Me, too! (Sorry, Doug, couldn’t resist).
This is exactly the way I feel about this non-issue. It shouldn’t matter at all what Sears calls its trees or if the harried and underpaid clerk at Walmart wishes you Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Let’s all please remember what Christmas really means.

The Bible is very clear about how Christ and his followers would be scorned by the world. So why are Christians looking for Walmart and The Gap to validate our Saviour?

PatientWitness, I’ve never asked for resistance. I get all I need.
Amen, David. I kind of appreciate, though, that it’s the “Liberty Council” that wants to tell retailers what to call their trees. When Christians don’t have to fake being oppressed, we will finally be following Him once more.
Meanwhile, Happy holidays and the richest blessings of the season to all of you. Happy Chanukah, as applicable.

I’ll be very glad for the day when Christianity in this country is rid of the coercive and selfserving majoritarian behavior its supposed proponents engage in, too.

Amen, Jillian. And one more thing? People who right letters complaining about the phrase “holiday tree” lose their privilege to complain about political-correctness and be taken seriously.

“The Bible is very clear about how Christ and his followers would be scorned by the world. So why are Christians looking for Walmart and The Gap to validate our Saviour?”
Yep, God help us if these businesses speak well of us. We should be proud to have their antipathy. And Amen to all the protest of all
the “we poor American Christians are so oppressed and persecuted” crap. God help us to stop whining and start serving!

Constantine’s “Christianizing” of the empire and his co-opting the marking of the winter solstice to celebrate the birth of Christ was, arguably, an attempt to prop up a faith whose membership had been taking it on the chin from past Roman emperors such as Nero, Diocletian and Osama bin Laden. Unfortunately, his efforts accomplished such a merging of the spiritual and the commercial that Christians began to think it was Biblical or constitutional or something like that for the world of commerce to support and promote the objectives of the faith community.
It’s not, and anything that occurs to help us understand that fact is ultimately in the church’s best interests. This is just one more indication of the general drift of what Jesus was getting at when he said you CANNOT serve God and money. It’s also a good time to ask if capitalism, is always and only, a friend to the gospel.

For a very different take–from a practicing Jew–check out http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/11/30/de_christmasing_christmas/

Lol…so it isn’t “Libralism” that is destroying Christmas trees it is Corpratism..LOL.. and the POTUS who sends out “seasons greetings” to contributors. I was just at the house of one who still proudly displays their 2007 Christm…”Seasons Greetings” card from the first family. As they used to say, “Chri$tma$” has two “$’s” in it but $ea$on$ has three.
–”Keep on shoppin in the free world”–

As a Catholic, I was very surprised when I moved to the deep South and discovered Christmas trees out on the curb the day after Christmas and certainly by New Year’s. Evidently some Christians even believe that the 12th day of Christmas is December 25.
Catholics celebrate “the holidays” from the start of Advent, the 4 Sundays prior to Christmas Day, all the way through January 6th, the Epiphany which is the actual 12the day of Christmas.
Of course I also found it odd that many Christians don’t go to church on Christmas day unless it falls on a Sunday and many skip it even then.
So when I hear happy holidays, I take it to mean enjoy all the special days of Christmas and not just December 25th.

Amen, amen, amen. To all the above and Kuo for writing as he did in the first place. Everyone, everyone needs to relax a little bit when it comes to the holidays.

