I am an athelst. I don't hate Christians; in fact the majority of the people I love, ARE Christians. I celebrate Christmas, as a time to see family who live too far away to see often; and as a celebration of the MAN whose name is atached to a beautiful philosophy of love, and mercy and forgiveness, and tolerance.
When I see my Christian friends, I wish them a merry Christmas, and many of them wish me the same. When I see my Jewish friends, I wish them a happy Chaunuka; and when I see my Pagan friends, I wish them a happy Yule, Solstice, Saturnalia, etc. I am not at all hostile to the word "Christmas".
However, when I see posts like this one; I imediately get angry. Because when RICK says "Merry Christmas", he isn't offering a sincere greeting, or wishing you a plesant day on December 25th. He is testing you, to see if you pass his Shiboleth. To see if you qualify for his politeness. What angers me about this is not that he wants people to keep Christ in Christmas. It is that he wants people to keep the NAME of Christ in it, while he completely disregards the philosophy of the man whose name he blasphems.
Can you imagine, in your wildest dreams, Jesus getting mad at someone for sincerely wishing him a happy holiday? I can't. The words "merry Christmas", convey kindness, and ...
When I see my Christian friends, I wish them a merry Christmas, and many of them wish me the same. When I see my Jewish friends, I wish them a happy Chaunuka; and when I see my Pagan friends, I wish them a happy Yule, Solstice, Saturnalia, etc. I am not at all hostile to the word "Christmas".
However, when I see posts like this one; I imediately get angry. Because when RICK says "Merry Christmas", he isn't offering a sincere greeting, or wishing you a plesant day on December 25th. He is testing you, to see if you pass his Shiboleth. To see if you qualify for his politeness. What angers me about this is not that he wants people to keep Christ in Christmas. It is that he wants people to keep the NAME of Christ in it, while he completely disregards the philosophy of the man whose name he blasphems.
Can you imagine, in your wildest dreams, Jesus getting mad at someone for sincerely wishing him a happy holiday? I can't. The words "merry Christmas", convey kindness, and ...
I am an athelst. I don't hate Christians; in fact the majority of the people I love, ARE Christians. I celebrate Christmas, as a time to see family who live too far away to see often; and as a celebration of the MAN whose name is atached to a beautiful philosophy of love, and mercy and forgiveness, and tolerance.
When I see my Christian friends, I wish them a merry Christmas, and many of them wish me the same. When I see my Jewish friends, I wish them a happy Chaunuka; and when I see my Pagan friends, I wish them a happy Yule, Solstice, Saturnalia, etc. I am not at all hostile to the word "Christmas".
However, when I see posts like this one; I imediately get angry. Because when RICK says "Merry Christmas", he isn't offering a sincere greeting, or wishing you a plesant day on December 25th. He is testing you, to see if you pass his Shiboleth. To see if you qualify for his politeness. What angers me about this is not that he wants people to keep Christ in Christmas. It is that he wants people to keep the NAME of Christ in it, while he completely disregards the philosophy of the man whose name he blasphems.
Can you imagine, in your wildest dreams, Jesus getting mad at someone for sincerely wishing him a happy holiday? I can't. The words "merry Christmas", convey kindness, and hope, and love. But when used like this, they are a slap in the face. People like Rick, are like the Pharesees of the New Testament; who shout their prayers to the heavens "Lord THANK you for making me so much better than this lowly tax collector!!!".
For you, Rick; Jesus isn't a teacher or an example of how to live. He is a status symbol. That that is incredibly sad. Because if you would follow the TEACHINGS of Jesus, rather than use his name to glorify yourself; maybe more of my fellow atheists, would have less hostility toward his name.
I leave you with the words of Ghandi
"I love your Christ. It is your Christians that I do not like. They are so unlike your Christ"
(more)When I see my Christian friends, I wish them a merry Christmas, and many of them wish me the same. When I see my Jewish friends, I wish them a happy Chaunuka; and when I see my Pagan friends, I wish them a happy Yule, Solstice, Saturnalia, etc. I am not at all hostile to the word "Christmas".
However, when I see posts like this one; I imediately get angry. Because when RICK says "Merry Christmas", he isn't offering a sincere greeting, or wishing you a plesant day on December 25th. He is testing you, to see if you pass his Shiboleth. To see if you qualify for his politeness. What angers me about this is not that he wants people to keep Christ in Christmas. It is that he wants people to keep the NAME of Christ in it, while he completely disregards the philosophy of the man whose name he blasphems.
Can you imagine, in your wildest dreams, Jesus getting mad at someone for sincerely wishing him a happy holiday? I can't. The words "merry Christmas", convey kindness, and hope, and love. But when used like this, they are a slap in the face. People like Rick, are like the Pharesees of the New Testament; who shout their prayers to the heavens "Lord THANK you for making me so much better than this lowly tax collector!!!".
For you, Rick; Jesus isn't a teacher or an example of how to live. He is a status symbol. That that is incredibly sad. Because if you would follow the TEACHINGS of Jesus, rather than use his name to glorify yourself; maybe more of my fellow atheists, would have less hostility toward his name.
I leave you with the words of Ghandi
"I love your Christ. It is your Christians that I do not like. They are so unlike your Christ"
Can you play pretend?
When I see my Christian friends, I wish them a merry Christmas, and many of them wish me the same. When I see my Jewish friends, I wish them a happy Chaunuka; and when I see my Pagan friends, I wish them a happy Yule, Solstice, Saturnalia, etc. I am not at all hostile to the word "Christmas".
