Countdown to Christmas

     

Go Back   Merry Forums of My Merry Christmas > Christmas Today > Christmas Controversy & Opinion
Reload this Page Is it right to take religious connection out of Christmas?
Register Forum RulesAll AlbumsBlogs FAQDonate Calendar Mark Forums Read Experience

Notices

Christmas Controversy & Opinion Visit Defend Christmas.com Presented by Defend Christmas, this forum covers the difficult topics of the season -- from the famed and fabled War on Christmas to church and state debates to using the star or the angel on the Christmas tree. Modern Christmas celebration has it's complications -- schools are divided, some Christmas light displays are too much, some even argue that it is better to call it a "holiday" tree. Some merchants won't even say "Merry Christmas"! Where there is controversy, there is insanity. Even in Christmas.

Reply
Page 1 of 7 1 23 Last »
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-18-2006, 11:12 AM
lpstong lpstong is offline
Merry Forums Mistletoe Hanger
  
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Californai
Posts: 37
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
lpstong is a new face around here!
Is it right to take religious connection out of Christmas?
I know during the 2005 Christmas Season that many businesses had stopped saying Merry Christmas or totally took the whole idea out of their biggest sale of the year. Where they say Happy Holidays.

Or many malls that stopped having Santa Clause.

Or that many businesses had sent memo's out encouraging their co-workers to say "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas.

And for several years school districts call it winter break instead of Christmas break.

Or on at the White House the Christmas tree was called the Holiday Tree.

I just find this incrediable. They celebrate a christian holiday, yet take all the religious connotation out of it. Better yet the great profit they make off of a religious holiday. Or the time off that school districts get because of a religious holiday. What a oxymoron to say the least.
__________________
For every breath you inhale, remember to exhale.
Reply With Quote
  
  #2  
Old 07-18-2006, 12:08 PM
sheepsnot sheepsnot is offline
On the Naughty List
  
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 0
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
sheepsnot is a new face around here!
Note: My comment here was in response to a post which has since been removed. Please don't think I have lost my mind. Again. If LP was talking about simply including "Happy Holidays" along with "Merry Christmas," etc., you'd be right, but he is talking about a concerted effort to remove Merry Christmas because of the reference to Jesus Christ. If we are really a tolerant nation, why not tolerate Christian greetings rather than legislate against them in favor of nice, but non-religious, ones?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-18-2006, 08:50 PM
Jeff Westover's Avatar
Jeff Westover Jeff Westover is offline
Editor of My Merry Christmas, Chief Bottle Washer of the Merry Forums

Merry Forums Executive Elf at Your Service
  
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 6,437
Blog Entries: 21
Thanks: 95
Thanked 1,117 Times in 480 Posts
Jeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the tree
I personally think the whole "Happy Holidays" thing was a bunch of media hogwash. Oh, sure. I work retail and my company talked about it too. You know what happened? The folks working for us got a little peeved and said Merry Christmas! more than they would have.

My experience out and about with it was that if you heard "Happy Holidays" that got people mad so they didn't say it.

Jeff
__________________
Please visit my
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
or any of our Christmas sites:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Please visit our other Christmas forums at
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-09-2006, 07:51 AM
dowload dowload is offline
Merry Forums Mistletoe Hanger
  
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Medway,Maine
Posts: 53
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
dowload is a new face around here!
I always thought they said happy holidays because of not just Christmas but there's Hanukah and New Years so I just thought they said happy holidays cause it's easier than saying Merry Christmas Happy Hanukah and Happy New Year.
__________________
Dan "The Man" Jandreau
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-12-2006, 12:44 AM
Andrex's Avatar
Andrex Andrex is offline
Merry Forums Mistletoe Hanger
  
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 63
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Andrex has shown a merry dispositionAndrex has shown a merry dispositionAndrex has shown a merry dispositionAndrex has shown a merry disposition
Just like the profiteerers whose tables were overturned by Jesus, they'll get theirs.
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Christmas-time in Connecticut... does it get any better?
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-12-2006, 08:16 AM
sheepsnot sheepsnot is offline
On the Naughty List
  
