What is the Christian Conservatives Problem with the term 'Holiday Tree'?

Naw, just take the "Christ" out of it.

We can all celebrate Giftmas!

 

I think you mean Chri$tma$

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Of course it is. If a church gets to direct public policy in any way it's a violation of church and state.

The fact that every street you walk down after thanksgiving is decked out in "christian" paraphenalia, every store you walk into is playing christmas carols, etc,--it's definately a statement to the preeminence of christianity as the reigning belief system.

Personally I think the whole idea of christmas is about as far removed from the message of christianity as you can get, but in this country it's never really been about the message anyway. Niether is our form of christianity for that matter.

I think, even if there weren't any other religions being practiced in this country, calling it a holiday tree is alot more honest than trying to say that a tradition stolen from the pagans, one that pretty effectively contradicts this book that "christians" claim to be baseing their lives on, has anything to do with the message in the gospels.

Anyway nobodies "changing" the name. they're just changing it back to a closer approxiamation to what it originally was and what it actually is.

Just because you expect something to be called something and it winds up being called something else doesn't mean you got burned. It just means that (at least in small ways) this is still a democracy.

If they ever try to put a 45 ft. Menorah on public land I think the public should be able to decide what to call it.

How can you have one without the other?

What do you mean by "public life" exactly? everybody in this country is free to practice their religion in public or private, they're just not free to impose it on anybody else.

Saying "I don't want your religion" isn't the same as trying to take it away from you.
Only an insane control freak (read that "conservitive christian) would see it otherwise.

 

RE: because many from the christian right say that christmas is to celebrate the birth of Gods son. They also believe that America is a christian nation

There's also whack jobs who say that Yule (where all this crap comes from) is a Pagan holiday and therefore doing Christmas is pure unadulterated Satanism.

 

Lol! No shit. If I were christian I would be more concerned about the fact that alot more 5 yr olds recognise a pic of Santa Claus than a pic of Jesus.

Since I'm not christian I can just laugh and say there you go.

 

We can make the Christian Right very happy and say it's Chri$tma$, the celebration of the birth of Je$u$, the kick-ass retrun of the living dead action figure who exhorts you to bomb countries full of brown people, collect guns, and vote Republican.

 

**THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ALL THE RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES ON YOUR LIST!!!*(some dissembling required)

 

You don't need to disassemble. Just bomb with shock and awe bombs. Then 'some assembly required' again. In fact, a lot of a$$embly required, at least $350 billion worth.

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You still have to dissemble when the public starts asking unpatriotic questions like "Err...Why are we doing this again?"

 

Uh no. How is the church dictating public policy?!?! its calling it what it is! This isnt the Catholic church deciding on abortion or death penalty policy, it is calling a christmas tree a christmas tree.

so?

Every culture/language/etc adopts things from others. Is it somehow less valid because it was adopted later? Is a mexican immigrant less of an american than someone born in america?

Nobodies "changing" the name..they're just "changing." LOL

When did the people vote on this? You think the public would vote for calling it a holiday tree?

So how tall does the menorah have to be before an individual can decide to change the name from menorah to "holiday candholder?"

of course. Everyone can practice or not practice their own religion. That is the right afforded to people in this country. However, christians shouldnt be able to say they dont want muslims or muslim symbols. Atheists shouldnt be able to say they dont want religious symbols. That violates everyone elses freedom. No one forces them to practice religion, they cant prevent us from practicing. see how that works?

How are you imposing a religoin on someone by having a tree called the christmas tree?

Is a muslim imposing his religion on me when he drops to his knees and prays? Is a jewish person imposing their religion on me by wearing a yamakah? If no, then dont sit here and tell me that calling a christmas tree a christmas tree is imposing religion on anyone.

No one is forcing religion on anyone. An atheist has the right to his beliefs. He doesn't have the right to force everyone to hide their religion because he believes it is imposing on him.

Whats with the name calling? Grow up.

 

Let me get this straight Megara...



You admit that the Christians stole the whole "tree" thing from pagans, but you think it's wrong for us to change the name because it might offend christians?

THEY STOLE IT!!!
WE CAN DO THE SAME!!!

Hell, they should call it the "Everyone except Christians tree".

Here's a better idea, we outlaw religion entirely and give it's adherents free electroshock therapy....

 

is adopting something stealing? Why are we speaking the english language? Most of our words were "stolen" from greek/latin/french/native american languages etc.

Good to see you care about freedom. You're just as totalitarian and controlling as the people you attempt to villify.

BTW..who is we? The people of boston didn't vote for this...

 

Let me put it this way:

Why was it okay for christianity to "adopt" the tree, but not for secular humanists to "adopt" the tree?

 

how about we have two trees? A Christmas tree and a Holiday tree?

 

What happened to that maturity you were talking about?

 

uh...calling someone 'insane' is the same as calling someone totalitarian? I guess.

 

Hell yeah, it's name calling and labeling.

Hurt my feelings a bit.

You still didnt answer the question.

 

well, my brother is currently borrowing my share.


Now answer my question. Would you be against two trees, a holiday and a christmas?

 

Yes.

Be a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Why should chritianity get it's own tree when there's already one to cover all faiths and beliefs?

 

should we allow a menorah to be displayed..or an islamic crescent? Does this holiday tree cover everything? or does this just take care of the tree category?

What if a person donates it(As this guy did) How is that wasting taxpayer dollars? What if a church is willing to cover any cost?