Reply to If you are not Christian, do you resent holidays like Christmas and Easter?

Forum Index » Religion

Reply to "If you are not Christian, do you resent holidays like Christmas and Easter?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]I'm Jewish, and, no I don't think I resent the Christian holidays at all.

I think, sometimes, that just nonparticipation can start to look like resentment when you are talking about a holiday that the vast majority celebrates. Sometimes just quietly "opting out," which, I promise, I'd much rather make as little fuss about as possible, can become a bigger deal than it needs to be.

As a nonbeliever in the religion, for me (I'm not speaking for all Jews), there's not a huge distinction between the religious and secular aspects to the holiday. So, while, I'm happy the vast majority of the time to participate in other people's celebrations, there are parts that I may not want to participate in or have my kids participate in. The best example I can think of from here was a thread a few years ago about some Jewish parents who felt uncomfortable dressing up their child in red and green for a daycare photo. I haven't been in that exact situation, but there have been similar ones. I'd like to be able to just say "No, thank you" when it comes to opting out of holiday related activites without having to justify or defend. I think that's when it starts to look like resentment.

I guess for me personally, I have no issues with Christmas decorations, music, or even work and/or school celebrations. I just would like to be able to actually participate at my own comfort level.

There are also a few (thank goodness) people in my life who like to make a statement about the "War on Christmas." I've had people say to me at work something along the lines of "Merry Christmas, and I know it's not PC, but I'm going to say it to you anyway." For the past 30 years, I've been happily replying "Merry Christmas" to people that say that and "You too" to " Happy Holidays." Again, it just feels like in the last 5 years my holiday greeting has to "make a statement." So I will admit to resentment about the "War against the War on Christmas"[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics