(Untitled)

[maverick0324]

For the past few days at work I have had so many customers wish me a "Happy Easter" before they leave. Now, I know they are being nice. As I work at a small, family owned operation, our interactions with our customers are a bit more one-on-one and involved than what you normally get at the big time places

Comments

[haces222]

I used to be a Jehovah's Witness many many MANY years ago and they say happy holiday instead. Of course that's null and void if the person has to work

[dr_funbags]

LOL, and here all these years I've been replying with a simple "Thank you, have a good one" so I don't have to reply with my own preferences.

I know what you're getting at though, and it's extremely annoying to me too. Just yesterday I had an old guy hand me a bible tract on the train, and I took it per usual routine, just to avoid argument. Anyway, he saw me put it down on the seat and then it started and he wouldn't take a "I don't need to believe in anything" for an answer.

I ended up getting off the train a stop early just to avoid drawing it out. Everyone is entitled to believe what they want, and I'm not going to look down on them for that, but UGHHHH STOP TRYING TO INSIST THAT EVERYONE SHOULD FOLLOW *YOUR* BELIEFS.

[maverick0324]

I know, I know I'm being a whiny brat. It's just annoyance at how I'm told I can't wish someone a happy "pagan" festival but I can say happy Easter.

I just get all touchy and pissy about religion on Easter and Christmas because my parents get all evangelical on me.

[dr_funbags]

Yeah, understandable. I'm the same way especially since my mother has been harping on me about going to church with her on Sunday, for about two weeks now. I think she somehow thinks she'll change my mind, when I clearly said, "OVER MY DEAD BODY."

[skidmo]

Okay, I just have to say that to me, honestly, Easter has become a lot like Christmas. It started as a religious holiday, but it's become so commercialized and absorbed into our culture, that it no longer always carries those religious connotations. So people wishing you a Happy Easter may be doing no more than hoping you have fun eating chocolate and/or ham and searching for eggs.

And I get that you might be offended by it, but honestly? I gotta jump in and say how annoyed I got when I worked places where I wasn't allowed to wish people Merry Christmas because of the religious connotations. It's an American cultural holiday, and if some people attach religious meaning to that, that's their personal preference, but you can't just assume that's the reasoning behind it.

[ditchwitchbitch]

I don't know you, but this is exactly my feelings on both holidays. I'm not religious at all, but I still celebrate "Easter" and "Christmas" in my own way because these days in this country, you can do so void of religion at all if you choose. It's actually almost impossible NOT to celebrate these holidays to some extent. I'd actually even argue if you're still looking for the religious connotations to them, especially Christmas, you actually have to look a lot harder anymore. So I say bring on the chocolate and bunnies and little plastic eggs.

[maverick0324]

To me Easter isn't QUITE as commercialised as Christmas ends up being and so I don't place it in quite the same category but I understand what you mean.

The offended part, is not so much at being wished Happy Easter I think, as I said, I get that people are saying it out of good faith and just being generally NICE about it. I get that, its the automatic setting on christianity that chafes me.

This annoyance is also compounded by my family who always takes these religious days to remind me that I'm a heathen and going to hell and do that sad sigh and shake of the head. So I tend to get ultra touchy on religion around said times.

[capra_maritimus]

How about "Happy Zombie Jesus Day"? *snicker*

And blessed Ostara to you , as well. :D

[maverick0324]

I think that would be an awesome reply. But I don't think I'd be able to get away with it either.

[hab318princess]

As one who believes that Easter is important and that Christ rose BUT who also respects your right to believe something different I'd like to make a distinction here: There's the cultural fact that the Western World is christianised, for want of a better word, and wishing a happy Easter is part of that culture, your customer doesn't know that you don't fit the bill or don't share that belief. They will therefore act in a cultural way - most are not believers either.

and I hope I've never vilified anyone who doesn't believe the same - disagree yes, try to tell them why I disagree yes, but vilify - no! and if I'm pompous, please tell me

but just as an explanation: the Bible says that Jesus is the only way, which automatically says that other ways are not valid - HOWEVER, I think it's even more important how you share that, because at the end of the day I respect your right to disagree with me, in the same way I hope you respect my belief in this God

*hugs*

[maverick0324]

Yeah, I'm not going to jump on you for your religion, sorry if you thought that. :) I don't mind disagree, I'll admit there are times myself where I act superior and pompous and have to have a friend smack me and knock me down a peg or too... But moving on.

Culturally yes the world is "christian" but I think, as obviously a very devout believer yourself, that there is a disconnect between those that actually follow the religion and those that just say their christian and have it not mean anything.

As I mentioned above, this post is really more venting at my parents (heh) I'm certainly not going to yell at someone for disagreeing with me when I complain about not being able to disagree with them, I just wish that abstaining from religion or practicing something like paganism was not looked at as if the practitioners are moral-less and bad. And this feeling tends to get more fervent around cultural christian holidays. :)

[hab318princess]

No worries, I got the distinction...

I wasn't always a believer, my family still does not think God exists, so I've seen both sides and understand both (I hope)

The one distinction I'd like to make is between Faith and Religion - one is a personal relationship and hopefully people oriented (as I see myself) and the other is something you practice with rules to follow to appease someone (hope that makes sense)

And morals, that is a mine field as it can be so personal, i.e. I'm a born again believer writing Janto Slash - many will say that I'm crossing into immoral territory there

*hugs* (and sorry for ranting)

[maverick0324]

Hey no problem for ranting, I was as well. I'm personally of the "Live and Let Live" category of people. I mean, I grew up in a very christian conservative home and some how of ended up on the far side of the religious spectrum so I know all the basics of Christianity and such. Went to that whole christian private school thing...

I agree with your distinction between faith and religion, one that I don't think many who ARE religious probably get.