OK everyone – I received a Christmas gift today – a snow day. Those who are teachers or who have ever been children will understand the immense sense of “gift” when the call comes or we see our school float by on the bottom of the TV screen early in the morning.
As long as anyone sits back with pursed lips – determined to be offended – over Christmas or any other “Christian” tradition – then we just haven’t gotten what the Gospel has to say.
Buying stuff for Christmas – just keeps the machine going. I am willing to do that to some point because keeping the economic machine going is in many ways in my own interest. However, I’m no longer willing to pretend that shopping at Target with Christmas musac in the background has anything whatsoever to do with Christmas. Saying Merry Christmas doesn’t have anything to do with it (Sorry Bill O’Reilly – it’s my Christmas wish to quit despising you). It is about our common longing for the good, for the holy, and God’s immense love that has filled that longing again and again.
Christmas mass is a wonderful experience. Even if you aren’t Catholic – give it a try. Little kids dressed up and playing with the new doll or car and falling asleep in the middle. All the voices in the church singing “O Come All Ye Faithful”, leaving the church at 1 am and seeing all the lights on in homes – it does not take away my awareness of those without. If anything it keeps that awareness alive. Here’s wishing for someone to bake each of you cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning – that your longing for the goodness that is God is fulfilled in tiny ways and in service to others.
If you are sad or depressed – as so many can be at this time – please know that my longing for God is also for you. The big message from the angels – Be Not Afraid – the best one liner in the Bible. We don’t have to be afraid because the gift was given – to us – and we must be willing to give to others. And we must be joyful. Monty Python, A Christmas story with that darned BB gun, the “old” Scrooge story, the newer ones. It all has to do with the longing that is our human condition. St. Augustine knew that it was always for God – we long for God from birth until death – sometimes we just don’t name it well. It was a gift of great joy!! Have some of that!

Thanks, Thinker, I’d love a snow day. I’ve been listening to “Messiah” all day. By my standards I’m in a great mood.

The “War on Christmas” rhetoric was never about “the nation’s spirituality,” or anyone else’s. It’s about tribalism. “There are more of us than anyone else, nyah nyah nyah.”
No one who takes anything that Jesus said seriously would care one iota about someone saying “happy holidays” instead of “merry Christmas.”

“We waste too much time and too much energy focusing on things that aren’t important to faith.”
David,
The enemies of Christians are not wasting any energy or time at all. Day in and day out they are really, actually and effectively working to outlaw and silence Christians nationwide. Enough of your naivte. If that’s what it is. C’mon man, evil is real.
Christmas has NEVER been forced on anyone. Christmas has always been just Christmas. The intolerants of Christians have no justice to back-up the incessant attack on us. What is so wrong about Christmas and Christians? Ever asked yourself or others that question? What has channged is that secularists have gained this sickening power over all. I object to Kwanza. I object to someone paganly saying “happy holidays” as it is forcing some non-Christian religious view on me!
The “war on Christmas” is war on Christians.
True, that the celebration-marketing exploitation of Christ’s birth is not an important aspect to celebrate, but ignoring the emeny at the gate ever silencing our voice is not wise either.
David, God has put you in a place of effectiveness for a reason. I don’t think helping the enemies of the Church inflict their hatefulness campaign on us is a wise choice to make.
“They” never fast. Neither should we.
Jesus was born during the feast of booths (Sukkot). More than likely in our month of September. Too bad we don’t really worship the Incarnation then. Look up Sukkot and se why?
BUT, then again, the enemies of Christians would go after us then as well. We must contend for the faith though, in season or out.
Agape (Christian concept).
(We’ll see how long this post lasts.)

Donny – you’re kind of paranoid, but we love you…Merry Christmas…

A number of years ago Christians complained about how the name of Jesus, his birthday commemoration, and the trappings of the Christian religion were being used to commercialize the holiday. There were buttons reminding people that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” There were letters being written to the editor complaining about how this company or that store was sullying the name of Christ by using a Christian symbol (the cross, usually) to promote their Christmas merchandise. Christians wanted the commerce taken out of their holiday.
My, what a difference a few years make. Now we have boycotts because stores DON’T mention Christmas in their advertising. We have national campaigns because stores dare to suggest that this season has more than one holiday in it. Even FOX/GOP News is leading the counter attack on the “War On Christmas”, joining hand in hand with the AFA and Concerned Women for America.
I find it a shame that these Christian warriors are playing into the hands of the very groups that have done the most to take the spiritual celebration that was known as Christ’s Mass and turn it into a secular orgy of materialism. But try and point this out to them and they accuse you of being an “the emeny at the gate.”
Happy Holidays, Donny. May each and every one of them find you healthy, happy, and blessed.

Amen, ds0490. Like you, I’m old school. I long for the days when Christian opinion-leaders railed against the commercialization of Christmas. When did those folks reverse course and insist that Christ be dragged into the sordid spectacle?

“When did those folks reverse course and insist that Christ be dragged into the sordid spectacle?”
When they decided it served their political purposes.

Agape is Greek.

