Happy Chri-HOLIDAYS!

[emeraldslay]

First of all...have I missed something? Since when did Santa Claus become a real person?

Now, onto the main issue. It seems that in an attempt to not offend the minority we are pushing the majority to one side. Shouldn't we think of the majority here? (And shut up master blaze, we all know you're deeply offended at everything) In an attempt to be politically correct we are offending the majority and telling them not to celebrate a religous festival, which would of course be absolutely unthinkable if it was divali or some other festival like that. And now we've got the stupid darn ATHEISTS laughing at us. ATHEISTS! Those darn creatures whose ancestors cralwed out the sea, took to the trees, then invented the computer!

Oh, i'm just angry now...

 

[Chairman Kaga]

Big companies don't want to offend the Jews, because they don't see christ as the savior and Hannukah is on the same day as Christmas this year. I no longer believe they are doing this just because of athiests.

Unfortunately, big companies couldn't care less about Judaism; corporately speaking they're a marginal amount of the population and big companies are always targeting the most massive consumer demographics, mainly Christians and people who don't identify with organized religion, and CEOs are coerced by diversity specialists and paranoid law firms into getting rid of Christmas from their advertisements in fear of a lawsuit from a rogue Christian-hater who knows their way around the law and smells money because of the current lawsuit-friendly and religion-unfriendly state of US circuit courts.

Seeing as how America is so incredibly anti-semitic, It's surprising that Jews haven't come under attack for Hanukkah. Politicians tend to lump Christians and Jews together when they're trying to demonize religion; but I'm glad that they haven't been targeted, they suffer enough as it is.

If I knew more about Hanukkah, I would celebrate it; Judaism is the basis of Christianity, so basically any parts of the holiday that don't conflict with our beliefs are fine (same for Passover, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashona, etc.)

[highlight]And, everyone, no flaming anyone's religion or lack thereof; it's not civilized and it weakens your argument in their eyes. There's a difference between Political Correctness and common courtesy.[/highlight]

 

[Blaze]

First of all...have I missed something? Since when did Santa Claus become a real person?

Now, onto the main issue. It seems that in an attempt to not offend the minority we are pushing the majority to one side. Shouldn't we think of the majority here? (And shut up master blaze, we all know you're deeply offended at everything) In an attempt to be politically correct we are offending the majority and telling them not to celebrate a religous festival, which would of course be absolutely unthinkable if it was divali or some other festival like that. And now we've got the stupid darn ATHEISTS laughing at us. ATHEISTS! Those darn creatures whose ancestors cralwed out the sea, took to the trees, then invented the computer!

Oh, i'm just angry now...

*Sighs* I am not offended by everything, I clearly stated it has to do with offending my religious beliefs. That is why they say, you will *never* win a war when it has to do with ones faith or where they come from.

I hate how people attack Judiasm, people must realize attacking them is attack the Christian faith aswell (we are founded by their teachings *Old Testament*).

I am sick and tired of hearing people who do not like Jews using the "He killed our lord" card. We all make mistakes we are all human, and I am sure if Jesus didn't come back than and came in our lifetime instead we would do the same thing.

I despise people attack people's beliefs. Either way we are all going to heaven as long as we are good people and believe in a higher being (and for Atheists we just die, I don't want to offend you guys thinking I am some guy who says that if you don't read the Bible you are going to heck *doesn't read the Bible often himself*).

I think that Buddah, Allah, Jehovah are just forms of God that came to a different group of people. I believe he is the same guy, just different local names for him.

 

[Chiru]

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS.

I have every right to say "Merry Christmas" if I want to. If somebody else doesn't like it, screw them - they can just walk away. They don't have to deal with me. It's the same thing with businesses. That's what I think anyway. It's called "Freedom of Speech". I don't celebrate Hannukah, but I don't flip out when I see "Happy Hannukah" written in big letters on a building. I know that it wasn't really directed at me anyway and carry on with my life. If it bothers you THAT much, just stay away from the effing store -_- I'm sick of political correctness trying to override freedom of speech. It's not like you're calling someone "gay" or "retarded" to offend them. You're just expressing that you celebrate a holiday and you want them to have a good one too, whether or not December 25 has any personal meaning to them at all.

Also, I'm not against any particular religion. I am not by any means a religious person and I don't really think religion is that nessacary, but I know that there are many good people who feel differently about this and I respect that.

Btw, I have a friend who is a Wiccan; I'm pretty sure that she said Yule is celebrated by the Wiccans.

