Christians attempt to silence non-religious messages at Christmas

[sky dancer]

No it fucking ****...I mean can't. That tree is only used for Christmas. It is a Christmas Tree. Find your own fucking symbols.

How jolly of you. Merry Christmas. Peace on earth. Goodwill to all.

BTW Hanukah is a minor Jewish holiday, but it is one that is meaningful to Jews. It's a way for Jews to maintain their ethnic and religious identity.

Many Jews do service during the Christmas season, and have incorporated this tradition in their own families and spiritual communities.

I don't know what your definition of jolly is but having a light heart and offering kind wishes and service to others at this time seems quite merry.

 

[FistyTheBadger]

How jolly of you. Merry Christmas. Peace on earth. Goodwill to all.

BTW Hanukah is a minor Jewish holiday, but it is one that is meaningful to Jews. It's a way for Jews to maintain their ethnic and religious identity.

Many Jews do service during the Christmas season, and have incorporated this tradition in their own families and spiritual communities.

I don't know what your definition of jolly is but having a light heart and offering kind wishes and service to others at this time seems quite merry.

Most of Hannukah's traditions that would make it a jolly holiday have become so because of Christmas and the competition required to retain membership.

 

[Frolicking Dino]

No it fucking ****...I mean can't. That tree is only used for Christmas. It is a Christmas Tree. Find your own fucking symbols.

Sorry, but you are totally wrong that the use of trees, candles and greenery to celebrate December 25th is original to Christians. While current Christians have no clue where these traditions originated, I have to wonder WTF those who originally brought the pagan rituals into the Christian celebration were thinking.
Source (about half way down page)

CHRISTMAS TREE TRADITION HAS ANCIENT ORIGINS

King Tut never saw a Christmas tree, but he would have understood the tradition which traces back long before the first Christmas, says David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture with the Springfield Extension Center.

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The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and worshipped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrive, they brought green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize life's triumph over death.

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The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a fest called Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts. They gave coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one's journey through life.

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Centuries ago in Great Britain, woods priests called Druids used evergreens during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and place evergreen branches over doors to keep away evil spirits.

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Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early traditions.

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Legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. One crisp Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group of small evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors so he could share this story with his children. He decorated it with candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ's birth.

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The Christmas tree tradition most likely came to the United States with Hessian troops during the American Revolution, or with German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Ohio, adds Robson.

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But the custom spread slowly. The Puritans banned Christmas in New England. Even as late as 1851, a Cleveland minister nearly lost his job because he allowed a tree in his church. Schools in Boston stayed open on Christmas Day through 1870, and sometimes expelled students who stayed home.

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The Christmas tree market was born in 1851 when Catskill farmer Mark Carr hauled two ox sleds of evergreens into New York City and sold them all. By 1900, one in five American families had a Christmas tree, and 20 years later, the custom was nearly universal.​

 

[FistyTheBadger]

Sorry, but you are totally wrong that the use of trees, candles and greenery to celebrate December 25th is original to Christians. While current Christians have no clue where these traditions originated, I have to wonder WTF those who originally brought the pagan rituals into the Christian celebration were thinking.
Source (about half way down page)

You know, I did. Ancient origins are just a subject for bifurcations.

 

[sky dancer]

Most of Hannukah's traditions that would make it a jolly holiday have become so because of Christmas and the competition required to retain membership.

So what? Why not extend some wishes for happiness to Jews, pagans and atheists along with Christmas celebrating Christians?

We all want the same things as human beings. We want to be happy and we want to avoid suffering.

 

[FistyTheBadger]

So what? Why not extend some wishes for happiness to Jews, pagans and atheists along with Christmas celebrating Christians?

We all want the same things as human beings. We want to be happy and we want to avoid suffering.

What an unreasoned, unthinking, bullshit response.

 

[YWN666]

Originally Posted by YWN666
What about Hannukah or the other religious holidays in December?

Hanukkah is not the reason December is jolly.

Says who?

 

[jillian]

Hanukkah is not the reason December is jolly.

It is to people who celebrate Chanukkah.

 

[sky dancer]

What an unreasoned, unthinking, bullshit response.

What a grouchy fellow you are. My question is quite reasoned. Why not extend merriness and cheer to all human beings at this time?

Tis the season to be jolly.

 

[sky dancer]

It is to people who celebrate Chanukkah.

Why is Chanukkah spelled in these different ways? I get mixed up. I'm assuming that the way you spell it is the way its supposed to be spelled.

 

[Father Time]

I can't wait to see you at the next "Christians are intolerant bigots because they don't embrace homosexuality" weenie roast.

No thanks, I don't believe stupid blanket statements like that one.

 

[FistyTheBadger]

It is to people who celebrate Chanukkah.

The reason Chanukkah is jolly is Christmas.

 

[FistyTheBadger]

Why is Chanukkah spelled in these different ways? I get mixed up. I'm assuming that the way you spell it is the way its supposed to be spelled.

The initial phoneme is hard to morpheme with English letters, so there are various approximations and code sounds. The "n" can be single or double because the pronunciation does not hint at the exact translitteration. The "k" can also be single or double for the same reason. Then the final "h" as a final breath is optional.

 

[YWN666]

The reason Chanukkah is jolly is Christmas.

The reason Christmas is jolly is Channukah and spiked egg nog.

 

[sky dancer]

The initial phoneme is hard to morpheme with English letters, so there are various approximations and code sounds. The "n" can be single or double because the pronunciation does not hint at the exact translitteration. The "k" can also be single or double for the same reason. Then the final "h" as a final breath is optional.

Thank you. Excellent answer. The same thing happens when Tibetan is transliterated into english. The english spellings vary.

 

[Amanda]

No thanks, I don't believe stupid blanket statements like that one.

I guess we'll see soon enough, it comes up ALL the time.

 

[AllieBaba]

Please point to the HUGE numbers of atheists intimidating Christians. How many atheists are there in the US? How many Christians? How are atheists organized? How are Christians organized?

Where in America can Christmas celebrations and greetings not be found?

Can an atheist be elected as President of the United States in this day and age?

Do atheists have the right to free speech?

Of course atheists have a right to free speech. They don't have the right to intimidate or silence Christians. Which is what they are attempting to do when they claim that it's "hate speech" for Christians to talk about their faith, but it's "freedom of speech" for Atheists to put ugly signs next to Christian displays.

 

[Father Time]

I guess we'll see soon enough, it comes up ALL the time.

It seems as though on this site debates on homosexuality generally devolve into shouting fests and if not debates that will never end (see sig). So I doubt I'll bother. Although it doesn't take much to know that blanket statements like 'Christians are intolerant' are pretty much never true.

 

[Frolicking Dino]

Personally, I believe the religious celebrations and symbols - things like manger scenes, Wiccan symbols, pagan symbols, etc - should be restricted to non-public venues like homes, churches / places of religious practice, private businesses, private property. Publicly owned businesses and government entities should stick to non-religious holiday symbols like bells, candles, trees, holly, etc. when decorating for the holiday season. This practice would solve most of the issues that come up every year during this season.

 

[AllieBaba]

I think it's ridiculous. THe separation of church and state consists only of a guarantee that the state will not impose a religion upon citizens, or punish those who don't adhere to the state religion.

It was never meant to keep people from referring to religion, to deny the existence of God or to eliminate religion from community gathering places. It is simply there to ensure the state cannot punish you for denouncing Christianity or refusing to become a Catholic or Muslim or whatever.