It’s a Catch-22.
I work for a retail store that sells many products (gifts) labeled “Christmas this,” “Christmas that.” Which I actually like.
But we are in an area with many Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. So you have no choice but to say “Happy Holidays” as the customer greeting.
To which some people, in turn, will forcefully respond, “Merry Christmas …”
You can’t win.

I long for the days when Christian opinion-leaders railed against the commercialization of Christmas. When did those folks reverse course and insist that Christ be dragged into the sordid spectacle?
When they started owning Wal-mart stock.

My daughter and son both work retail, and they absolutely hate this time of year. Not only is the workload doubled, but the customers are far more surly and insulting that usual. You would think that with Christmas upon us the spirit of that holiday would move people to be more forgiving and patient, but just the opposite happens all too often.
My girl has lost count of the times she has been called stupid, lazy or worse by customers. She’s even had one come across the counter at her in anger because the store did not have something he wanted.
Maybe instead of the war ON Christmas it should be called the war OF Christmas.

Retailers have already done more to ruin or secularize Christmas by commercializing it! I remember when Christians used to get bent out of shape over the commercialization, but that apparently was before the Religious Right got into the act and since they have no problem with free enterprise, worshipping at its altar during the week and at the church’s on Sundays, it seems they have to find something else to complain about. As one who has long resented the grip of retailers on Christmas the complaint of those who rant about calling a Christmas tree a “Holiday tree” rings pretty doggone hollow. Meanwhile, they are cleaning up at the expense of the Christ nature of Christmas. Tell ya what: let’s not just boycott the retailers who won’t mention Christmas. Let’s boycott all the retailers and find meaningful ways to celebrate without going overboard in a spending frenzy just because the season somehow demands it!

Why do so many of us Christians think we have a monopoly on holidays this time of year?

That little baby doll in the manger: would that be the Holiday Infant attended by the Holiday Virgin Mother?

SkipChurch, you mean the one receiving holiday gifts from the three wise persons?

What about the Holiday tree early Christian co-opted from the pagans who still use trees to celebrate winter solstice holidays?
Or can they not do that any more?

Letter from Jesus about Christmas –
Dear Children,
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 – 8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary– especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember : I LOVE YOU, JESUS

Donny complains that saying ‘Happy Holidays’ forces a non-Christian religious view on him. Others complain that saying ‘Merry Christmas’ forces a Christian religious view on them. For heaven’s sake, are we so weak-minded that the mere saying of a greeting exerts that much influence on our religious and world view. If that’s the case, we have bigger problems than holiday greetings.

Liz, loved your comment.

Brilliant observations, Liz! If you haven’t already, see if your local newspaper will print them – personally, I wouldn’t shed any tears if ‘Christmas’ was completely removed from retail. It really has become out-of control. Yes, there’s a ‘war against Christmas’ – however, God will use that to his Glory, especially if it causes the majority of us Christians to pull the celebration away from the marketplace.

My sister sent me th e-mail, but I’ll see if the local paper will do anything with it.

Anyone who thinks there is a war on Christmas needs to go shopping on Nov 1st and hear all the Christmas music that’s being played in every single store…and the radio stations with their 24 hours of Christmas that starts the day after HALLOWEEN.

Maybe everyone would feel better about it if we treated Christmas as the secular,political event it was from the start, which as I understand it was sometime in the mid-fourth century. It was an attempt to bring those rabble-rousing Christians together with all the other pagans. A little like the Republican party bringing corporate CEO’s and Evangelicals under the same tent. Then everyone could celebrate or not as they pleased.
Some people like the Christ-story part of it, while others get caught up in decorating and gift giving.And some people try to celebrate Hannukah in the midst of it.
It should not be considered rude to try to acknowledge another’s celebration even if it is not your own. I will be giving Christmas cookies, Hannukah cookies and Holiday cookies this year — funny, they all look the same.

Finally a christian who gets the point makes his VOICE heard. By the way, for those who must believe their tree is a “Christmas” tree, many jewish families decorate an evergreen at this time of year just to join in your fun, and many non-religious and pagan families (of which the numbers are rising exponentially) have Yule trees–its original name. You don’t hear THEM incensed at the usurpation. They’re too busy enjoying their holidays. Food for thought.
Happy Whatever-Brings-YOU-Joy (because it’s not about ME)!