| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Uncle Clover" |
| Date: |
11 Dec 2006 07:22:06 PM |
| Object: |
Businesses that cater to Christian versions of the season |
I don't know how much of an issue this is beyond the borders of the U.S.
- if it is any issue at all - but here in the states we have a few rather vocal
people on all sides of the issue decrying each other for their stance.
Some people think businesses should avoid using religion-specific words
such as "Christmas" to describe the holiday which for many is anything but
Christian. Some people think those who think that should shut up and enjoy the
holiday.
I don't know what I think. I mean it's not "Christmas" to me, I'm not a
Christian, but I really don't care that for most people in the U.S., it -is-
Christmas and I really am not offended or bothered by businesses who cater to
this fact. I would be bothered if they tried to stifle or stymie others who
observe non-Christian versions of the holiday season, but most of them simply
ignore such non-Christian traditions, and I don't see that as an act of
"oppression" or anything to be "offended" over. I think more conscientious
businesses will go out of their way to be more inclusive to those non-Christian
traditions which occur around the same time, but if a business doesn't go out of
its way to do that, I really can't fault it too much given that the U.S. is
indeed an overwhelmingly Christian culture. As for those who celebrate no
holiday, I think that as long as their demands are being met as much during the
holiday season as during any other, that's all that should matter to them. I
don't think any of them ("them" including myself) should be upset that some
businesses promote religious holidays so long as those who don't share in them
are not made to suffer a shortage of service because of it. I don't see that
many non-religious who really -are- seriously offended by such displays, but I
hear about them enough on boards such as this, and so I assume they must exist
somewhere and are making themselves heard. The offense for most who -get-
offended by religious sentiment at this time of year tends to come in whenever
representatives of the government try to promote the Christian version of the
holiday to the deliberate exclusion of others (whether explicit or implied).
That's not as common as it once was, but it does happen and it frosts my
biscuits as much as it does any other non-Christian. I also think it's just as
wrong to single out any other religion for preferential treatment in such a way,
not just Christianity.
I dunno. Is there as much of a ruckus as some folks would have us believe? Am
I not as upset about it as I should be? You tell me. I hear -some- folks
speaking up on the various issues, but I don't hear all that -many- of them. If
that's the case, then who's making the most noise, and why are they doing it?
Makes one wonder. Just a few thoughts, I'm curious what y'all think on the
matter. :-?
--
L8r,
Uncle Clover
************************************************************
"In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first
create the universe."
- Carl Sagan, "Cosmos"
************************************************************
Artificial intelligence is no match for genuine stupidity...
************************************************************
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Businesses that cater to Christian versions of the season |
12 Dec 2006 11:59:35 AM |
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"Uncle Clover" <UncleClover@SpamMeNot.com> wrote in message
news:f90sn2lqnodan8dmk5dfjtahivvhc45ror@4ax.com...
I don't know how much of an issue this is beyond the borders of the U.S.
- if it is any issue at all - but here in the states we have a few rather
vocal
people on all sides of the issue decrying each other for their stance.
Some people think businesses should avoid using religion-specific words
such as "Christmas" to describe the holiday which for many is anything but
Christian. Some people think those who think that should shut up and
enjoy the
holiday.
I personally prefer "Happy Holidays" over "Merry Christmas" as I have a lot
of friends that don't celebrate Christmas, but it's really not a big deal to
me either way. What I can't stand is the bitching about it all, fighting
over nativity scenes & mennorahs, the "Keep CHRIST in Christmas" signs, etc.
Can't everyone just enjoy themselves and knock off the fighting for just a
little while? That would make me happy, anyway :(
--
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
I think religion is so popular because even the village idiot can feel like
Einstein without any effort. - Denis Loubet
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Businesses that cater to Christian versions of the season |
11 Dec 2006 11:33:00 PM |
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I honestly don't understand this mess any better than you do, probably.
I'm what's known as a third culture kid, someone who grew up in several
countries and incorporates several cultures on a deep level, and
Christmas to me is more like a cultural festival than a religious
holiday. I currently live in the US, but I've spent most of my
Christmases in Europe. I'm starting to feel a little excluded from
Christmas here because of all these people insisting it's a Christian
holiday. I'm not used to having so many religious Christmas cards or
nativity scenes. I just wish people here could let it be. Fighting
about a holiday that's supposed to be about peace and helping those who
are less fortunate doesn't really benefit from fighting. I don't
understand why those who are religious can't celebrate religiously in
private, so that all of us can celebrate together. Personally, however,
I am unwilling to add to the fighting - I can't chastize those making
noise if I join the fray. But then again, I'm not your typical
American. I just don't want to be told that I can't celebrate Christmas
because I'm not Christian - it's certainly my tradition too, and I've
lived in secular countries where very few people are religious where
you see far more Christmas decorations around!
It does make me mad sometimes, even though I try not to be mad. I've
never encountered this fight over Christmas in Europe, perhaps because
those societies are more secular overall. Perhaps it reflects the
peculiarity of American culture to segregate opinions into black and
white poles. They fight over a lot of things (the "culture wars") - I
guess Christmas doesn't qualify to be an exception. I'm assuming the
dynamics of the Christmas fight are similar to other such fights, like
abortion. Numbers of supporters are hard to find out, since the amount
of noise they make isn't proportional to their numbers, but most people
probably are moderates, whether it shows in polls or not.
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| User: "Al Klein" |
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| Title: Re: Businesses that cater to Christian versions of the season |
12 Dec 2006 11:31:12 AM |
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On 11 Dec 2006 21:33:00 -0800, wrote:
I'm assuming the
dynamics of the Christmas fight are similar to other such fights, like
abortion.
It's not similar, it's the same fight - whether Christians can be
allowed to turn the country into a theocracy.
--
rukbat at optonline dot net
"My position concerning God is that of an agnostic. I am convinced that a vivid
consciousness of the primary importance of moral principles for the betterment and
ennoblement of life does not need the idea of a law-giver, especially a law-giver who
works on the basis of reward and punishment. "
- Letter to M. Berkowitz, October 25, 1950; Einstein Archive 59-215
(random sig, produced by SigChanger)
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