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.
If it makes you feel any better, my 6-year-old first grader (who attends Catholic school) was given an assignment to write down what he thought of Christmas. This is what he wrote:
I think Christmas is a day of love. It makes us happy to get presents, but the best present of all was the one God gave us: Jesus. And Mary helped, too.
(I helped with the punctuation, but the words are his alone -- and now he knows what a colon [:] is!)
Regards,
It is. My daughter has attended a great private Christian school since Kindergarten. My wife taught there for 7 years and we received free tuition. My wife changed jobs this year and now we are paying the full amount. Quite a change! I had taken that free tution for granted.
"Oh, I don't know about that," she said. "Since Christmas is a religious theme and I think that's not permitted."
I don't know when Christianity became offensive, but in some sectors, it is...
How delightful... and true too!
10-14 years? HA! I remember a segment by David Brinkley on the Huntley-Brinkley report back in the early sixties about Christmas in Japan. I particularly remember his wrap-up. "People complain ... about Christmas losing its religious meaning ... but here ... it never had any ... Over to you, Chet."
Ooops, got distracted, didn't do my pruf-reeding on that post. Should be 5900. Sorry, I got distracted while typing.
Satan has a twist for everything in the Bible and I suspect you haven't even read yours. There is no St. Nicholas in my Bible. Seriously, seek deliverance!
Many already have. I'll give a link. Messiah Yeshua(Jesus) was born 6 months following John, probably on Tishri 15(early Fall), the first day of the Feast of Sukkot and was circumcized on Simchah Torah(Rejoicing in Torah), the 8th and final day of the Feast. The same Feast will be commemorated annually in the Messianic Kingdom to come as the anniversary of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. All of the Fall Feasts of the Lord will be fulfilled at His second coming, as the Spring Feasts were fulfilled during His first coming.
Duh, of course St. Nicholas isn't in the bible. Every time you attempt to prove your intellectual superiority, you end up doing the exact opposite.
I would seriously like to hear your explanation for the satanic twist that you allege for Matthew chapter 2.
for your holiday shopping pleasure
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