The war on Christmas is very, very real, and if you ask me, in addition to some grouchy misanthropic heathen atheists it has to do - at the root of it - with two things - abortion and the gay rights agenda, because Christianity is against those things. It's subtle but that's why it's so pronounced in recent years.
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The only people I've noticed waging war on Christmas are the fundies who think it's a pagan festival. So, I'm getting confused here: some fundies hate Christmas because they're for or against abortion and the gay rights agenda? Besides, the gay people I know celebrate Christmas with some gusto.
There is no war on Christmas, but to be completely non-hypocritical you should give up the holly and the wreaths and mistletoe; and no Christmas trees. You should probably not call Christmas "Yule" or burn a Yule log, and exchanging gifts is straight out. You probably shouldn't celebrate it just after the winter solstice or sing wassailing songs either.
As for abortion and Gay rights, this is a non sequitur.
And...
What exactly is a heathen atheist?
I think I'm a heathen atheist. Whenever anyone asks about my religious affiliation, I always say "heathen" (just because I'm a smart arse). But, since I don't believe a word of any religious/superstitious crap, I'm really an atheist.
Jeremiah 10:2-4:
"Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.
For the customs of the people are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest, and a
craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails so
it will not totter."
http://www.holidayfires.com/cromwellbans.php
When Oliver Cromwell established the Protectorate in
England in 1653, it was a much a religious revolution
as it was political. Cromwell and the victorious
Parliamentarians belonged to the protestant
religous sect known as the Puritans.
The Puritans were so named becuase of their
attempts to "purify" the Christian church by
adopting more basic forms of worship. And
among their chief targets was anything that
could be tied to the practices of the
Roman Catholic Church -- and, by extension
the Anglican, or Church of England.
Including the celebration of Christmas.
Driven by Puritan notions of religious purity,
in 1647 Parliament banned the celebration of Christmas.
Gone were such pagan ideas as Christmas Trees,
feasting, caroling, and decorations
(and, indeed, they were borrowed from Pagan winter celebrations) .
Nativity scenes were banned as the worship of idols.
Indeed, even the word Christmas was frowned upon as
taking the Lord's name in vain.
Grouchy misanthropic heathen atheists, oh my. I wish I could make that a username or something. And now the gays and abortion rights activists are warring against Christmas, too? It's subtle, but pronounced... Clearly pro-choice and GLBT people don't ever celebrate Christmas or identify themselves as Christian, ever.
Well, there's a war on Christmas it's under attack
Hey, this year Old Saint Nicholas is taking it back
He's firing guns from his reindeer, dropping bombs from his sled
This year if you were naughty, you're as good as dead~
While it is appropriate to think that there is actually a war on Christmas with Christmas being mentioned in about 95% of it's own genre of music, with Christmas trees abound and 99% of indulgers calling them Christmas trees, with Nativity scenes abound, and with 'Merry Christmas' being by far the most popular greeting of the season, your assertion is a bit presumptuous. It's always just like you evangelicals to make everything about hating gays isn't it? Frankly, I prefer my Christmas fundie-free, not Christian-free mind you, but fundie-evangelical/jihadi-muslim-crackpot-free. If you guys can accomodate that, I'd be very grateful.
What does Christmas have to do with abortion or homosexuality? Abortion has been legal in most Western countries for decades, but Christmas seems to be going steady all the same. Gay people have always existed; the only difference is that they don't have to hide anymore.
We're rather secular here in Sweden, but we still celebrate Christmas, or "jul" as we call it. Many, who never go to church during the rest of the year, want to visit a church at least once during Christmas, and many people, who don't really believe, have a small nativity scene out with Jesus in a manger; I know I do.
So, where is this war on Christmas and how is it waged?
I don't understand how he goes from a non-existent war to gays being responsible for said war. I wish, for just once I could grasp the thought processes of these fundies. However, doing so might drive me clinically insane.
Now, now, don't pout.
Not being grouchy, misanthropic nor from the heath I have only my atheism to speak from, but our problem with Christmas has nothing to do with abortion rights nor homosexuality. Our problem with Christmas is largely an issue of using public lands and public funds to celebrate it.
