The "War" on Christmas?

[LoneMateria]

I was shocked to see there is no previous thread that handles this.  Over the last few years Christians have said atheists, jews and muslims alike have been trying to remove Christ from Christmas.  I'm not going to get into the little details of why they are wrong like Jesus was more then likely born in spring and that Christmas was an adaptation from a Pagan holiday celebrating the winter solstice.  I'm sure most of us are aware of these things.  I want this topic dedicated to the stupidity associated with this supposed "war" the hypocrisy and the irony.

First blood has already been drawn this year ... and its not even December.  In Chambersburg Pennsylvania a nativity scene was erected in a public square and when an atheist group wanted a sign too ... well that was unacceptable and the idiots in charge of Chambersburg removed the nativity scene.  Well that didn't go over so well with some of the towns folk.  There have been public protests and complaining which has received nationwide attention from ... you guessed it Fox news.  Fox and their openly ignorant staff have been blaming atheists for this because we wanted a sign too.  We didn't even want theirs removed.  And right across from the square is a Presbyterian Church where the Nativity scene can be erected without any complaint ... but no its too easy to just move it 20 feet.  

There is no war on Christmas just like there is no war on Easter.  Christians have to find some way to feel they are being persecuted because they feel like they are doing the right thing.  In the weeks to come I guarantee there will be stupidity, violence, ignorance, and rage over this make believe war like there has been every year in the past few years.  By the end of the holiday season battles for basic human rights will be waged, towns will be sued and public officials will kill their own carers over this issue.

One last thing, this link is to a funny article that compares religion to sports fans.  I thought I out to share it since it pertains somewhat to the War on Christmas.

[Will]

Jesus was added onto the December 25th holiday around 200 A.D. The winter solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years. They should get their mythology out of our solstice.

Get yer Jesus out of mah solstice!  

[LoneMateria]

Jesus was added onto the December 25th holiday around 200 A.D. The winter solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years. They should get their mythology out of our solstice.

Get yer Jesus out of mah solstice!  

Yup I agree ... but so many people never took the 5 minutes to look up the origins of Christmas and those are the people who get so mad because we are taking Jesus out of it. Its not like we walk around saying Merry Solstice and have a happy non-jesus year.  Have a happy holiday season since almost every group has some holiday in there.

[Kylyssa]

Of course this means it's time for me to whip out A Very Atheist Christmas - 666 Words on How Atheists Can Celebrate the Winter Holidays again and get my brains working on a new Christmas satire.

[AlP]

I think it's the retailers who are trying to take the Christ out of Christmas =). Black Friday seems to have gone relatively well for them, all things considered. Consumer fetishism here we come... I plan to spend about $100-$200 over the holiday season. I read somewhere that the average American spends over $800.

[LoneMateria]

That would be pretty smart for retailers to do that actually.  If you put Christmas this and Christmas that in your store, though you'd appeal to 90% of people, you'd lose revenue from those who don't celebrate and would rather go to a store that says Happy Holidays or something more geared toward their belief system.  I can understand it from a retailers perspective.  And woah $800 as an average?  No wonder our economy is in the crapper.  Perhaps we can link this to Christianity and blame Christians for our economy .  This year people will be spending money they don't have ... that can't be good for the long term benefit for the economy.

[G-Roll]

loved the link!! i cant watch bill o'riely (especially around this time of year) because apprently someone is always trying to rid the world of christmas. how can xians force there beleifs on us without merry xmas jesus day?
You know the whole point of christianity is the next life, or your enterance to heaven. the meek shall inhearit... blah, blah. so why is there such a power struggle between the "3 big teams?"

[LARA]

I was hoping the overblown "war" on Christmas stuff would quietly go away, but so sad to see it hasn't.    I think it's so petty to remove a nativity scene just because an atheist group or other group wants a little spot for their decorations.  It's like a little child who just cannot share.  "You want a yule log next to our Jesus?!  No way!  I'm taking my three wise men, Mary, Joseph and the camels and my ass and going home RIGHT NOW!"

I have to admit I honestly like a well done nativity scene, they are sometimes quite beautiful, I interpret them as a family surrounding a new child and ignore the implied religious story.  Which in itself is completely blasphemous I'm sure.

This year I found myself in front of a nativity scene in a store appreciating the artistry of the carvings without the superstition.  We always had one for Christmas when I was a kid and I thought it was pretty.  Maybe I'll set one up, just for fun.  If I do, I'll let you know if it bursts into flames spontaneously from my lack of belief.

[Whitney]

Look, a list of places not to shop at:  http://standforchristmas.com/

Seriously, if I have a choice between shopping at a store that recognizes diversity and shopping a store that does nothing but pipe our ultra religious christmas music and has Jesus is the Reason for the Season posted everywhere....I'm going to the diversified store even if it is slightly more expensive (a lot more expensive and I might suck it up and give Jesus some money)

[Ellainix]

We might as well protest against the "Christ" in Christianity.

[Renegnicat]

Hmm... I'm not really bothered all that much by "christmass friendly" retailers. If you ask me, it's all egotistical and annoying. That's why I'm not even celebrating christmas this year.

[Aedus]

There is no war on Christmas just like there is no war on Easter.

Uhm, are you denying that atheists camp out on the streets and protest Christmas? Because I can find you video footage if that's the case. For all their pretensions at being tolerant, atheists seem to have a problem with Christians celebrating their own holiday. That's why they get no sympathy from me when their rights are infringed upon.

Unlike atheists, I'm not an angry prick, so Christmas doesn't bother me. I see traditions as silly things that are done periodically for enjoyment/amusement. Christmas is a tradition, and I have no problem with that. That's why I'll be giving and unwrapping gifts this year.

[Recusant]

Unlike atheists, I'm not an angry prick...

That's good to hear.  You certainly had me fooled from reading your posts here.
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If anyone is interested, here is an interesting exploration of the possible reasons for the December 25 date being settled upon for the celebration of Christmas by a large percentage of the Christian world.  It's from the Biblical Archeology Review, and it presents a theory I had not heard before, relating to calendar calculations based on the idea that Jesus died on Passover.

[SSY]

There is no war on Christmas just like there is no war on Easter.

Uhm, are you denying that atheists camp out on the streets and protest Christmas? Because I can find you video footage if that's the case. For all their pretensions at being tolerant, atheists seem to have a problem with Christians celebrating their own holiday. That's why they get no sympathy from me when their rights are infringed upon.

Unlike atheists, I'm not an angry prick, so Christmas doesn't bother me. I see traditions as silly things that are done periodically for enjoyment/amusement. Christmas is a tradition, and I have no problem with that. That's why I'll be giving and unwrapping gifts this year.

My sig is growing.

[Aedus]

My sig is growing.

Score +1 for Aedus. w00t.