Christmas (2 Viewers)

[Riewe]

No longer being at a catholic school makes the season just a bit less religious for me, although i am brought back into the meaning of christmas everytime i go to work because of those religious christmas carols that they play over and over and over again.

 

[Sonic]

i'm muslim and i have no probs with christmas but i do believe that as stated chrustmas has become to money making seriously it's good to get prezzies but really nowdays its just about handing your well earned cash over to corporations

 

[ogmzergrush]

Does the fact that it's *different* necessarily mean that it has to alienate people or be offensive? Personally, I am indifferent to religion at large, but find it warming that people can come together and enjoy the company of their family and friends.

If people put christmas decorations up, say a nativity scene or just a big tree with lights as part of enjoying the season, that's cool with me. I don't see people celebrating their faith at this time of year, or any other, as an insult to those who are of a different belief (Or no belief at all).

Rather than deciding that because I don't go in for the Jesus thing that the nativity scene is some sort of war banner, I find it easier to just be happy for people who are happy believing that sort of thing. Same goes for any religion, any holiday (That is to say, any that I'm aware of. In the event that there is a secretive African tribe of cannibals who celebrate a religious holiday by eating their young and defecating on each other, then exclusions obviously apply).

At the end of the day I guess it comes down to the fact that I enjoy seeing people celebrating their faith and being happy. I also think people could do things which are a lot more offensive than a nativity scene, a cross displayed in public, or whatever else. When people start setting up nativity scenes inside your own home (For those who do not believe), or place of worship then there's cause for complaint, but until then I don't see the big deal.

I've neglected to vote as I don't see an option which neatly corresponds. I don't particularly believe in a God, but it's largely because I don't care one way or the other, so there's more indifference in my stance than conviction.

(Re: commercialism, I guess it just depends. My family celebrate christmas I would guess primarily out of habit, though religion doesn't come into it at all. As we have moved around and are constantly busy throughout the year doing our own thing, christmas provides a great time for us to all get back together, catch up and share the happiness. As dodgy and cliche as that sounds, that's pretty much how I see the situation, it's only as commercial as you make it, though I must admit shopping centres become a little harder to deal with at this time of year).

 

[The Nick]

I'm a Christian and I really don't care.

 

[xeuyrawp]

Since Christmas is not only a secular event for me, but because the celebration itself comes from Pagan celebrations, I'm really not caring about the whole 'Jesus is the reason for the season' crap.

 

[veterandoggy]

if i feel unsettled by anything christmassy on TV, i just change the channel. and if it is when i am walking, i do my best to leave that area as quick as possible, but generally i dont have a problem with christmas being public (another holiday ), however, it has become more commercial than need be, and it is drawing it away from the religious meaning.

 

[White Rabbit]

I'm sick and tired of people telling Christians how to conduct their reglious holidays. This nation in 90% christian - perhaps this is not reflected in Sydney, however it is a national statistic - 90% of australians identify as christians of various churchs. Reglious and cultural festivities of other religions are not told to tone down - in fact, Chinese New Year rivals christmas in Hurstville. Christians don't tell Buddists how to conduct their reglious dates, nor do we demand Muslims renamed Ramadam, unlike various minority groups have demanded of christmas.

Thats what I'm sick and tired of.

 

[withoutaface]

I'm sick and tired of people telling Christians how to conduct their reglious holidays. This nation in 90% christian - perhaps this is not reflected in Sydney, however it is a national statistic - 90% of australians identify as christians of various churchs. Reglious and cultural festivities of other religions are not told to tone down - in fact, Chinese New Year rivals christmas in Hurstville. Christians don't tell Buddists how to conduct their reglious dates, nor do we demand Muslims renamed Ramadam, unlike various minority groups have demanded of christmas.

Thats what I'm sick and tired of.

Perhaps you'd like to check your statistics, because it's actually only 68% that identify as Christian.

 

[Iron]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17612068%5E28737,00.html

hoho

 

[somechick]

I'm Muslim, and personally, i like Christmas for its messages of peace, family and warmth. I love all the christmas lightings ( around where i live, it looks fab!). I grew up watching christmas movies and cartoons around christmas time and i more than enjoyed them.
Because we believe in Jesus (peace be upon him) too, we associate with (parts of) the story of Jesus (pbuh) so it doesn't bother us at all.
After all, he IS an extraordinary being.

 

[somecooldude]

I dont mind the celebration of chirstmas in public places by means of display of neutral, non-religious symbols and decorations (i.e stars, tinsel, trees etc), but things like nativity scenes are something for the home.

lol... a star is a Christian symbol symbolising the Star of Bethlehem that guided Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem

 

[somecooldude]

I don't mind the nativity scenes, and I tend to like them if I see them - "Jesus is the Reason for the Season!!!" annoys me, though. Too frantic and rude.

how is that frantic and rude? it is the true meaning of the Christmas season in the first place. Hence CHRISTmas.. get it?

if you dont want to celebrate the holiday thats fine, no one is forcing you too. but when people wish to talk abt the true meaning of the season it shouldnt be seen as being frantic and rude.

