Excellent article on the whole "stand up for Christmas" business

[firefly124]

I have a lot of conflicting feelings about Christmas. More so this year for some reason. But that's a rambly post for another day when I'm not actively procrastinating writing up med sheets

Comments

[sonicwylde]

I am just thankful to shop at Target with no damn bell ringers.

[firefly124]

Yeah, the emotional blackmail with that never gets old, does it? I much prefer to give money to charities, even religious ones, that don't make hungry people sit through a religious service before being fed and such. Dunno if the Salvation Army in general does that, but the one here does. All well and good if that's what they want to do, but I'd rather support charities that don't put those kind of strings on their charitable work.

[mundungus42]

That is a great article. I'm going to repost it at the Social Networking Site That Must Not Be Named because I've already seen "friends" joining "Say Merry Christmas Not Happy Holidays" groups, and this is a much-needed kick in the pants to the stupid those who need reminding that theirs is not the only culture on earth. Thank you so much for posting it!

[firefly124]

Heh, it was a friend on that site that shared the link with me! LOL Happy to help spread it around.

[severely_lupine]

Good article. Yeah, all the self-righteousness about Christmas tends to fade when you look at the holiday's actual origins. Not that I don't love Christmas and enjoy the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Christ, but I'm well aware that a lot of the traditions I enjoy have nothing to do with Christ. It is a holiday that, like most major holidays, is a combination of several traditions and reasons, and I think that's okay.

[firefly124]

It is a holiday that, like most major holidays, is a combination of several traditions and reasons, and I think that's okay.

Exactly. I've never really gotten the need (on either side) to get all bothered about it. Blending and borrowing is what people and cultures *do*.

[severely_lupine]

Especially in the US. ;-)

[dameruth]

That is a great article; I enjoyed it

[firefly124]

Back when I was working retail, I don't really recall giving customers much in the way of holiday greetings off-the-cuff.

I never did retail, but in the restaurants where I worked, I vaguely remember "Happy Holidays" being the standard when you cashed someone out. Same reason: covers everybody.

FWIW, my roommate and I have decorations up in our apartment for Christmas, Hanukkah *and* Solstice, and we've been invited by a Muslim friend to her family's home for "Christmas dinner."

Cool!

I think some Christians need to loosen up.

Yep.

[averygoodun]

I can't remember the story exactly, but one summer years ago, Geoff was invited along on a camping trip by friend and a few of the friend's church mates. Geoff liked the guy well enough, so said sure.

It was a three night affair. The first night, they gathered around the fire and discussed that there's no reason why there needs to be a conflict between faith and science.

Geoff was in complete agreement.

Next night, they talked about living your life so your neighbors will have a Christian example to follow.

That was good. Christian ideals are pretty good.

The third night started off pretty reasonable, but eventually they came to the phrase, "Go out and get persecuted."

Wha!?!

Yeah. Because you aren't a good Christian unless you are being persecuted for your faith.

I wonder whether that guy is a part of Focus on the Family, actually. They're both in Colorado...

Anyway, thank you for linking to that article. It is very cool.

[firefly124]

Yeah. Because you aren't a good Christian unless you are being persecuted for your faith.

At least it sounds like they covered most of the other Beattitudes first. But I'm pretty sure Jesus never said, "Blessed are you when they hate and persecute you because of me, so go out and do stuff to make people hate and persecute you."

You're welcome.