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 0
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
sheepsnot is a new face around here!
Well, dowload, you're right for the most part. There's a very popular Christmas song called Happy Holidays from waaaaay back when people did say it to capture the whole season, so there certainly is nothing wrong with saying it for that purpose. When you decide it is the only right way to express holiday greetings and any saying that reflects religious heritage is unacceptable, that's when it becomes ridiculous. Saying Jesus Christ is perfectly acceptable, but screaming it when you hit your thumb with a hammer is not. It just depends on what you mean. 8)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-12-2006, 05:19 PM
Jeff Westover's Avatar
Jeff Westover Jeff Westover is offline
Editor of My Merry Christmas, Chief Bottle Washer of the Merry Forums

Merry Forums Executive Elf at Your Service
  
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 6,437
Blog Entries: 21
Thanks: 95
Thanked 1,117 Times in 480 Posts
Jeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the tree
Quote:
It just depends on what you mean.
Ah, that's the rub.

I commissioned a reaserch firm to conduct a survey for a project we're working on and it asked this simple question:

Is Christmas sacred or secular?

The results were most interesting. While we say "Merry Christmas" and may mean it one way the chances of it being perceived another way are extremely high.

As a society, we define Christmas so differently that we're bound to have the kinds of conflicts we see publicized each holiday season.

It kind of reminds me of the scene in "My Cousin Vinny" when the defendant kept exclaiming "I shot the clerk?"

What we say and what they think we're saying are often two different things. Too bad that has to happen with Christmas.

Jeff
__________________
Please visit my
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
or any of our Christmas sites:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Please visit our other Christmas forums at
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-13-2006, 01:19 PM
sheepsnot sheepsnot is offline
On the Naughty List
  
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 0
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
sheepsnot is a new face around here!
When I say Merry Christmas to someone I don't even take into account their belief system (Someone's gonna copy that and burn me for it!) because I'm just wishing them a happy holiday season. If I know the beliefs of someone and I know they wouldn't appreciate it, I adjust accordingly. My neighbors are Hindu. I'd use a more generic expression with them, but they are so kind and understanding, they wouldn't be offended anyway. I guess what I am saying is that I don't mind at all people using a non-religious expression of well-wishing. I just wish they wouldn't demand that I do the same. And now, like Clinton after the "Don't ask, don't tell" fiasco, I'm all out of ideas. 8)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-13-2006, 06:58 PM
Jeff Westover's Avatar
Jeff Westover Jeff Westover is offline
Editor of My Merry Christmas, Chief Bottle Washer of the Merry Forums

Merry Forums Executive Elf at Your Service
  
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 6,437
Blog Entries: 21
Thanks: 95
Thanked 1,117 Times in 480 Posts
Jeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the treeJeff Westover you could wrap up and put under the tree
I find a real brotherhood with those not of my faith. Don't know why that is, and that is not to say I don't have friends who are of my faith. But ultimately I'm interested in religion and I want to understand why folks believe the way they do. I learn alot from them and about myself in the process. So I try very hard NOT to be offended when someone says something contrary to my own way of thinking. I don't know a lot of people like that but when I find them, I cherish them. And one of the reasons I do is because I can say "Merry Christmas" to them and they understand where I am coming from and why.

Jeff
__________________
Please visit my
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
or any of our Christmas sites:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Please visit our other Christmas forums at
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-23-2006, 10:39 AM
mrshfromjersey mrshfromjersey is offline
Santa Clausologist
  
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Port Charlotte, FL
Posts: 978
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
mrshfromjersey has shown a merry dispositionmrshfromjersey has shown a merry disposition
Merry Christmas
I say Merry Christmas to people. If I know that the person is Jewish, I say Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah. I wish all people would just get along. It's the differences that make us all special. Saying Happy Holidays just takes what makes us all special and turns everyone into generic cookie cutter people. Isn't that what communism was all about - everyone the same?
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 7 1 23 Last »

Bookmarks

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump





        My Merry Christmas on Facebook     My Merry Christmas on Twitter     Help Load Santa's Sleigh

Christmas Decorations     Letters from Santa     Kids Ornaments    

© 1991- - All Rights Reserved -
Merry Network LLC (877)Net-Xmas


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:54 PM.

My Merry Christmas RSS Feeds - Contact Us - My Merry Christmas - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright 1991-2010 Merry Network LLC ~ (877)Net-Xmas