i think the druids should b offended since its the catholic church that took the holiday over for the sake of conversion

I'm not a christian and some on here know exactly how I feel about christianity, i've always celebrated christmas and not in any religious way either. I look at it as an excuse to get together and eat way too much...like thanksgiving. It pisses me off when I hear people tell me happy holidays. I make em wish me merry christmas. Don't care who is offended by it, its what we celebrate here and other religions and atheists alike need to get over it.

that hat is becoming very distracting.

You should see it standing up

I suppose that's true - seeing as how Christians are offended by NO DISPLAYS of Christian beliefs.

That's the point - you deal with it because they're the majority. In the USA it was like that too, until there were enough voices of various other beliefs who decided the ubrella of Freedom of Religion was meant to cover all religious beliefs.

Personally, I like the Christmas season. There are SO MANY people walking around smiling at everyone (except that person who just picked up the very last Size XL dark blue PJ's that were on sale - or the parents who discover the stores were sold out of that $200 game pack that their 9 year old son wanted). But a few Christmas carols cheer them right up again.

How strange it is that for a few short days people's behavior can transorm beyond recognition and all that happens because of a tree that gets decorated with expensive ornaments, and strings of light, stockings that get stuffed with goodies, and of course, a lot of boxes wrapped in colorful paper.

After THE DAY - it's a different story, we fill our garbage dumps with all that pretty paper, boxes, plastic, and trees that would have served a better purpose had they remained planted in the ground.

And a lot of very upset 9-year old who did not get that $200 game pack.

Wasn't this thread about religious icons? Exactly how do Christmas 'decorations' fit in to religion? Sounds a lot more like a capitalist venture to me.

now i'm offended by the christians being offended... when will it end?

It may not say Christmas but it's used during that time. I have never heard it said during the summer. It is just a PC way of saying it.

I understand if a business wants to remain neutral. They are probably better off not saying anything but Have a nice day.



wouldn't that be offensive to someone just sending you well wishes?

I'm glad I have never worked at a place that dictated our well wishes.

I would take that as a well wish and would be happy about it. If that is your choice in well wishes, I wouldn't be offended.

I guess there are too many other things where people are trying to insult someone to get upset about and I don't want to waste energy on something meant to be good

Now that's a great idea - and what a great opportunity for a little personal study.

Here are my new holiday amenity sayings:

Good Kaliady to you – May Mithra be with you – enjoy your Mid-winder feast , have a bless’d solstice

I'll mix them up, so my customers don't hear the same one every time.

Then I'm going to take note of how they react AND then I'm going to see if treat me any different afterwards or if they wish me a Merry Christmas the next time they come in.

this will be interesting.

That being pretty general isn't it? I'm a Christian and no I don't have a problem if someone doesn't display Christian beliefs.

I have no problem if someone puts up decorations for the Yule, Hanukkah or whatever.

I have a problem when others try to dictate how a someone should act, believe, etc.

Generalizations aren't very accurate.

The OP was about a Christmas tree, to be specific.

Just before I read your post I was thinking to myself - "I wonder what would happen if every store and every and Public area (not private - like homes) was completely void of any 'holiday' dressing and no Christmas music was piped in?"

Do you think the stores would see record decline in sales?

And I would hop on that band wagon and add:

Good Kaliady to you – May Mithra be with you – enjoy your Mid-winder feast, have a bless’d solstice

When you walk into any PUBLIC arena you do not leave your religious beliefs at home. For example, Christians like to say that the body is a temple - so you're church is whereever you go. So walking into ANY public arena and shouting 'Merry Christmas' or 'May Mithra be with you' or 'Happy Hanukkah' is the same as depicted in your scenario.

The truth is, personnally, I'm really not offended at all by a heartfelt personal wish for health, prosperity, happiness, etc - what does offend me is when poeple wish it in their name of their god of which I have no personal connection to. Hoever, I tolerate it because I would like to believe that the person wishing felt some connection with me - even if just out of respect for another human being.

What I don't understand is why Christians seem to NEED these dramatic displays all around them, in order to feel like it's Christmas. If that's what freely expressing a religious belief is all about ....

Isn't that quite imposing on others who do not share the need to display their religious beliefs in such boisterous style?

Shouldn't we feel the least bit uncomfortable with exhibitionist displays of only one when thre are so many others in our country?

How sad that type of giving requires such elaborate displays as reminders and what a let down to see all that good will going out with paper, plastic, and trees into the garbage.

If people were TAUGHT a foundation of strong human ethics, we wouldn't need the political system to tell us the (politically correct) way to behave.

so (if I am understanding correctly) just because some may or may not be offended, people have to stop celebrating the holidays as they want to?

I was with you until the getting pissed off about happy holidays part. Seeing as Christmas is not the only holiday in December, I don't see what's wrong with happy holidays.

I don't see it that way. I do think that people need to realize not everyone will celebrate the holidays their way and need to stop getting offended by that.