Merry Christmas?

[xJesterx]

A couple of days til christmas and there are the usual religious arguments popping up. Nativity sets that have become historical monuments being banned. The religious parts of any christmas related word being banned. And yes they even cut the planned screening of the new nativity story movie out of a christmas movie marathon after someone suggested it might no longer be suitable.

Oh and of course if anyone dare includes an angel in a christmas parade they will officially be shot.

These and many more - when schools are now running scared at the word 'christmas' for the sake of political correctness, aren't we taking this too far? I'm yet to meet a Jew or Muslim who takes incredible offence when I wish them a Merry Christmas - nor do I take offence when they wish me a Happy Hanukah. So what's the big deal? Why are people so afraid of Christianity that they see fit to exclude it from everything including their specific religious holiday?

[Gods_Mercenary]

Why not Include every holiday in the town displays instead of the idiotic "Holiday tree"

[rez]

Quote by: xJesterx A couple of days til christmas and there are the usual religious arguments popping up.

Good, atleast this holiday is not just about buying and selling things.

Nativity sets that have become historical monuments being banned.

I know! they took my flying spaghetti monster scene down too! It took our spaghetti followers ten days to make our lords noodle appendage to hang in the air!

And yes they even cut the planned screening of the new nativity story movie out of a christmas movie marathon after someone suggested it might no longer be suitable.

People threw piles of spaghetti on our place of worship, our holiday is ruined.

Oh and of course if anyone dare includes an angel in a christmas parade they will officially be shot.

Same here, I was placing a meatball on top of my Spaghetti tree and some Christian had the nerve to threaten me that I was going to burn in hell.

These and many more - when schools are now running scared at the word 'Christmas' for the sake of political correctness, aren't we taking this too far?

No, I think you are taking this too far! If you can't handle the fact that you do not have sole control of a holiday then maybe you and your Christians can just hold Christmas on your own island!

I'm yet to meet a Jew or Muslim who takes incredible offence when I wish them a Merry Christmas - nor do I take offence when they wish me a Happy Hanukah. So what's the big deal?

Well according to you, this is the big deal...

1.)

Quote by: xJesterx religious arguments popping up.

2.)

Nativity sets that have become historical monuments being banned.

3.)

Quote by: xJesterx And yes they even cut the planned screening of the new nativity story movie out of a christmas movie marathon after someone suggested it might no longer be suitable.

4.)

Quote by: xJesterx Oh and of course if anyone dare includes an angel in a christmas parade they will officially be shot.

5.)

Quote by: xJesterx when schools are now running scared at the word 'christmas' for the sake of political correctness

6.)

Quote by: xJesterx and many more

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Why are people so afraid of Christianity that they see fit to exclude it from everything including their specific religious holiday?

I would not say afraid. How about....”disturbed”

Oh and MerrySpaghettiness to you.

[xJesterx]

Why not Include every holiday in the town displays instead of the idiotic "Holiday tree"

I agree - all religions celebrating through the christmas season (or whatever the religion refers to it as) should all be included.

Okay rez, don't really get what your point is. My point was that we've reached the stage where religion is such a horrible scary word that we start taking away everything that has even a remote religious connection - even around religious holidays. Things that have been done for years (and enjoyed by the religious and non-religious alike) are being banned for the sake of some twisted form of political correctness. Even though the people who are apparently benefiting from the bans don't see the reason for it themselves.

Oh and nobody said christians should have sole control over the holiday. I have no problem with other religions including their own traditions and celebrating their specific holiday. Actually I'd encourage it. Unlike some people in society I recognise that everyone should have the right to believe, worship and celebrate their own religions, which is what makes Christmas great.

When we can't say 'christmas' anymore because it has the word christ in it. Or have a 'christmas' tree or an angel in a parade - or we single out one movie not for anything innappropriate but solely because it's a religious one. Am I missing something here? Isn't this just blatant discrimination? Prejudice? Everyone's always harping on about how Christians need to be more tolerant but it's not so easy when they have to do the leaning.

You know in all that sarcasm raz I didn't get whatever you were trying to say. If whatever spaghetti craze you're on was really your religion I'd have the same opinions about your right to publicly celebrate your religion as every other religion out there. The problem is, that 'supposed' liberty is being taken away - for no reason. It isn't benefiting anyone to take away nativity scenes and tell your kids they aren't allowed to be an angel in their parade - if anything it's doing more harm.

