Anonymous wrote:Spin-off from a deleted part of another thread where it was off-topic...

I completely understand the appeal of secular Christmas for cultural Christians (for lack of a better phrase). It's fun and the decorations are pretty and there is a lot of family tradition that can still be passed down without all the religious components for those who have left Christianity. Truly, I'm happy for everyone who finds meaning in this iteration of Christmas.

What I don't understand is the insistence that the rest of us should celebrate it too. I understand that it's secular for you. I understand that you don't understand why the rest of us still call it a Christian holiday when you've divorced so much of the religion from it. But still, why do you insist that we all understand it the way you do and push and push people to celebrate secular Christmas (and I don't mean inviting us to your Christmas party, but really pushing us to teach our kids about Santa and decorate our own houses, because it will be fun and, really, it's not about Jesus)? I don't care that it's fun or that it's not about Jesus; it's just not my holiday, and I have plenty of my own holidays. You can just have Christmas to yourself. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas on December 25 and everything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently the Grinch posts on dcum.

Says the Chronic insulter.

Anonymous wrote:Apparently the Grinch posts on dcum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin-off from a deleted part of another thread where it was off-topic...

I completely understand the appeal of secular Christmas for cultural Christians (for lack of a better phrase). It's fun and the decorations are pretty and there is a lot of family tradition that can still be passed down without all the religious components for those who have left Christianity. Truly, I'm happy for everyone who finds meaning in this iteration of Christmas.

What I don't understand is the insistence that the rest of us should celebrate it too. I understand that it's secular for you. I understand that you don't understand why the rest of us still call it a Christian holiday when you've divorced so much of the religion from it. But still, why do you insist that we all understand it the way you do and push and push people to celebrate secular Christmas (and I don't mean inviting us to your Christmas party, but really pushing us to teach our kids about Santa and decorate our own houses, because it will be fun and, really, it's not about Jesus)? I don't care that it's fun or that it's not about Jesus; it's just not my holiday, and I have plenty of my own holidays. You can just have Christmas to yourself. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas on December 25 and everything.

No one cares what you do. Everyone makes their own choices for their family.

Not really -- lots of times people come on here specifically looking for advice on how to handle a situation.

There are people who are baffled that I don't celebrate Christmas, even after I tell them I'm Jewish. Like they don't see the incompatibility of the two things. And then they'll try to go on to convince me that I can celebrate it in a secular way, like it's some great loss for me and my family that we don't do Christmas, like we've just been looking for a way to do it and this person is going to make it ok.

A lot of Jews do celebrate Christmas in their own way. It's cultural - not religious - for many Cristians too. I suggest that you ease up about it.

WTF? Stop shoving your crap down other people's throats.

Christmas should go away - it's over-commercialized and played out.

Could be that pp doesn't see it as crap. As they said, it's cultural and not religious for many Christians too. To me, it's getting back to its pagan roots -- all about celebrating in the darkest days of winter.

That is the issue. People making assumptions about what other people want to experience.

Just because you enjoy something doesn't mean it should be forced on everyone else.

I strongly suggest that you give it up. Celebrate whatever holidays you want to and realize that you're living in a country with majority Christian roots, which often celebrates holidays without religious overtones.

+1. As an atheist, I don't care that Christmas and Easter (albeit they were appropriated from older pagan traditions) have Christian roots.

Separately, the idea that we should teach or be respectful of all religions and their holidays is ridiculous. If we gave all religions equal consideration, there would be no time to learn.

The fact of the matter is that this country was created by people who were Christian which are embedded in our culture. Go with it and enjoy the spirit of sharing and of rebirth.

What were you before you were atheist? I'll bet your family was Christian. IME, only cultural Christians argue that minorities shouldn't seek basic understanding and respect from the majority.

It would be impossible to give equal understanding and respect to every religion. Estimates indicate there are 4-10k religions in the world. You expect a country that is historically culturally Christian to accommodate and "respect" all of those? Are we supposed to have a day off for every religious holiday? How is your minority not being "respected"?

