Happy Holidays Greeting Opinions

[Redbeard]

I got an email from my mom today (her and my father are pretty hardcore Christian) that referred me to this YouTube video:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IAckfn8yiAQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

Now my question is why do some Christians feel the need to protest and boycott the phrases "Happy Holidays" and "XMas?" I realize that these types do not care that people of other faiths or no faith may be out there, but "Happy Holidays" is a pleasant, inclusive greeting. It does not seek to exclude Christians, but rather to include everyone. I mean the term holiday is derived from "Holy Day." Perhaps they think that Christmas is the true end of December holiday and the all others are johnny-come-lately's? Even if they do, pagan cultures were celebrating the winter solstice long before anyone had even thought about Christ. Also, it seems like I read somewhere that the X in Xmas is derived from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter in the Greek spelling of Christ and, along with the Greek letter Rho, was an early symbol of Christianity, long before the cross.

Are there Christians out there who cannot be happy in their own religion and "salvation" without constantly trying to tear down others or proselytize all?

[lxskllr]

And it's called Solstice
What more can I say?
It's about longer days coming
And you can't take that away
You can call in something else
But that's not what it will be
It's called Solstice
long before Christianity

:^D

[Redbeard]

Nice...

[Christi]

Oh lord here I go:

I am not a fan of Happy Holiday's unless it is before Thanksgiving, then I will say it. If it is this close to CHRISTmas I will say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

There are other hardcore Christian's besides myself that feel that saying Happy Holiday's is taking Christ out of Christmas, but I think that is derived from other thing that have happened in our political system, such as taking prayer out of school. We as Christian feel like our country was founded on Christ and the Bible so why take it out? It seems sacrilegious.

But I personally have no issues typing xmas, it is easier to type, but I do not say that. When I wish someone Happy Holiday's it is before Thanksgiving and right now when I see someone or talk or email I say 'Have a Blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year'

EDIT: I am very happy in my own salvation, so if someone says Happy Holidays to me I will NOT start a lecture on the reasons why I feel they should say Merry Christmas....that is just rude. I understand where you are coming from.

[Veganpunk]

My higher deity (The Flying Spaghetti Monster) allows me to say any phrase I choose to wish good will to people. He's a nice deity like that.

[Christi]

My higher deity (The Flying Spaghetti Monster) allows me to say any phrase I choose to wish good will to people. He's a nice deity like that.

LOL Flying Spaghetti Monster???!!! That is awfully kind of him!

Before I accepted Jesus as my savior it is interesting to know that I was a practicing Wiccan...Whoa, right! I didn't even celebrate xmas and used to burn bibles. What can I say 18 and dumb.

If my faith falls flat when I die, what did I lose? But if I don't have faith and there is a God and Jesus was who he said he was I lose it all. Just seems easier to believe to me. Plus, I do, whole heartedly. Helps me make it through the day.

My point, I don't knock anyone who believes differently than I. We all should believe in something for our sanity. That is what I think.

[tom502]

I revere Jesus and his teachings, not the Paulinized Christianity. And to have a day for his birth is ok, all the spiritual masters have a day they are remembered on. Though it's realized Jesus was born not in Dec, and it was the Paulinized Christian church that usurped the Pagan solstice day and imposed Christmas on it.

But I don't care what phrase people choose to use. I also don't think America was founded to be a Bible country, as the founders were pretty gnostic, but they did want a society were people have freedom of religion. At least that's how I think.

[Monkey]

Christmas isn't the celebration of Santa's birth?







Kidding! I use happy holidays when I am unsure of someone's spiritual affiliation. I have no problem with using Xmas but do not use it much myself. If someone geos all "Christmas lecture crazy" I just remind them that it was originally celebrated in July and was moved to help convert the pagan celebration of solstice and their "leftover" pagan idols (Christmas tree, Santa, snowmen) might upset Jesus.

Mike

[truthwolf1]

Great Holiday movie for the kids. Bad Santa

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VlkzrmQdUkI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

[Christi]

I revere Jesus and his teachings, not the Paulinized Christianity. And to have a day for his birth is ok, all the spiritual masters have a day they are remembered on. Though it's realized Jesus was born not in Dec, and it was the Paulinized Christian church that usurped the Pagan solstice day and imposed Christmas on it.

But I don't care what phrase people choose to use. I also don't think America was founded to be a Bible country, as the founders were pretty gnostic, but they did want a society were people have freedom of religion. At least that's how I think.

I am young and to be honest history isn't my forte, but I do remember the constitution being based on God...Maybe not Jesus, Christ or Christianity, but I am pretty sure that the forefathers wanted us to believe in something higher.

I find everything about religion interested, all types in fact. My father is such a Bible scholar it is ridiculous. You definitely do NOT want to hear his views on Obama, LOL.

[Christi]

Christmas isn't the celebration of Santa's birth?







Kidding! I use happy holidays when I am unsure of someone's spiritual affiliation. I have no problem with using Xmas but do not use it much myself. If someone geos all "Christmas lecture crazy" I just remind them that it was originally celebrated in July and was moved to help convert the pagan celebration of solstice and their "leftover" pagan idols (Christmas tree, Santa, snowmen) might upset Jesus.

Mike

Well, I don't think the tree, Santa, or snowmen upset baby Jesus(hehe) just middle aged Jesus. J/K. It is for the kids. IMHO, as long as my kids know why we give gifts and celebrate(regardless of if it was July or December)the birth of the Savior I could care less about Santa. They get gifts from Santa and love it, but they also really enjoy giving gifts to others. They are being brought up to know why we celebrate Christmas(why our house-hold does anyway).

I have never, ever criticized someone for bringing up their children differently than mine regarding religion. I simply pray for them. I don't think anyone would get angry for me praying for them, personally I love people praying for me. Even if it is to a god I do not worship. It shows that they care. Taking the time to pray for folks is a sign of love!

My best friend in the whole world is a proclaimed atheist...grr how frustrating, but I still love him and Pray for him daily. Shoot I have even gone down to the alter a few times in prayer. But that is his business.

So, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, and so on...I love everyone and that is what my faith and religion tell me to do!

[tom502]

Kwanza? We don't wanna go there.

[Christi]

Kwanza? We don't wanna go there.

ROFLMAO

[Paul]

kwanza its a river in Angola, Africa

Happy whatever, just be happy celebrating the birth of jesus or sth else.

Has an actor in my country once said:

"please do me the favour of being happy"

[Premium Parrots]

Say whatever you want......... but its Festivus for the rest of us.