However, when I see posts like this one; I imediately get angry. Because when RICK says "Merry Christmas", he isn't offering a sincere greeting, or wishing you a plesant day on December 25th. He is testing you, to see if you pass his Shiboleth. To see if you qualify for his politeness. What angers me about this is not that he wants people to keep Christ in Christmas. It is that he wants people to keep the NAME of Christ in it, while he completely disregards the philosophy of the man whose name he blasphems.
Can you imagine, in your wildest dreams, Jesus getting mad at someone for sincerely wishing him a happy holiday? I can't. The words "merry Christmas", convey kindness, and ...
When I see my Christian friends, I wish them a merry Christmas, and many of them wish me the same. When I see my Jewish friends, I wish them a happy Chaunuka; and when I see my Pagan friends, I wish them a happy Yule, Solstice, Saturnalia, etc. I am not at all hostile to the word "Christmas".
However, when I see posts like this one; I imediately get angry. Because when RICK says "Merry Christmas", he isn't offering a sincere greeting, or wishing you a plesant day on December 25th. He is testing you, to see if you pass his Shiboleth. To see if you qualify for his politeness. What angers me about this is not that he wants people to keep Christ in Christmas. It is that he wants people to keep the NAME of Christ in it, while he completely disregards the philosophy of the man whose name he blasphems.
Can you imagine, in your wildest dreams, Jesus getting mad at someone for sincerely wishing him a happy holiday? I can't. The words "merry Christmas", convey kindness, and hope, and love. But when used like this, they are a slap in the face. People like Rick, are like the Pharesees of the New Testament; who shout their prayers to the heavens "Lord THANK you for making me so much better than this lowly tax collector!!!".
For you, Rick; Jesus isn't a teacher or an example of how to live. He is a status symbol. That that is incredibly sad. Because if you would follow the TEACHINGS of Jesus, rather than use his name to glorify yourself; maybe more of my fellow atheists, would have less hostility toward his name.
I leave you with the words of Ghandi
"I love your Christ. It is your Christians that I do not like. They are so unlike your Christ"
This post is HIGHLY confrontational. And the words that spark that confrontation are not "your God is evil" or "all atheists are going to hell". It's the well-wishing greeting "Happy holidays". There is no way to spin the title of this post, in which it is not confrontational. He's telling those who do not agree with him to kiss his ass. Is that what Christmas is supposed to be about? Is that what your savior wanted? WWJD?
I'm a white pagan American, I don't have the need for a gun so I don't carry but I don't begrudge someone the right to carry. I say 'happy holidays' because there are more than one being celebrated - even by christians (ever hear of the 12 days of Christmas? Ephiphany? Advent? Yeah.) and I'm not so arrogant as to force my beliefs on others. I have a pagan 'Christmas tree' (where do you think it came from?) that originally was part of the Yule festivities (and Saturnalia, and others) so I call it a Yule Tree. Because that's what it is.
I don't care what you call things. I don't care what you say.
But you certainly don't have the spirit of the Christian 'Christmas' in your heart if you feel the need to be a beligrant jerk about all of this, like you're currently being. And like the lady at Walmart was acting when I said 'Happy Holidays' to her (I couldn't tell from her cart what she was celebrating, as it was empty at the time - she was coming into the store) and she snapped back in a very nasty tone 'Merry CHRISTMAS' at me.
Your greeting should be positive. You're supposed to be celebrating and remembering 'peace on earth and goodwill to all' ... so why are you being so damned nasty about things? Why not just roll with it, not l...
I'm a white pagan American, I don't have the need for a gun so I don't carry but I don't begrudge someone the right to carry. I say 'happy holidays' because there are more than one being celebrated - even by christians (ever hear of the 12 days of Christmas? Ephiphany? Advent? Yeah.) and I'm not so arrogant as to force my beliefs on others. I have a pagan 'Christmas tree' (where do you think it came from?) that originally was part of the Yule festivities (and Saturnalia, and others) so I call it a Yule Tree. Because that's what it is.
I don't care what you call things. I don't care what you say.
But you certainly don't have the spirit of the Christian 'Christmas' in your heart if you feel the need to be a beligrant jerk about all of this, like you're currently being. And like the lady at Walmart was acting when I said 'Happy Holidays' to her (I couldn't tell from her cart what she was celebrating, as it was empty at the time - she was coming into the store) and she snapped back in a very nasty tone 'Merry CHRISTMAS' at me.
Your greeting should be positive. You're supposed to be celebrating and remembering 'peace on earth and goodwill to all' ... so why are you being so damned nasty about things? Why not just roll with it, not let it bother you, celebrate as you want to and let others celebrate as they want to?
It's not "PC" to be considerate of others. It's just called 'not being a dick'.
So I am not alone in my ranting.
"Why not just roll with it,..."
If I just rolled with it, I'd be a friggen sheeple like the rest of you...
Neither do we.
You could have let it go.
By the way - I'm not a liberal. Just a moderate that actually has the sense to care about others in a season geared toward... *gasp* ... caring about others. Wow. Shocking, huh?
And you didn't get over your own issues, with liberals, the season, or whatever you want to call it.
Why should you feel you have the right to ask me to get over my issues with people who act like scrooges during this time of the year, when you can't get past your own? Hypocrite much?