Personally, I think the forced secularization of Christmas in the public realm is obnoxious and unnecessary. The only thing more obnoxious is Christians in America trying to come off like an oppressed minority. So someone at Macy's says "Happy Holidays" to you instead of "Merry Christmas." Big freaking deal! Is your faith really so weak that it must be reinforced by the nation's retailers and town squares so it won't disappear? Or are you more concerned that other people are exposed to the religious message of Christmas? If it's the latter, than in what way is that not about forcing your own beliefs on other people? That would be a pretty pinko-commie thing to do, don't you think?
Happy Festivus.
Originally published as Xians Decry War on Xmas
Article comments
1 - Nancy
I am constantly floored by the apparent belief of fervent christians that God, to whom they give lip service as being Almighty, apparently in their opinion requires their help to maintain His/Her/Its dignity &/or standards/laws. Surely if God is almighty, then God is perfectly willing & able to handle those who are less than respectful or law-abiding all by Him-/Her-/It-self? The hypocrisy, stupidity, & illogic of such behavior & ranting is truly stunning.
2 - Margaret Romao Toigo
Great article! I especially liked the section about the history of the X in Xmas.
3 - Nancy
Yes; valuable info, there. You'd think christians would at least have some little information concerning the history of their own religion.
4 - Mark Saleski
yup, the outrage on the supposed 'attack' on christmas is pretty funny.
heck, all you've got to see are the crazies making the human stampede for a danged $400 laptop...that's more than enough of an 'attack' for me.
5 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Nice job, Pete. I'm going to have to forward this to Jewish fiends here in Israel, who in a desperate attempt not to write Christ in any form, use the Greek letter abbreviation for it instead. I am just as Jewish as they are, but I do know the Greek alphabet. I want to see what they come up with.
6 - gonzo marx
time fer yer humble Narrator to burst the bubbles of some folks, and to give some of you gentle Readers a bit of a chuckle...
first...as far as i recall, Yeshua ben Miriam(Jesus the Christ), was born in the springtime...if memory serves March 23...i don't recall the actual date of the crucifixion....but the Fact is that his birth was in the spring...NOT Dec 25
the "celebration" of his birth was shifted to it's current date by the roman emperor Constantine for the EXACT purpose of usurping the pagan mid-winter Festival, the same way Easter(the date of the crucifixion) was shifted to coincide with the Spring Fertility festival
so, in Reality...Happy Hollidays is a much more factually accurate greeting than "merry xmas", since the winter date for this "birthday" celebration is arbitrary and incorrect according to the Bible itself...
soOOOooOOOooooo happity Holly-Daze to everybody!
mmMMmmMMmmmmMMmmmm turkey sandwiches
Excelsior!
7 - Howard
Gonzo, you sound so certain of your facts, I hesitate to point out the Bible says the crucifixion happened on the week of the passover which takes place about the time of the first full moon after March 15.
8 - gonzo marx
thanks Howard...as ya can see by looking closely..i did state that i wasn't certain as to the exact date of the crucifixion...
the birthday is another Story...as well as being the Point here
NEVER just "believe" me...or anyone else, fer that matter
look it up yerself, and know the Facts
cuz...
gnosis > dogma
Excelsior!
9 - Howard
Sure, Gonzo. I just wish atheists would allow us the right to cellibrate the birth of our Christ at some time during the year. Just in case you missed the point, consider the great music and art and literature resulting from our celebration. Let's see. Are atheists responsible for gangsta rap?