Christmas: Are they shoving it down our throats too early?

[fuzzygobo]

Target is running a special on Pleasant Pills this weekend...

 

[Sgt Floyd]

On the subject of the whole "Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas" debate, I've always been one of those people who say just include everyone. You can't favor one religion while denying or ignoring someone else's rights to their religion. If you are going to allow one religion to be publicly celebrated, then you need to allow all religions to be publicly celebrated.

But what I can't stand is the people who demand their religion to be acknowledged or given special treatment. The number of Christians who get so up in arms about their beliefs, yet are so unwilling to acknowledge the existence of other religions or get so offended that another religion is mentioned is baffling.

So with that said, people who get so offended because the word Christmas is used or because a store is selling *gasp* a menorah or something need to grow up and get a thicker skin. How is it hurting you? Its not. Don't like? Don't pay attention.

Besides, Christmas has become so commercialized that the real meaning of it has been lost. I bet the number of non christians who celebrate it greatly outnumber those who don't. It's become all about the presents and the decorations and food that the basic reason why we celebrate it is lost on people. And if you really wanna get technical we shouldn't even be celebrating christmas on december 25 but that's beside the point.

 

[D'Snowth]

But what I can't stand is the people who demand their religion to be acknowledged or given special treatment. The number of Christians who get so up in arms about their beliefs, yet are so unwilling to acknowledge the existence of other religions or get so offended that another religion is mentioned is baffling.

I think Nostalgia Critic made a point about that once...

HE-MAN: There's more to Christmas than just presents, Orko.
NC as ORKO: I know, it's about making other religions feel inferior.
HE-MAN: That's right, Orko.

 

[CensoredAlso]

I always say, Linus tried to warn us in 1965 and we didn't listen. Christians had a responsibility to keep the spiritual meaning of Christmas alive and they allowed the commercialism to become more important. When I hear someone praising Wal-Mart for having nativity scene coupons, it disgusts me. If Christians want to keep Christ in Christmas, they need to look into themselves first.

 

[Slackbot]

This Youtube video sums up my feelings on the subject perfectly.

Happy holidays.

 

[Drtooth]

On the subject of the whole "Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas" debate, I've always been one of those people who say just include everyone. You can't favor one religion while denying or ignoring someone else's rights to their religion. If you are going to allow one religion to be publicly celebrated, then you need to allow all religions to be publicly celebrated.

But what I can't stand is the people who demand their religion to be acknowledged or given special treatment. The number of Christians who get so up in arms about their beliefs, yet are so unwilling to acknowledge the existence of other religions or get so offended that another religion is mentioned is baffling.

So with that said, people who get so offended because the word Christmas is used or because a store is selling *gasp* a menorah or something need to grow up and get a thicker skin. How is it hurting you? Its not. Don't like? Don't pay attention.

Besides, Christmas has become so commercialized that the real meaning of it has been lost. I bet the number of non christians who celebrate it greatly outnumber those who don't. It's become all about the presents and the decorations and food that the basic reason why we celebrate it is lost on people. And if you really wanna get technical we shouldn't even be celebrating christmas on december 25 but that's beside the point.

Yes to all of that. Every year both sides of that argument manage to make complete horsebutts out of themselves, especially if they listen to those jackbooted thugs they call "pundits" that only create controversy to sell those crayon scribbled manifestos of crazy they call "books." On one hand, the whole War on Christmas (as imaginary as it is) is the prime example of First World problems. In other countries, say you're a Christian and they'll kill you. Look at what's going on in Egypt. Gruesome stuff. Over in our country, a store that doesn't have "Merry Christmas" to label their clearly Christmas things, it's the superhugest form of persecution ever. Really?!

On the other hand, who the heck actually gets offended by saying Merry Christmas? I mean, small vocal minority of pseudo-athiests aside (or included or whatever) who the heck is dumb enough to think that they're pushing another religion on them? If anything, you get an awkward situation that never happens. Of course, I never ran into this problem being as social as one of our favorite characters...

And seriously... Happy Holidays isn't even a new thing. Wasn't there some lame song from the 50's or something that used it in a refrain that the Muppets did better justice with?

I always say, Linus tried to warn us in 1965 and we didn't listen. Christians had a responsibility to keep the spiritual meaning of Christmas alive and they allowed the commercialism to become more important. When I hear someone praising Wal-Mart for having nativity scene coupons, it disgusts me. If Christians want to keep Christ in Christmas, they need to look into themselves first.

I have to admit, other than the fat that theologians have been arguing for decades about when Christ was actually born, agreeing only on it not being anywhere near December 25th... I don't get why Christmas is such a huge deal from a religious standpoint vs. Good Friday and Easter... you know, a simple matter of "Christ was born" vs. "Dying for our sins and the day he was resurrected."

 

[D'Snowth]

I always say, Linus tried to warn us in 1965 and we didn't listen. Christians had a responsibility to keep the spiritual meaning of Christmas alive and they allowed the commercialism to become more important. When I hear someone praising Wal-Mart for having nativity scene coupons, it disgusts me. If Christians want to keep Christ in Christmas, they need to look into themselves first.

Well, it's like I said earlier, atheists get offended by the spiritual meaning of Christmas, and in this day and age, it's easier to remove the spiritual aspects of Christmas so as to not offend them than it is to keep the spiritual aspects in and not offend Christians. In fact, not just Christmas, but we did away with mandatory school prayer, listening to Christian rock or gospel music in public places, and we're on the verge of losing "In God we trust" from money and "Under God" from the Pledge of Alliegence, all to avoid offending atheists. I honestly don't even know if hotel rooms have Bibles anymore.

But I digress, there ARE still some Christians out there who DO try to keep the spiritual aspect in Christmas, I know some out there find it politically incorrect to have colored lights on trees because the stars in the sky aren't colored.

Nostalgia Critic even points out the subliminal message of how Ernest keeps a "Keep the Christ in Christmas" bumper sticker in the glovebox of his cab in ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS, and I know that many, many of those who were involved with the Ernest productions were Christians as well - Jim Varney himself was very devout.

 

[CensoredAlso]

I have to admit, other than the fat that theologians have been arguing for decades about when Christ was actually born, agreeing only on it not being anywhere near December 25th... I don't get why Christmas is such a huge deal from a religious standpoint vs. Good Friday and Easter... you know, a simple matter of "Christ was born" vs. "Dying for our sins and the day he was resurrected."

I honestly could care less about when it actually happened. It's a holiday, the meaning is what's most important. It's a huge deal because it's a deity choosing to be a humble human being, rather than a king.

In fact, not just Christmas, but we did away with mandatory school prayer, listening to Christian rock or gospel music in public places, and we're on the verge of losing "In God we trust" from money and "Under God" from the Pledge of Alliegence, all to avoid offending atheists. I honestly don't even know if hotel rooms have Bibles anymore.

I went to a religious school but prayer didn't stop my school from becoming a haven for bullies. It's not enough just to have prayers if people don't learn the lessons.

 

[D'Snowth]

I went to a religious school but prayer didn't stop my school from becoming a haven for bullies. It's not enough just to have prayers if people don't learn the lessons.

Well, I mean public schools.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Well, I mean public schools.

My point is prayer in schools doesn't guarantee a Christian atmosphere.