 

[Arcanine]

Big companies don't want to offend the Jews, because they don't see christ as the savior and Hannukah is on the same day as Christmas this year. I no longer believe they are doing this just because of athiests.

I bet you it isn't. Around this time of the year do they make as much or more off of Hannukah then they do with Christmas? I think not. Look at Lowe's, they took out "Christmas" and left in Hannukah and Kwanza in their booklet (I saw it on Fox and Friends today) and they took out everything that's Christmas (like "Merry Christmas" signs on the wall and so on) and they came out and said "We're not going to say Merry Christmas". Now is everyone that celebrates Hannukah and Kwanza going to run out and buy from them? Nope, sure some might go there just because they said it. But they're not going there just because they left out Christmas.
But on the other hand you got the Christians boycotting Lowe's and not only Christians but a good many that isn't Christians but does Christmas stuff. Is Lowe's making more money? No, do they care? Nope. See Wal-Mart cares about their money so they went back on their "No Christmas" thing and for a lot of people they are forgiven.
So that's why I don't think they are doing it to be fair to everyone. They are doing it because they want to remove Christ out of everything.

I think that Buddah, Allah, Jehovah are just forms of God that came to a different group of people. I believe he is the same guy, just different local names for him.

I can assure you that's a no.

 

[Blaze]

I believe it is though Andy, I think no matter what we all praise the same God.

 

[Ryoutarou]

I believe it is though Andy, I think no matter what we all praise the same God.

Jehovah was originally from the Hebrew religion and is just a different name for God, so it's the same God the Christians follow, they just follow different teachings. Allah refers to the 'eternal monotheist Deity' again, same God, just a different name. Allah literally means 'the God'. Buddha has nothing to do with God, it's a term for 'enlightened one' there have been many Buddha, but the one that's the most famous is noted for being the founder of Buddhism. Siddhartha Gautama is purely a saint and teacher in Buddhism, Buddhism does recognize a God, but Buddha is not that God.

 

[Blaze]

Thanks for clearing that all up for us Blue :3

I just think that companies are getting too powerful :3

 

[John Denver]

Everyone ignored my post *jumps off cliff*

I think that Buddah, Allah, Jehovah are just forms of God that came to a different group of people. I believe he is the same guy, just different local names for him.

Hahahahahahahahahaha no. This coming from someone who says they are strong in catholicism, I don't see how you can seriously believe this...that arguement is used more by atheists than anyone else.

I have every right to say "Merry Christmas" if I want to

Right on. At my work we're supposed to answer the phone saying "Happy Holidays from...." But, pfft, I say Merry Christmas every time.

And I never said I deeply hated anyone

Yes you did...and you can edit your post all you want, my link will stay the same.

If I knew more about Hanukkah, I would celebrate it; Judaism is the basis of Christianity, so basically any parts of the holiday that don't conflict with our beliefs are fine (same for Passover, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashona, etc.)

Well, yes and no. Jews believe in a lot of the same things as Christianity, but they don't believe Jesus is the true savior. They believe he was just some prophet and/or really nice guy. (Of course, I don't know too much about Judaism. If a jewish person notices I'm wrong, please tell me.)

And, with these posts...this has officially turned into a religion topic...yippee skippy...

 

[Chairman Kaga]

Well, yes and no. Jews believe in a lot of the same things as Christianity, but they don't believe Jesus is the true savior. They believe he was just some prophet and/or really nice guy. (Of course, I don't know too much about Judaism. If a jewish person notices I'm wrong, please tell me.)

By saying that Judaism is the basis of Christianity, I meant that our religion is built on the foundations of theirs, and all we've done is tack on the New Testament and parts of the Old Testament not in the Torah; basically we recognize where our religion came from it, but we don't follow it because Jesus removed the hygeine restrictions, punishment methods, etc. of the Jewish faith. Observing Hanukkah for me would be nothing more than a bit of getting back to my religious roots...like I said, leave out the sacrelige parts like waiting outside for the arrival of the Messiah and such and mainly partake in the cultural aspects.

As far as their belief in Jesus, they tend to be along the lines of didn't exist/false prophet/nice guy. Islam, on the other hand, believes that Jesus was a prophet of Allah. I think that's what you were getting at.

 

[Blaze]

When I say *hate* atheists, I use it as a general term of not liking their way of dealing with issues. And why would I change my posts, just because I was somewhat prooven wrong?

Also,
Atheists believe in *no* God, so how would that arguement be used by them? How do you know *anything* about the Roman Catholic Church. My teachings (as I have been going to a private Catholic school my whole life) teached us of acceptance. We firmly believe that no matter what those religions still believe in a higher power, and they are not going to go to hell just because they are not in my church.