I expect a country that prides itself on being a nation of immigrants and a multicultural melting pot to try to live up to that, even when we fail to do so. I expect that when people of minority religions tell you we don't see Christmas as a secular "American" holiday, you could have enough respect for the religious diversity of our great country to just let it go, instead of telling us we're wrong or trying to patronizingly explain how Christmas is "embedded" in American culture, so we should just get "in the spirit."

Christmas is embedded in American culture. Your very premise is flawed.

It is like arguing that if I lived in Saudi Arabia or Israel they should not celebrate their normal holidays.

People can celebrate their holidays without forcing it on others.

Try it sometime.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin-off from a deleted part of another thread where it was off-topic...

I completely understand the appeal of secular Christmas for cultural Christians (for lack of a better phrase). It's fun and the decorations are pretty and there is a lot of family tradition that can still be passed down without all the religious components for those who have left Christianity. Truly, I'm happy for everyone who finds meaning in this iteration of Christmas.

What I don't understand is the insistence that the rest of us should celebrate it too. I understand that it's secular for you. I understand that you don't understand why the rest of us still call it a Christian holiday when you've divorced so much of the religion from it. But still, why do you insist that we all understand it the way you do and push and push people to celebrate secular Christmas (and I don't mean inviting us to your Christmas party, but really pushing us to teach our kids about Santa and decorate our own houses, because it will be fun and, really, it's not about Jesus)? I don't care that it's fun or that it's not about Jesus; it's just not my holiday, and I have plenty of my own holidays. You can just have Christmas to yourself. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas on December 25 and everything.

No one cares what you do. Everyone makes their own choices for their family.

Not really -- lots of times people come on here specifically looking for advice on how to handle a situation.

There are people who are baffled that I don't celebrate Christmas, even after I tell them I'm Jewish. Like they don't see the incompatibility of the two things. And then they'll try to go on to convince me that I can celebrate it in a secular way, like it's some great loss for me and my family that we don't do Christmas, like we've just been looking for a way to do it and this person is going to make it ok.

A lot of Jews do celebrate Christmas in their own way. It's cultural - not religious - for many Cristians too. I suggest that you ease up about it.

WTF? Stop shoving your crap down other people's throats.

Christmas should go away - it's over-commercialized and played out.

Could be that pp doesn't see it as crap. As they said, it's cultural and not religious for many Christians too. To me, it's getting back to its pagan roots -- all about celebrating in the darkest days of winter.

That is the issue. People making assumptions about what other people want to experience.

Just because you enjoy something doesn't mean it should be forced on everyone else.

I strongly suggest that you give it up. Celebrate whatever holidays you want to and realize that you're living in a country with majority Christian roots, which often celebrates holidays without religious overtones.

+1. As an atheist, I don't care that Christmas and Easter (albeit they were appropriated from older pagan traditions) have Christian roots.

Separately, the idea that we should teach or be respectful of all religions and their holidays is ridiculous. If we gave all religions equal consideration, there would be no time to learn.

The fact of the matter is that this country was created by people who were Christian which are embedded in our culture. Go with it and enjoy the spirit of sharing and of rebirth.

You don't think we should be respectful to all religions? WTAF?

Stop trying to shove your ChRisTiaN holidays down other people's throats. Not everyone wants that commercialized crap based on anachronistic fables.

Poster didn't say we should not be respectful to all religions. Poster said, "and their holidays". Context is whether public schools should engage with every religion and every religious observance.

Nice try to twist their words, but its clearly there in black and white.

PP said EXACTLY that. If the PP was just talking about holidays they could have just said "be respectful of all various holidays", but they very clearly said "religions and their holidays".

"the idea that we should teach or be respectful of all religions and their holidays is ridiculous"

You can't gaslight this one.

Learn how a conjuctive works.

Gaslighting fail.

"the idea that we should teach or be respectful of all religions and their holidays is ridiculous"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin-off from a deleted part of another thread where it was off-topic...

I completely understand the appeal of secular Christmas for cultural Christians (for lack of a better phrase). It's fun and the decorations are pretty and there is a lot of family tradition that can still be passed down without all the religious components for those who have left Christianity. Truly, I'm happy for everyone who finds meaning in this iteration of Christmas.

