Which is more important: that Christmas is on their lips, or Jesus is in their hearts?

One should lead to the other. Jesus Himself said, those who do not acknowledge me in front of man, I will not acknowledge in front of my Father.

 

[Indy Gal]

Things i have learned today
Maybe I shouldnt take posters so literally(?) Sorry again ember
Maybe it is okay to say happy holidays and not give up your faith in the process
change is okay...LOL

 

[ember]

Things i have learned today
Maybe I shouldnt take posters so literally(?) Sorry again ember
Maybe it is okay to say happy holidays and not give up your faith in the process
change is okay...LOL

Hey Indy...no worries! A good discussion, even one that gets a bit heated, can be a wonderful & educational thing! I didn't know Christ was actually born in a cave! I always thought it was a manger. So you see, no harm done. That's the true beauty of the season...peace on Earth and goodwill towards all....no matter how you choose to say it!

Thank you for your apology... And a very Merry Christmas to you & yours!

 

[Nova]

Things i have learned today
Maybe I shouldnt take posters so literally(?) Sorry again ember
Maybe it is okay to say happy holidays and not give up your faith in the process
change is okay...LOL

Oh, wow! If only we could all learn that!

 

[blue_the_puppy]

In most cases, it isn't so much that you "offend" anyone, but it does serve as a reminder to non-Christians that they are excluded from certain celebrations. It's not YOUR fault that their beliefs and/or traditions exclude them, of course, but you might ask yourself what it is you really want to say.

If your purpose is to announce which holiday matters to you, by all means, wish everyone a Merry Christmas. It isn't a crime to do so and nobody has said it is. (The so-called "War on Christmas" is just another fake social issue employed by Fox News and the like to drum up unnecessary indignation.)

But if your intent is to wish joy to others on special days, then it might behoove you to include days that have meaning to them. "Happy Holidays" serves that purpose. Still no law; it's totally up to you.

(This is only an issue with strangers and casual acquaintances, BTW. Christians (including those, like me, who are "Christian" now only by cultural tradition) wish each other "Merry Christmas" all the time and nobody has said we must do otherwise.)

Two more points:

To respond to your link, the "season" of "Season's Greetings" is the season of winter holidays in which we now find ourselves. Such holidays include Christmas (not just Dec. 25, but also other days celebrated as Christmas in other countries, days that extend into January), Chanukah and Ramadan, but also New Year's Eve, Boxing Day (for our British and Canadian friends). The phrase predates any sort of political correctness; when I was a kid, it was used by Christians to refer to the holiday period from Christmas Eve (or even earlier) through New Year's Day.

If there is a danger of removing Christ from Christmas, it doesn't come from what you or I say to strangers during this month. The far greater threats to the "true meaning" of Christmas come from commercialism, a decline in church attendance, and the destruction of communities and extended families primarily by economic forces that compel greater mobility. None of these threats have anything to do with political correctness, nor will they be covered by Fox News, which is owned by those with a vested interest in distracting ordinary Americans from the issues that actually affect our lives.

:clap::clap::clap: !!!

i really dont think this "war on christmas" or "taking christmas away" deal exists. i think its a whole buncha hoopla over nothing. i was in target the other day and the cashier said "merry christmas" to me, we had a christmas party at work (and i work at a university, one of the most liberal institutions there is!), and we still get christmas off work, not any other winter holiday (though i wouldnt mind getting all those holidays off .. LOL!! :angel

no one can "take away" your holiday. christmas is not going to go away.
people celebrate other holidays this time of year, so of course some attention should be given to them too .. why does that matter?
the vast majority of americans celebrate christmas, so it will still be the biggest holiday of the season (and even if it wasnt .. SO WHAT?? isnt the fact that you and you family celebrate it all that matters? i hate the commercialization of christmas anyway.)

 

[Maral]

:clap::clap::clap: !!!

i really dont think this "war on christmas" or "taking christmas away" deal exists. i think its a whole buncha hoopla over nothing. i was in target the other day and the cashier said "merry christmas" to me, we had a christmas party at work (and i work at a university, one of the most liberal institutions there is!), and we still get christmas off work, not any other winter holiday (though i wouldnt mind getting all those holidays off .. LOL!! :angel

no one can "take away" your holiday. christmas is not going to go away.
people celebrate other holidays this time of year, so of course some attention should be given to them too .. why does that matter?
the vast majority of americans celebrate christmas, so it will still be the biggest holiday of the season (and even if it wasnt .. SO WHAT?? isnt the fact that you and you family celebrate it all that matters? i hate the commercialization of christmas anyway.)

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[csds703]

:clap::clap::clap: !!!

i really dont think this "war on christmas" or "taking christmas away" deal exists. i think its a whole buncha hoopla over nothing. i was in target the other day and the cashier said "merry christmas" to me, we had a christmas party at work (and i work at a university, one of the most liberal institutions there is!), and we still get christmas off work, not any other winter holiday (though i wouldnt mind getting all those holidays off .. LOL!! :angel

no one can "take away" your holiday. christmas is not going to go away.
people celebrate other holidays this time of year, so of course some attention should be given to them too .. why does that matter?
the vast majority of americans celebrate christmas, so it will still be the biggest holiday of the season (and even if it wasnt .. SO WHAT?? isnt the fact that you and you family celebrate it all that matters? i hate the commercialization of christmas anyway.)

Good post.

 

[csds703]

Things i have learned today
Maybe I shouldnt take posters so literally(?) Sorry again ember
Maybe it is okay to say happy holidays and not give up your faith in the process
change is okay...LOL

That's a lesson we all need to reminded of.
Nobody is trying to take away your faith or anyone else's.
It's about accepting and respecting each other's right to believe and celebrate whatever they want.

 

[Nova]

i really dont think this "war on christmas" or "taking christmas away" deal exists. i think its a whole buncha hoopla over nothing....

Welcome to WS, blue!

 

[close_enough]

Actually, some Christians have realized that Christmas is truly a pagan holiday in disguise and want to leave Christ out of the mess that has become "Christmas". It really is a big ruse...this whole thing about this season being about Christianity's golden child. It was orginally Yule, the time for winter solstice and celebration to usher in the longer days ahead...but again, the "heathens" had to convert.


This church know it's history. See link: http://users.aol.com/libcfl/xmas.htm



On another note..... here is a little history on why it is OK to use "X" instead of "Christ" for Christmas.

X-as-chi was associated with Christ long before X-as-cross could be, since the cross as a Christian symbol developed later. (The Greek letter Chi Χ stood for "Christ" in the ancient Greek acrostic ΙΧΘΥΣ ichthys.)
While some see the spelling of Christmas as Xmas a threat, others see it as a way to honor the martyrs.

Yes, X is for "Chi"--the first letter of Christ's name in Greek and an accepted symbol for Christ for hundreds of years.

What's even more depressing is that all of the people who get so uptight about the use of X (and who are likely therefore Christian) are the ones who got it completely wrong.

What does that say about the modern Christian's knowledge about the history of their own faith?

Geesh! I'm not even a Christian and I know this! What are they teaching y'all in church?!


ETA: I still wish Merry Christmas to everyone I see because it just doesn't hold the same magic when I say anything else. Must be because of memories from my childhood when everyone wished a Merry Christmas! I miss those days.....

cool, & thanks for the lesson
i use Xmas quite a lot....