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Synnen · Dec 21, 2007, 09:53 AM

Soldout--I hate to point this out to you, because you're on such a roll--

It's not NON-Christians that object to the phrase "Happy Holidays". Most of us don't care if you wish us "Happy Peanut Butter And Jelly Left In the Cupboard Day".

It's CHRISTIANS that object to the use of "Happy Holidays".

Most non-Christians also don't care about the lights, trees, etc. We just don't want any idiocy BACK about our traditions.

I'm not asking you to suppress your religion, you know. I'm asking you not to suppress MINE.

The reason store clerks say "Happy Holidays" is because it's a way to acknowledge ALL of the holidays in the season. The only people that get mad about that are Christians, generally. They want everyone to say "Merry Christmas".

Now--if I were a store clerk, and went according to MY beliefs, and wished everyone a great Solstice--how many people would that offend?

I think anyone should be able to wish another person a happy whatever-their-personal-holiday-is. I don't want to suppress ANY religion.

BUT--I'm ALSO not going to sit and take it if my boss instructs me to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, because I personally don't believe it.

Soldout · Dec 21, 2007, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Synnen

Soldout--I hate to point this out to you, because you're on such a roll--

It's not NON-Christians that object to the phrase "Happy Holidays". Most of us don't care if you wish us "Happy Peanut Butter And Jelly Left In the Cupboard Day".

It's CHRISTIANS that object to the use of "Happy Holidays".

Most non-Christians also don't care about the lights, trees, etc. We just don't want any idiocy BACK about our traditions.

I'm not asking you to suppress your religion, you know. I'm asking you not to suppress MINE.

The reason store clerks say "Happy Holidays" is because it's a way to acknowledge ALL of the holidays in the season. The only people that get mad about that are Christians, generally. They want everyone to say "Merry Christmas".

Now--if I were a store clerk, and went according to MY beliefs, and wished everyone a great Solstice--how many people would that offend?

I think anyone should be able to wish another person a happy whatever-their-personal-holiday-is. I don't want to suppress ANY religion.

BUT--I'm ALSO not going to sit and take it if my boss instructs me to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, because I personally don't believe it.

No one wants to suppress your pagon religion but if your religion consists of 0.0000000000001% of the american population don't expect your religion to have as much prominence as one that consists of almost 80% of the Population. December for centuaries has always been recognised in Europe, US and over 60% of the countries in the world as a time to celebrate Christmas. When muslims celebrate Ramadan I don't go around harassing them to include my religion and not suppress it. So why is that when Christians have their holiday every little religion needs to all of sudden be recognised? & for an FYI the reason December 25 is a National holiday in countries all over the world its not because of your pagon moon god I can tell you that... lol

Synnen · Dec 21, 2007, 10:41 AM

Your religion chose December 25th to coincide with Saturnalia--back when Christians were 0.0000000001% of the population.

I'm NOT trying to suppress your religion. I'm just trying to point out that people say "Happy Holidays" because MANY religions have holidays in December. Hate to point this out to you, but Hannukah was around before Christmas, too :P

In December you have: Hannukah (Judaism); Bodhi Day (Buddhism); Eid al-adha (Islamic); Christmas (Christian); Solstice/Saturnalia/Yule (Pagan); Kwanzaa (African-American).

I don't know about you, but I count SIX holidays in that list. And "every little religion"? Yeah--because Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam are "little religions".

I don't need to be recognized, either. Is your God as close-minded as you are? I just need to not be suppressed. Religious freedom in America means ALL religions. I don't stop you from stealing my religions traditions and believing them to be your own--and I expect the same from you.

Soldout · Dec 21, 2007, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Synnen

Your religion chose December 25th to coincide with Saturnalia--back when Christians were 0.0000000001% of the population.

I'm NOT trying to suppress your religion. I'm just trying to point out that people say "Happy Holidays" because MANY religions have holidays in December. Hate to point this out to you, but Hannukah was around before Christmas, too :P

In December you have: Hannukah (Judaism); Bodhi Day (Buddhism); Eid al-adha (Islamic); Christmas (Christian); Solstice/Saturnalia/Yule (Pagan); Kwanzaa (African-American).

I don't know about you, but I count SIX holidays in that list. And "every little religion"? Yeah--because Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam are "little religions".

I don't need to be recognized, either. Is your God as close-minded as you are? I just need to not be suppressed. Religious freedom in America means ALL religions. I don't stop you from stealing my religions traditions and believing them to be your own--and I expect the same from you.

Okey... all those Holidays are wonderful and are free to celebrate but they obviously don't receive the same recognision as Christmas because those religions represent fractions of a percentage of the population and most of them are not part of the Unites State's historic herritage that has always recognised Christmas, maybe you should be asking yourself why December 25 Christmas Day is National Holiday and those other ones are not.

Soldout · Dec 21, 2007, 11:54 AM

Aton3 disagrees: The 'traditions' you mention have NOTHING to do with any Saviour!

Lol.. you must be slow or you just don't know any history

ordinaryguy · Dec 21, 2007, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Soldout

So i think non-christians need to make up their minds. If they want to part take in our Christmas traditions, trees stanta etc, they are free to do so but they should not have double standard and demand that we call it happy holiday because it is just a holiday, its Christmas.
.......

okey... all those Holidays are wonderful and are free to celebrate but they obviously dont recieve the same recognision as Christmas because those religions represent fractions of a percentage of the population

Here's what your position amounts to, as I read it:

"There's more of US than of THEM, so THEY should greet EVERYBODY with best wishes for OUR holiday. If they don't, it shows that they're Anti-Christian"

Pathetic.

Originally Posted by Synnen

Is your God as close-minded as you are?

