Random Holiday Annoyances

[kyburg]

I never thought I'd have to say this.

I am getting damn tired of Christmas celebrations, mentions - whathaveyou - gingerly side-stepping the whole Christianity issue. Like, as in, this originated as a religious holiday?

Just - don't say it. Don't even mention it.

I blame nutjobs like this one.

You can't be Christian and intelligent. Oh, hell no. You can't be Christian and believe science really does explain things truthfully (Huckabee is saying much the same thing and he scares me. I just don't trust anyone making a point of their faith to get the OK stamp from the Republican party. Not anymore.).

Like - it's okay to be STUPID. No, wait. You MUST BE.

*facesmacks*

Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all."

- Acts 10:34-36

I got that yesterday in Sojo.net email - so I went out and found the entire chapter.

You can go check the entire chapter too, if you like. The site has every version, so no favorites.

If the twit read her bible, would she be such a total TOOL?

Honestly.

Christmas is remembering when hope came. When truth came. Is it entirely accurate, and not co-opted/combined with existing winter solstice festivals? Come on. (You can find out more about the figures mentioned - the actual people mentioned left quite a trail behind them.)

Guys. Christ was one of the good guys. The liberal to end all liberals. To completely leave Him out of everything, because, well, His followers are making your head hurt...is getting noticeable. (The Shrek Holiday thing is the most obvious to me right now. Remember how very nicely you could fit the Christmas story into the old Peanuts special and be pretty matter-of-fact about it?) The message was one of peace...in a world that thrived on violence and hatred. Kinda of like the one we have running the place right now.

Lord of All wants peace. Pretty simple stuff, you ask me.

Celebrating that by mentioning it during the season we mark its beginning isn't wrong.

You just mention Christianity and people lose their minds and think about other things - that's the wrong.

Christianity was never intended to replace - without supplementing what was. It has nothing to do with Jesus Horses, creationism (welcome to WHAT), the King James version as anything but period literature and every other bit of STUPID the public at large has to put up with.

I think Matthew 5:17 would have shut that twit up.

Meanwhile, Merry Christmas. And I hope you're enjoying a good Hanukkah (that's the spelling this year and I'm sticking to it).

I'll also say this again - every belief system more than a few months old, that wants to survive, is going to make sure of it by defining themselves in some fashion as Other and Special. Watch for it.

Look for the commonalities - that's where God is. (Yay Yule.)

Comments

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

If the twit read her bible, would she be such a total TOOL?

If the twit read anything, she'd be less of one. I get the impression she only knows things she sees on TV or hears somebody say somewhere. I'd like to be wrong.

[stormdragon.livejournal.com]

Not that I care about the Christ in Christmas bit or anything, but if I did, here's my PoV:

I'm not Christian, and I grew up and treat Christmas as a secular holiday. To me, that makes sense as it has become such a large holiday that it has no encompassed people of varying religious beliefs (or none at all). Wishing me a merry Christmas is one thing, but also tossing in JC would be stretching it. Why? Because not everyone's Christian.

It's fine for Christians to include Him in their holiday celebrations, but when that crosses over and out of their personal celebration, and into someone else's life, then of course there's going to be a conflict. So it's not unreasonable, nor should it be unexpected, that non-Christians would want to leave JC out of their celebratory events of this particular holiday season.

[scarcrest.livejournal.com]

I tend to agree. I exchange gifts with family, all of whom are Christian, and I don't go ballistic if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, and indeed I'll wish a Merry Christmas to friends who are Christian; but I also try to remember when Hanukkah rolls around and others as appropriate for my friends.

Completely ignoring the religious element is silly, but I don't stress it. I no longer send cards, but when I did they usually said "happy holidays" unless I knew for a fact the person was a follower of a particular religion.

[pagawne.livejournal.com]

A Christian I am, and not ashamed of it, nor am I ashamed of the fact I can generally read the written word (when I can find my glasses). I really think some poor souls have given their minds over to their ministers, and believe everything they are told. (No matter it is Wrong, no matter that it is generally to cause hate and discontent, and to stir up trouble not only between Christians but between Christians and everyone else as well.

One more little bit. Abort an 8-month old baby? That statement completely wraps my mind around the axel. I did not really believe anyone could be that dumb.

[elorie.livejournal.com]

Actually, I blame the "OMG there's a War on Christmas! We've got to SAVE CHRISTMAS!" dumbasses like Bill O'Reilly.

[dracowayfarer.livejournal.com]

I really hope that this was an isolated incident and that there aren't a significant number of people out there who honestly think like her... then again, one of her co-hostesses thinks that the "Greeks came first."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN82Y9BwpVs

Also, she seems to be slightly confused about whether or not the Earth is, in fact, round.

http://www.thedailybackground.com/2007/09/18/video-the-view-co-host-doesnt-know-if-the-world-is-round-or-flat/


I don't hate Christians. I hate what Christianity tends to do to people.

To be fair, other organized religions are also guilty of this, it's just that the Christian fundies happen to be the loudest and most obnoxious in our country.

[catsonmars.livejournal.com]

I think the real story here is Whoopi Goldberg owning that chick.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Last time I checked, watching television and repeating what it said did not make you a Christian.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Word.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

And that's where I have to step in and say no - Christianity does NOT do that to people.

Being lazy with regard to what you put in your head - THAT'S what I blame.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

She has to do it often. I don't understand why she has to at all.

[dracowayfarer.livejournal.com]

Fair point. However, I've yet to hear about a church that really encouraged logical thinking about their religion.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

You haven't gone where I go, or with me. *winks*

[zedmanauk.livejournal.com]

I like this comic:
http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp10192006.shtml

Especially the quote:
"Never confuse the faith with the supposedly faithful."

Of course, that's easier said than done, just like most of the tenets of almost all religions.