P.S. It would also be nice if your lot would understand how tired we get of your wishes that we have a "merry Christmas." You see, Bernie, it's like everyone you meet wishing you a "happy Satan's Day" for two months every year.
"Is there anything in (your) Christianity besides hating on gays and abortion?"
I was going to say something like that - at this point I'm pretty much convinced that fundies would vote for someone who made their career drowning adorable puppies if that person just claimed to be against gay marriage and abortion (and was white).
Doesn't heathen refer to those who worship household gods? Somebody told me about that... basically, it means you have some form of religion.
Atheism means you don't have a form of religion.
Contradiction!
I love Christmas! It's a great excuse to hang with my family and eat sweets.
Nobody wants to stop you from celebrating Christmas, they just want their celebrations to be respected too.
First off all, no one asked you.
Secondly, there are real wars. As my name says I am an atheist but I celebrate christmas with my family, I just take out the superstitious bullshit. I could care less if you want to have garish manger displays all over your lawn, or your church grounds, whatever floats your boat Bernie. However, the second you say, "Hey, John, we need your tax dollars so we can show everyone just how swell jesus is" is when I will give you a "war".
*sigh* Damn you people are small minded and unoriginal... Here's some advise: turn off the Faux News and watch The Daily Show. Alternatively, you can put down your babbles, grab a Richard Dawkins book, and read the motherfucker. Or you can get off your soapboxes and just shut up. You're golden either way. Oh, and by the way, real wars are fought with weapons, not sensationalist news reports and pissing contests between five year olds under the guise of negotiation and diplomacy.
It's only gay if you have a fairy on top of the tree.
So after this latest juvenile whinging is over, I wonder what will be next? The War on Easter? The Atheists have stolen our (cud chewing) bunny rabbits?
Christmas (i.e. Yuletide) has nothing to do with Christianity. It's simply another one of those things Christianity borrowed from older cultures and traditions in order to comport itself as more important than it actually is.
Also, yes, there was a "war" on Christmas. Guess who did the fighting?
Aren’t the people that say there is a War On Christmas the same that are normally saying how much they love capitalism?
But when a company uses “happy holidays” instead of “merry Christmas” to appeal to more customers, i.e. making more money, they throw a fit.
> ...abortion and the gay rights agenda, because Christianity is against those things.
Then why are both of those completely legal in Canada, where at least 50% of the population are Christians?
The war on Christmas doesn't seem to being waged here, either, despite the fact that at least 20% of Canadians are atheists (this is atheist paradise compared to the US of A).
Oh no I might make you display your religious symbols on privately owned property or say "happy holidays" to you in passing!
CHRISTMAS IS RUINED!
You know, I don't even give a shit that it's a national holiday. It's a nice tradition that doesn't necessarily have to be religious. That's how few shits I give about the celebration of Christmas.
There's no war on Christmas. Just go outside and look around at all the displays. Turn on your TV or your radio for five seconds. Actually actively try to avoid Christmas. It's nearly physically impossible without cutting yourself off from society starting in October.
@ Hasan Prishtina: it is a Pagan festival. Early christians hijacked European Solstice traditions in an attempt to get Pagans to convert.
There is not a single element or tradition in xmas that isn't stolen.
"grouchy misanthropic heathen atheists"
You forgot socialist, communist, Muslim, feminist, pro-choice, and a bunch of your other boogiemen.
First off, gays have nothing to do with the "War On Christmas". Atheists, maybe. Anyway, I think it's exaggerated. I see nothing wrong with saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". Now, I do think "Holiday Tree" is dumb since that tree has always been associated with Christmas so as far as I'm concerned, it's a Christmas Tree. But hey, if you wanna call it a Holiday Tree, be my guest.
A morter round just landed in my eggnog so it must be true !
I am good this year, my cookies and milk are safe from thet fat guy in a red suit. I dont have a chimney !!!
Is it possible to be a heathen atheist ?
Subtle but pronounced ? hmmmm
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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