 

[malkin86]

It's in their tone of voice, the creepy look in their eyes, and their insistence. Stuff that can't properly be conveyed over the internet, bar saying that I find it to be very intimidating, frantic, and rude.

An alternate theory is that Christians hijacked a pagan celebration, and rebadged it to get people to convert. Mix in centuries of proselytisation, et voila.

 

[somecooldude]

It's in their tone of voice, the creepy look in their eyes, and their insistence. Stuff that can't properly be conveyed over the internet, bar saying that I find it to be very intimidating, frantic, and rude.

An alternate theory is that Christians hijacked a pagan celebration, and rebadged it to get people to convert. Mix in centuries of proselytisation, et voila.

lol well if they are shouting it at your face and intimidating you then yes that is frantic and rude, but, that doesnt make what they are saying frantic and rude.
you can say anything in a rude and frantic way.

 

[yy]

christmas is pretty much devoid of its religious message now, it's all commercial. however, one good thing about christmas for churches is some ppl only go to church once during the year, and that's for christmas.
also statistics doesn't tell you anything, i know many "christians" that don't even believe in christianity, yet identify themselves as christians when occasions arise.
christmas, for me, is a period of receiving and giving presents, that's all. i was all alone on christmas eve and christmas day too (as my parents had to work, even though i don't have to).

 

[yy]

also, i think buddhism is both a non-christian faith and atheistic.

 

[sly fly]

I like the actual meaning/purpose of christmas (ie. it's supposed to be a time of giving, a time of harmony etc etc). Christmas has become pretty commercialised these days.....but still, it's nice to see families get together on christmas and give eachother presents etc

 

[malkin86]

If these people are identifying themselves as Christians, and 'wishing to talk about "the reason for the season"' in a way that is frantic and rude, I guess that I come away with a "Christians (esp. during Christmas and Easter) = frantic and rude" idea in my head. So often, meaning can be changed by the manner in which the words are said - I've heard it where only 7% of communication is via words - the rest is body language, tone, etc. Like, for example, "Thanks heaps!" can mean two opposite things, depending on the way it's said.

A lot of Christians aren't frantic or rude, but my experiences lead me to be a bit iffy of people who go "Hi, my name's Sally and I'm a Christian" straight away. The reason? These people are generally evangelising, and don't have the patience for me. Really - trying to ask them for a little more information about who schismed from whom (aside from "Catholics are hellbound", the idiots) is like squeezing blood from a stone.
I know that I must seem like the Devil's Advocate, but knowing who schismed from whom and why is an ongoing sort of a question for me, something I'm generally curious about.

 

[ugly14]

im non-christian but i dont despise christams..
i really like it...its fun to watch and have nothing against it...i've never heared of ppl who are non-christian being upset because of christmas....
everyone is free to celebrate what ever they believe in....this shouldnt upset anyone else who doesn't believe in it!

 

[^CoSMic DoRiS^^]

i'm not exactly Christian, per se, but i do believe in God and Jesus and i celebrate Christmas. i don't think there is anything offensive to people of other religions about public celebrations of Christmas. Whether we want to admit it or not, Christianity is still the dominant religion overall in this country. So considering that, there's nothing wrong with celebrating, putting up decorations, etc etc. It doesnt affect people who dont celebrate it in any adverse way, so why should they be offended? If, for example, Islam or Buddhism was to become the dominant religion in Australia, you could expect that the holidays for that religion would get more limelight, and why not? We would have to respect that, just like non Christians/non Christmas celebrating people ought to respect the rights of others to celebrate the season. It kind of annoys me how nowadays there is this overwhelming need to be politically correct about Christmas so as not to offend anybody. How is it offensive? It doesnt hurt anybody. I mean, i wouldnt be offended if there was a huge public celebration of a Jewish or Islamic or Hindu or any other religious festival (sorry, i dont really know any), that's just a bunch of people celebrating a day that is important to them. It doesnt affect me, it's not directed at me, so i let them get on with it. It's silly how you see parents of non- Christian school children getting all pissed because the class made Christmas decorations and their child was left out or whatever. They dont have to participate if that's how they feel, but they dont have to be left out, surely some other activity could be found for them. and just because those children dont celebrate Christmas, it doesnt mean that crap should be put on everyone else for doing so. Basically every religion has the right to celebrate their festivals etc however they want to, and they deserve respect from others. Saying that you're offended by Christmas celebrations is like saying you're offended by glad wrap - a pointless feeling because neither is going to go away anytime soon, and neither ever did anything bad to you. what's the point?