What I don't understand is the insistence that the rest of us should celebrate it too. I understand that it's secular for you. I understand that you don't understand why the rest of us still call it a Christian holiday when you've divorced so much of the religion from it. But still, why do you insist that we all understand it the way you do and push and push people to celebrate secular Christmas (and I don't mean inviting us to your Christmas party, but really pushing us to teach our kids about Santa and decorate our own houses, because it will be fun and, really, it's not about Jesus)? I don't care that it's fun or that it's not about Jesus; it's just not my holiday, and I have plenty of my own holidays. You can just have Christmas to yourself. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas on December 25 and everything.

No one cares what you do. Everyone makes their own choices for their family.

Not really -- lots of times people come on here specifically looking for advice on how to handle a situation.

There are people who are baffled that I don't celebrate Christmas, even after I tell them I'm Jewish. Like they don't see the incompatibility of the two things. And then they'll try to go on to convince me that I can celebrate it in a secular way, like it's some great loss for me and my family that we don't do Christmas, like we've just been looking for a way to do it and this person is going to make it ok.

A lot of Jews do celebrate Christmas in their own way. It's cultural - not religious - for many Cristians too. I suggest that you ease up about it.

WTF? Stop shoving your crap down other people's throats.

Christmas should go away - it's over-commercialized and played out.

Could be that pp doesn't see it as crap. As they said, it's cultural and not religious for many Christians too. To me, it's getting back to its pagan roots -- all about celebrating in the darkest days of winter.

That is the issue. People making assumptions about what other people want to experience.

Just because you enjoy something doesn't mean it should be forced on everyone else.

I strongly suggest that you give it up. Celebrate whatever holidays you want to and realize that you're living in a country with majority Christian roots, which often celebrates holidays without religious overtones.

+1. As an atheist, I don't care that Christmas and Easter (albeit they were appropriated from older pagan traditions) have Christian roots.

Separately, the idea that we should teach or be respectful of all religions and their holidays is ridiculous. If we gave all religions equal consideration, there would be no time to learn.

The fact of the matter is that this country was created by people who were Christian which are embedded in our culture. Go with it and enjoy the spirit of sharing and of rebirth.

What were you before you were atheist? I'll bet your family was Christian. IME, only cultural Christians argue that minorities shouldn't seek basic understanding and respect from the majority.

It would be impossible to give equal understanding and respect to every religion. Estimates indicate there are 4-10k religions in the world. You expect a country that is historically culturally Christian to accommodate and "respect" all of those? Are we supposed to have a day off for every religious holiday? How is your minority not being "respected"?

I expect a country that prides itself on being a nation of immigrants and a multicultural melting pot to try to live up to that, even when we fail to do so. I expect that when people of minority religions tell you we don't see Christmas as a secular "American" holiday, you could have enough respect for the religious diversity of our great country to just let it go, instead of telling us we're wrong or trying to patronizingly explain how Christmas is "embedded" in American culture, so we should just get "in the spirit."

Christmas is embedded in American culture. Your very premise is flawed.

It is like arguing that if I lived in Saudi Arabia or Israel they should not celebrate their normal holidays.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin-off from a deleted part of another thread where it was off-topic...

I completely understand the appeal of secular Christmas for cultural Christians (for lack of a better phrase). It's fun and the decorations are pretty and there is a lot of family tradition that can still be passed down without all the religious components for those who have left Christianity. Truly, I'm happy for everyone who finds meaning in this iteration of Christmas.

What I don't understand is the insistence that the rest of us should celebrate it too. I understand that it's secular for you. I understand that you don't understand why the rest of us still call it a Christian holiday when you've divorced so much of the religion from it. But still, why do you insist that we all understand it the way you do and push and push people to celebrate secular Christmas (and I don't mean inviting us to your Christmas party, but really pushing us to teach our kids about Santa and decorate our own houses, because it will be fun and, really, it's not about Jesus)? I don't care that it's fun or that it's not about Jesus; it's just not my holiday, and I have plenty of my own holidays. You can just have Christmas to yourself. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas on December 25 and everything.

No one cares what you do. Everyone makes their own choices for their family.