[rokinross]

Christmas is real cause jueus and the wise men existed but god and religon suck cock and don't exist

[Zhavric]

Quote by: rokinross Christmas is real cause jueus and the wise men existed

Actually, that's not true. Go ahead and click on the appropriate link below in my signature. And go easy on the language. This isn't myspace. I don't want to see you get banned.

Also, to everyone...

Have a positive Christmahanyulquanzmadonivus.

[RickSp]

Quote by: xJesterx A couple of days til christmas and there are the usual religious arguments popping up. Nativity sets that have become historical monuments being banned. The religious parts of any christmas related word being banned. And yes they even cut the planned screening of the new nativity story movie out of a christmas movie marathon after someone suggested it might no longer be suitable. Oh and of course if anyone dare includes an angel in a christmas parade they will officially be shot. These and many more - when schools are now running scared at the word 'christmas' for the sake of political correctness, aren't we taking this too far? I'm yet to meet a Jew or Muslim who takes incredible offence when I wish them a Merry Christmas - nor do I take offence when they wish me a Happy Hanukah. So what's the big deal? Why are people so afraid of Christianity that they see fit to exclude it from everything including their specific religious holiday?

Another whining Christian. You folks are the overwhelming majority and you keep bitching about being persecuted. Silly and foolish.

In my city, there is a nativity scene, a menorah, and secular decorations on the lawn of City Hall. They reflect the diversity of the community and no one has a problem with them. It was approved by the courts seven years ago.
Court of Appeals Upholds Nativity Scene and Menorah at City Hall in New Jersey

So spare me the whining. I doubt that you can really show some evidence of someone, anyone, being shot for including an angel in a Christmas parade. Made that one up, right? So, let's return to reality why don't we?

[FlameMasterAxel]

They way I see it, if your Christian then say Merry Christmas. If your Jewish, then say Happy Hanukkah. Don't go complaining when people don't wish you a good your holiday, and don't go saying it excludes you. In fact, it actually includes you in the festivities.

[RickSp]

The "So-Called" War on Christmas

Christmas is in mortal danger, if religious conservatives are to be believed. Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly warns night after night that Christmas is "under siege." His Fox News colleague, John Gibson, declares in his new book "The War on Christmas" that there is a "liberal plot" to destroy Christmas, led by "professional atheists" and "Christian haters." Jerry Falwell, the evangelical minister and conservative activist, warns that Americans who celebrate Christmas are "facing persecution." It is a manufactured crisis. Christmas is a holiday that is primarily celebrated in churches and in the home, and by all accounts it is thriving. The reason conservative media outlets have to keep pounding away at the theme, clearly, is that most Americans who are busy celebrating Christmas with family and friends are probably under the impression that the holiday is doing just fine. Religious conservatives are using Christmas for a political purpose: as a cudgel to push the prayers and displays of their own form of Christianity into public spaces, including public schools, and to make America more like a theocracy. The Christmas defenders' real enemy is not secularism, but inclusiveness. Department stores have been using phrases like "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings" because they want to make themselves appealing to as many customers as possible — including the nearly one-quarter of Americans who do not call themselves Christians — not because they hate Christmas. Governments walk a careful line regarding holidays because they don't want to fall afoul of the First Amendment, and because they want to make all of their constituents feel included in holiday celebrations. Despite all of the attention the conservative media have given the "War on Christmas," it does not appear to be catching on with the general public. The reason Christmas defenders are unlikely to win in the long run is not because they are up against a liberal plot, but because they are on the side of intolerance.

[Jack]

They're also on the side of insanity. What is with this whining and accusations of persecution from the religious right? They obviously aren't satisfied with being the majority philosophy in the world and the U.S. Evidently the promise of forgiveness-->redemption-->salvation-->resurrection isn't enough to keep them happy, though they do manage a certain smugness nevertheless.

Retailers are returning to wishing people a Merry Christmas all over the place. Does Bill never get out of the house? Is he not allowed to use regular stores and get waited on by normal people? Does he live in a bubble?

No wonder the majority of folks interviewed didn't agree with Bill. They live in the real world. Not that parallel universe inhabited by only talking heads.