And I advise you not to attack my devoutness to my church, that was uncalled for and it was very disrespectful.

 

[Trikip]

I hate 'Happy Holidays'. Why can't you just say 'Merry Christmas' if that's the holiday you celebrate, or 'Happy Hanukkah' if that's the holiday you celebrate?

 

[John Denver]

I would reply to Master Blaze's reply, but that would turn this into a religous thread O_o

I, like Kaga, am glad see that most of the people in this thread think it's stupid to try and get rid of Christ in Christmas...

 

[Frostweaver]

I just want to remind people (from a "neutral" point of view, though such thing cannot ever exist, so let's say "relatively neutral" instead) that not all monotheistic deity points to the same deity. Please keep that in mind. Two beliefs may both suggest "there is only one God" but the two gods of those two beliefs aren't necessarily the same god with two different names. At the same time, believing in parts of something is a HUGE difference in comparison to believing in all of it. For example, let's go to good old Christianity and Judaism. Christian bible's "Old Testament" is the exact holy book as the Jews, but Christianity also has the 'extra' "New Testament." To the Jews, this extra makes a huge difference, enough to completely repel themselves from it. Differences like this make a huge matter. Somehow I'm getting the impression that "oh religion A and B... basically same thing with minor differences here and there"

In the same way, if we start to take stuff out of a holiday, we're virtually making every holiday the same as all the other holidays. Each holiday should have a special meaning behind it, and if we start taking stuff out of these holidays and only keep the "benefits" in (business sales, the day off from school, etc), why what's the difference between New Year, Christmas and Labour Day? Keep this attitude up, and we'll really forget what's the difference between them.

It shouldn't be about the day off, or the business, but the meaning in the holiday.

 

[DragonTrainer]

Man, what's with all the happiness getting taken away? We're too caught up trying to please the snobs who go "Don't say Merry Christmas you zealous egotistical religious idiot!"

If you don't like it, plug your ears, because I will chant those 2 words like a crow until I die =D.

 

[John Denver]

Frostweaver makes my mind go "tingaling" cause he's so right about everything.

It does say in the bible, however, that in the end times (meaning the years before Jesus comes back) that there will be one form of government all over the world. There will be one form of money (euro?). There will be one form of religion. Why not believe that there could be the Euro-Holiday?

It's all in there...

 

[Blaze]

I don't think America would use the Euro XD we are waaay too patritotic to do that.

Hopefully the end religion is Catholic (no not Roman Catholic my church)... Catholic means Universal (latin was it?)

Anyways, so if it was Universal it would be called the Catholic Church ;P

 

[Kylie-chan]

I disagree with the politically-correct Christmas things. I can think of a fair few things I could bring up with Christmas just to be politically correct, but no. If you don't wish to celebrate Christmas, don't interfere with others' rights to enjoy their Christmas. If they say "Merry Christmas" and you don't celebrate it, they're just being polite! <_< By making a big deal of it, not only are you ruining it for others, you are helping the Christmas "spirit" being drained from Christmas: people strive even more each time to be politically correct, and... yeah. I agree with Andy's rant on the third page. It's a mutual thing, tolerance; well, it should be, anyway. --; "I'm going to tolerate the fact you don't celebrate Christmas, so you should tolerate the fact that I do." I have never actually seen anyone go around forcing anyone to celebrate Christmas, or heard of it. No one is making you; so why should the "political correctness police" force us to turn Christmas into "holidays"? As people have pointed out, first the religious aspect was stolen. Now we can't even have the holiday altogether in public for fear of offending others :x

Ehh... Christmas hasn't been cut out of the schools I've been to yet, but Easter has... in a way. One kid in my class has an atheist father, and the aforesaid makes his kid go with that. The kid just went to the library and studied... something. +shrug+

<<

 

[John Denver]

Hopefully the end religion is Catholic (no not Roman Catholic my church)... Catholic means Universal (latin was it?)

Anyways, so if it was Universal it would be called the Catholic Church ;P

>_>

The bible says the ending religion will be run by the Anti-Christ and Satan

hmm, sounds like it'll be Catholicism to me...

 

[Blaze]

My church doesn't believe in the book of Revelations ;P [in literal text] so I don't believe it is gonna end with a church run by the anti christ and satan :3

But hey it makes me wonder if Satanics have to do with this whole abolish Merry Christmas thing :3 They do have the way around the judicial system *pokes the amazing (yet canceled) T.V Show Revelations*