Not really -- lots of times people come on here specifically looking for advice on how to handle a situation.

There are people who are baffled that I don't celebrate Christmas, even after I tell them I'm Jewish. Like they don't see the incompatibility of the two things. And then they'll try to go on to convince me that I can celebrate it in a secular way, like it's some great loss for me and my family that we don't do Christmas, like we've just been looking for a way to do it and this person is going to make it ok.

A lot of Jews do celebrate Christmas in their own way. It's cultural - not religious - for many Cristians too. I suggest that you ease up about it.

WTF? Stop shoving your crap down other people's throats.

Christmas should go away - it's over-commercialized and played out.

Could be that pp doesn't see it as crap. As they said, it's cultural and not religious for many Christians too. To me, it's getting back to its pagan roots -- all about celebrating in the darkest days of winter.

That is the issue. People making assumptions about what other people want to experience.

Just because you enjoy something doesn't mean it should be forced on everyone else.

I strongly suggest that you give it up. Celebrate whatever holidays you want to and realize that you're living in a country with majority Christian roots, which often celebrates holidays without religious overtones.

Give what up? Not wanting your Christian-rooted holidays shoved down my throat?

We don't live in a Christian country. Stop pretending like we do.

I assume you are an adult. Make your own choices and let the rest do the same. You are just annoyingly immature.

No one should force people to celebrate Christmas if they don’t want to.

How is this even debatable? Seems like trolling…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin-off from a deleted part of another thread where it was off-topic...

I completely understand the appeal of secular Christmas for cultural Christians (for lack of a better phrase). It's fun and the decorations are pretty and there is a lot of family tradition that can still be passed down without all the religious components for those who have left Christianity. Truly, I'm happy for everyone who finds meaning in this iteration of Christmas.

What I don't understand is the insistence that the rest of us should celebrate it too. I understand that it's secular for you. I understand that you don't understand why the rest of us still call it a Christian holiday when you've divorced so much of the religion from it. But still, why do you insist that we all understand it the way you do and push and push people to celebrate secular Christmas (and I don't mean inviting us to your Christmas party, but really pushing us to teach our kids about Santa and decorate our own houses, because it will be fun and, really, it's not about Jesus)? I don't care that it's fun or that it's not about Jesus; it's just not my holiday, and I have plenty of my own holidays. You can just have Christmas to yourself. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas on December 25 and everything.

No one cares what you do. Everyone makes their own choices for their family.

Not really -- lots of times people come on here specifically looking for advice on how to handle a situation.

There are people who are baffled that I don't celebrate Christmas, even after I tell them I'm Jewish. Like they don't see the incompatibility of the two things. And then they'll try to go on to convince me that I can celebrate it in a secular way, like it's some great loss for me and my family that we don't do Christmas, like we've just been looking for a way to do it and this person is going to make it ok.

A lot of Jews do celebrate Christmas in their own way. It's cultural - not religious - for many Cristians too. I suggest that you ease up about it.

WTF? Stop shoving your crap down other people's throats.

Christmas should go away - it's over-commercialized and played out.

Could be that pp doesn't see it as crap. As they said, it's cultural and not religious for many Christians too. To me, it's getting back to its pagan roots -- all about celebrating in the darkest days of winter.

That is the issue. People making assumptions about what other people want to experience.

Just because you enjoy something doesn't mean it should be forced on everyone else.

I strongly suggest that you give it up. Celebrate whatever holidays you want to and realize that you're living in a country with majority Christian roots, which often celebrates holidays without religious overtones.

Give what up? Not wanting your Christian-rooted holidays shoved down my throat?

We don't live in a Christian country. Stop pretending like we do.

I assume you are an adult. Make your own choices and let the rest do the same. You are just annoyingly immature.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin-off from a deleted part of another thread where it was off-topic...

I completely understand the appeal of secular Christmas for cultural Christians (for lack of a better phrase). It's fun and the decorations are pretty and there is a lot of family tradition that can still be passed down without all the religious components for those who have left Christianity. Truly, I'm happy for everyone who finds meaning in this iteration of Christmas.