Must be.

magprob · Dec 21, 2007, 01:54 PM

Yes, Christmas is an evil holiday. I will as usual dress up in my Satan costume, light my dry pine tree on fire and dance around it with wreckless abandon. After the death dance has been completed, we will have a wild drunkin orgy and finish up by drinking the blood of a virgin.
We will then settle in the parlor where we will exchange gifts with our evil loved ones. I just love this time of year.

Soldout · Dec 21, 2007, 02:24 PM

[QUOTE=ordinaryguy]Here's what your position amounts to, as I read it:

[QUOTE]"There's more of US than of THEM, so THEY should greet EVERYBODY with best wishes for OUR holiday. If they don't, it shows that they're Anti-Christian"Pathetic[/Q.UOTE]

Bingo, they already have Christmas decorations, Christmas Music playing, Santa etc in public places and the a day off, so what's big deal? Welcome to America, after all the National Holiday is on Decemeber 25th Christmas day and that is the holiday that is and always has been "nationaly" recognised even by taking the day off in this country. So like I said before, if it makes you mad that Christmas gets more recognision then you can move to a country that doesn't recognise Christmas. The are plenty of countries that don't in the middle east and Asia.

Must be

Yes, call Him closed minded if you want, but He happens to say He is the one and Only God who created the Universe.

jillianleab · Dec 21, 2007, 05:52 PM

Maybe I'm alone here, but I think that if after 17 pages and 168 posts someone doesn't "get it"; perhaps we should stop trying to explain it... It apparently does no good, and I don't want to get a hand cramp trying to explain it all over again.

fallen2grace · Dec 21, 2007, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by Soldout

It should just be Merry Christmas because ALL of these stores have Christmas lights, Trees, Santa etc so if they really want to be "inclusive" of all religions they should not display Christmas lights, play Christmas music e.t.c Because that means the store is sending a message that they do support Christmas anyway. so Why not say Merry Christamas.

Heh! I just saw a Vacum commertial that had a santa. And he said Happy Holidays. I laughed.

Actually, This year hasn't been so bad. I found that a lot of stores say Merry Christmas. Actually all the one's I've been too haven't said it. Except the Disny Store. But usually they just say have a nice day.

fallen2grace · Dec 21, 2007, 08:18 PM

You want Christ back in Christmas? Then by all means wish people a Merry Christmas. Just don't get mad when they wish YOU happy holidays because they aren't Christians.

Actually, When I say Merry Christmas They wish me it back.

fallen2grace · Dec 21, 2007, 08:32 PM

Synnen disagrees: But you WILL find items--like lights, and gifts and wreaths and candles and mistletoe and holly that cater to the PAGAN community. It was OUR holiday first, and they STILL push the Saturnalia aspects, only they call it Christmas now.

So What your saying is, Christmas was the pagan's holiday first?

sGt HarDKorE · Dec 21, 2007, 09:59 PM

I think it depends where you live too, I never hear happy holidays and everyone at stores and places are really reallly really nice x5. Idk people just seem happier and stuff, maybe it was the large amount of snow that adds that effect, but w/e it is, my teachers still say christmas break and so do I and everyone I know. Ive never heard of Holiday Break

Synnen · Dec 21, 2007, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by fallen2grace

So What your saying is, Christmas was the pagan's holiday first?

Christmas' pagan origins

Considering that Pagan traditions, especially those of the Romans, Celts, and Egyptians, were in place well before 1 AD, I would say that Pagan traditions existed first, and were adopted into Christian religions.

Of COURSE, this is debated. EVERYTHING having to do with Christianity is debated CONSTANTLY (or at least it seems that way to me).

Either way--Saturnalia, Yule, and Sol Invictus were around long before Christianity was, and have many of the same traditions--candles, gifts, and evergreen trees being some of the major ones.

Christians can't even agree on when Christ's birthday WAS. So--why NOT pick a day and traditions that would make it easy to convert people?

rpg219 · Dec 22, 2007, 12:30 AM

Merry or Happy whatever you have... why can't we just leave it at that? Happy Holidays is just as nice (if you are christian) and if you aren't, then it covers you too. I just don't agree with Santa saying hahaha.

BTW: Happy PB&J in Your Pantry Day, Synnen (because around this time of year... that's all we have money left for, heehee)... just kidding... have a happy solstice (did I spell that right?)... or would it be Merry Solstice?? Whichever, live it up to the fullest of your ability. And may everyone wish me a merry christmas :)

Aton3 · Dec 22, 2007, 10:59 AM

Lets all sing:
"Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, Dear Mithra,
Happy Birthday to you."

fallen2grace · Dec 22, 2007, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Aton3

Lets all sing:
"Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, Dear Mithra,
Happy Birthday to you."

Who?

ordinaryguy · Dec 22, 2007, 04:34 PM

I'm unsubscribing from this thread now. Happy Festivus, everybody!

NeedKarma · Dec 22, 2007, 05:26 PM

Happy Festivus!
The pole looks great. Let the arm wrestling begin!

Aton3 · Dec 22, 2007, 06:42 PM

Tj3:
I don't worship everyone whom I wish a happy Birthday. Mithra was born of a virgin, on December 25, had 12 followers, one for each house in the Zodiac , institued a Eucharist to be celebrated in his memory, died and was resurrected. If that is not the myth from which Paul extrated his Christ, then the moon is made of green cheese. No one knows when Jesus was born (unless you have found a record of his birth certificate)... could be anywhere (using YOUR scripture as a reference) from 6 b.c.e. to 4 c.e. HIS birthday is one more steal from pagan origins. Worship whom ever you will, but at least KNOW who it is you worship!