I wish I was! Powder blue card, with snowflakes...down in the lower corner; "Choice on Earth". Disgusting.
Posted on 11/19/2002 6:17:05 PM PST by mlmr
The Christmas stock is out in the stores. There are scads of snowmen, Santas, reindeer and other items craving for your dollar. But interestingly enough, when one asks for religious Christmas items, at most stores, which serve a public that is conservatively estimated to be about 67% practicing Christian, there is nothing for sale.
No Christian based ornaments, hardly any Nativity scenes, and Christmas card... “Well Lady, I have robins, joke cards, Santas, dressed and nude, as well as lovely winter scenes and smart looking graphics.” Nativity scene? Magnificent reproductions of famous religious Nativities painted by the Masters? Ummm...no.
Some clerks make a weak smile and point out their extensive angel ornaments...others are belligerent and say firmly: "No we don't carry that sort of thing here." One owner said she did not carry religious Christmas items because people would be offended.
Guess what? I am offended. Every time I walk into a store decked out in its Christmas finest and cannot find any religious Christian items, I am offended. Every time I walk through huge displays of Christmas knickknacks and have to hunt to a bottom shelf of dark aisle to find a small nativity or Christian Advent calendar, I am offended. Every time a walk into a store with a brimming Menorah display, but no equally brimming nativity display, I am offended. (I have nothing against Hanukkah, I just want my religious tradition upheld with respect too. After all we are talking about 2% of the US population versus 67%.)
It is odd. When I talk to clerks about the availability of religious items in their stores, most also tell me that many people ask for them, but there just isn't anything available. Funny, that there is a need and no will to fill it.
I am equally offended by the Christians who are oblivious. Who no longer expect their tradition will be honored by having its items made available through retailers. Christian who don't want to rock the boat. Christians who don't want to seems too pushy or too religious.
I recommend that all thinking Christians go into retailers and ask where the Christian religious objects are located. If there are no religious objects available, perhaps it is time to tell the retailer how disappointed and offended that your religious tradition is being dismissed.
So I have decided to be offended...and to let people know...that true plurality honors even the faith of the majority and dominant culture. I encourage you to do the same...it confuses 'em when we use their words and phrases against 'em.
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So now, the birth of Christ, the son of God, is paganistic?
OK, I'm thoroughly confused now. Exactly what planet did you say you are from originally?
Thats a keeper!!!
Do you think Registered could do something with this imagery
I wish I was! Powder blue card, with snowflakes...down in the lower corner; "Choice on Earth". Disgusting.
All produced in Red China, more than likely.
You're right, I think Saint Nicholas was from Holland. The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Amsterdam is breathtaking. Huge gold angels on the roof, lit up at night. A non religous army buddy of mine was even inspired at the sight.
The only way a Christian could drop the ball is to not share the message of Christ crucified.
Now there are those who consider themselves "cultural" Christians which make up the majority of Americans. Ask them if they believe that God sent his son Jesus to die for their sins and watch the squirming begin....
Personally, I enjoy the "trappings" of Christmas, the cards, the trees, the nativity scenes, but the reality of Christ's birth and death and resurrection is only about a billion times more powerful and awe inspiring than the words "Merry Christmas" on a Hallmark card....
Even better is when they have Santa Claus standing with the shepherds and magi adoring the baby Jesus.
So now, the birth of Christ, the son of God, is paganistic?
You said that. I didn't.
OK, I'm thoroughly confused now. Exactly what planet did you say you are from originally?
Sounds like you have been Too Long in the Sun
Google Search: pagan origins christmas - Results 1 - 50 of about 10,900
Here's just one: The True Origin of Christmas
Ok...and when you open it you see a cute little dead fetus under Christmas Tree.
Santa's elves have been busy this year!
There is no such tone; I am not affronted. I was merely reminded of a story. This I stated.
So by all means, enjoy the greenery, and the bright lights, and silver bells, etc., etc. It is all great fun. But don't make the mistake of thinking that any of this has anything to do with true religion.
On the other hand, the REAL Christian holidays are Adventide (beginning four Sundays before 12/25), and Christmastide (the famous "twelve days of Christmas" beginning on the 25th). Those of us who are real Christians need to take our real holidays back. Here are a few ideas:
1. The commercial/popular Yuletide has pretty much ignored the traditional Adventide traditions: Advent calendars and Advent wreaths. Especially for homes with young children, these are good traditions to observe. Rather than having Christmas for a whole month before Christmas, to the point where the 25th is an anticlimax, a properly observed Adventide cultivates a genuine spirit of preparation and anticipation for Christmas. Some Christian traditions even make Adventide into something of a mini-Lent, abstaining from all the Christams candies and baked goods until Christmas actually arrives, rather than pigging out all month.
2. I refuse to join in the practice of putting up the Christmas tree and decorations right after Thanksgiving. In some Christian traditions, the tree doesn't go up until Christmas eve. At the very least, I usually wait until at least the winter solstice (12/21) before doing the major decorating. I also refuse to join in the practice of taking everything down on Christmas afternoon. I firmly believe that the Christmas decor should stay up through the twelve days of Christmas. This is more feasible if it hasn't already been up since November.
3. Christmas is an important Christian holiday. There is no good reason why faithful Christians should not make every reasonable effort to attend church some time between sunset on Christmas eve and noon on Christmas day. If their own church is not holding services, or if they are traveling, then there are other churches around that will have services that could be visited.
4. The celebration of the birth of the Savior of the World should be about something more than self-indulgence. I am not suggesting that all gift giving be eliminated, but how about expanding the circle and including some people outside one's immediate family in the gift giving -- especially people who are not so well off? Or how about going caroling to the shut-ins on Christmas eve or Christmas day -- the very time that they are likely to feel most lonely?
There are many other ideas I am sure that others could add. It is time that we Christians took back our holiday!
Interesting. What you perceive as "clipped" is actually an attempt at reducing confusion... like the signs that state, "You are here". You asked me to clarify that which I plainly stated from the beginning (your comment reminded me of a story). So I tried to be even more concise. I found your inabity to comprehend this a bit peculiar, but I gave it a shot anyway, only to then have you insinuate that I have an 'attitude'.
Best to just not post to you. I don't have time for this nonsense.
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