- Flower Mandalas by David J. Bookbinder
- Flower Mandalas at Cafepress.com
- Clare Goodwin’s Mandala Page
- Judith Cornell’s Mandala Universe
- The Mandala Project
- Robert’s Creek Mandala Gallery
- Wilson A. Bently, the Snowflake Man
A new article by Austin Cline, a regional director for the Council for Secular Humanism, attempts to dismiss the idea that Christmas is being stripped of its religious meaning in modern times by proving that such secularization began ages ago.
Cline, who published “Secularizing Christmas Holidays” on About.com, argues that a number of holidays, from Michaelmas to Candlemas, have disappeared from the Christian liturgical calendar over the centuries, opening the door for holidays like Christmas to be expanded into the flurry of secular consumerism that it is today.
Cline takes special aim at those Christian groups that accuse retail stores of undermining Christmas by saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” “Christians want retailers to defend against the secularization of Christmas,” he writes. “This is an error because retailers are the primary reason for secularization.”
posted December 5, 2007 at 7:29 am
Secularists can only secularize Christiams.
Duh.
posted December 6, 2007 at 9:21 am
huh?
posted December 6, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Common sense dictates that if people want a religious holiday, they should disinvite non-religious people, and people from other traditions! Otherwise you’ll have a transcultural ‘holiday’ which includes Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Ramadan, Diwali and others.
posted December 9, 2007 at 12:38 am
OK, I see another solution – with a nod and a thanks to the “pagans”. Let’s skip all the legendary stuff and get right down to the original holiday – the Solstice. It is the shortest day of the year, so lets honor the astrophysics in which we live and all go out and look at the stars. Bone fires and neighborhood singing will dispell the chills and night-frights.
Santa can go back to Dec. 6 and Jesus’ can have his birthday back in the spring when it most likely happened (well that may mess with Easter a bit, but why not combine them. Santa and the Easter Bunny all have the same demographic marketing appeal). I read somewhere that one of the ancient “scholars” proposed that Jesus died on his birthday. Not THAT ought to confuse a few folks!
posted December 9, 2007 at 11:54 am
Cline’s article was interesting. One conclusion is that “Economics Rules”. No new news there.
jesterfyl, of course, makes a good suggestion. If we must have a preacher for president I want jesterfyl!
posted December 11, 2007 at 8:31 am
I don’t think big business is trying to do away with Christmas,but allowing for all holidays at this time of year. By saying “Happy Holidays” it recognizes all religions during the Yuletide season.There are other holidays during this season and business being business wants all their business. “Happy Holidays”is a catchall for everyone.And I find it appropriate to recognise all faiths.