What I don't understand is the insistence that the rest of us should celebrate it too. I understand that it's secular for you. I understand that you don't understand why the rest of us still call it a Christian holiday when you've divorced so much of the religion from it. But still, why do you insist that we all understand it the way you do and push and push people to celebrate secular Christmas (and I don't mean inviting us to your Christmas party, but really pushing us to teach our kids about Santa and decorate our own houses, because it will be fun and, really, it's not about Jesus)? I don't care that it's fun or that it's not about Jesus; it's just not my holiday, and I have plenty of my own holidays. You can just have Christmas to yourself. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas on December 25 and everything.

No one cares what you do. Everyone makes their own choices for their family.

Not really -- lots of times people come on here specifically looking for advice on how to handle a situation.

There are people who are baffled that I don't celebrate Christmas, even after I tell them I'm Jewish. Like they don't see the incompatibility of the two things. And then they'll try to go on to convince me that I can celebrate it in a secular way, like it's some great loss for me and my family that we don't do Christmas, like we've just been looking for a way to do it and this person is going to make it ok.

A lot of Jews do celebrate Christmas in their own way. It's cultural - not religious - for many Cristians too. I suggest that you ease up about it.

WTF? Stop shoving your crap down other people's throats.

Christmas should go away - it's over-commercialized and played out.

Could be that pp doesn't see it as crap. As they said, it's cultural and not religious for many Christians too. To me, it's getting back to its pagan roots -- all about celebrating in the darkest days of winter.

That is the issue. People making assumptions about what other people want to experience.

Just because you enjoy something doesn't mean it should be forced on everyone else.

I strongly suggest that you give it up. Celebrate whatever holidays you want to and realize that you're living in a country with majority Christian roots, which often celebrates holidays without religious overtones.

+1. As an atheist, I don't care that Christmas and Easter (albeit they were appropriated from older pagan traditions) have Christian roots.

Separately, the idea that we should teach or be respectful of all religions and their holidays is ridiculous. If we gave all religions equal consideration, there would be no time to learn.

The fact of the matter is that this country was created by people who were Christian which are embedded in our culture. Go with it and enjoy the spirit of sharing and of rebirth.

What were you before you were atheist? I'll bet your family was Christian. IME, only cultural Christians argue that minorities shouldn't seek basic understanding and respect from the majority.

It would be impossible to give equal understanding and respect to every religion. Estimates indicate there are 4-10k religions in the world. You expect a country that is historically culturally Christian to accommodate and "respect" all of those? Are we supposed to have a day off for every religious holiday? How is your minority not being "respected"?

I expect a country that prides itself on being a nation of immigrants and a multicultural melting pot to try to live up to that, even when we fail to do so. I expect that when people of minority religions tell you we don't see Christmas as a secular "American" holiday, you could have enough respect for the religious diversity of our great country to just let it go, instead of telling us we're wrong or trying to patronizingly explain how Christmas is "embedded" in American culture, so we should just get "in the spirit."

Christmas is embedded in American culture. Your very premise is flawed.

It is like arguing that if I lived in Saudi Arabia or Israel they should not celebrate their normal holidays.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin-off from a deleted part of another thread where it was off-topic...

I completely understand the appeal of secular Christmas for cultural Christians (for lack of a better phrase). It's fun and the decorations are pretty and there is a lot of family tradition that can still be passed down without all the religious components for those who have left Christianity. Truly, I'm happy for everyone who finds meaning in this iteration of Christmas.

What I don't understand is the insistence that the rest of us should celebrate it too. I understand that it's secular for you. I understand that you don't understand why the rest of us still call it a Christian holiday when you've divorced so much of the religion from it. But still, why do you insist that we all understand it the way you do and push and push people to celebrate secular Christmas (and I don't mean inviting us to your Christmas party, but really pushing us to teach our kids about Santa and decorate our own houses, because it will be fun and, really, it's not about Jesus)? I don't care that it's fun or that it's not about Jesus; it's just not my holiday, and I have plenty of my own holidays. You can just have Christmas to yourself. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas on December 25 and everything.

No one cares what you do. Everyone makes their own choices for their family.

Not really -- lots of times people come on here specifically looking for advice on how to handle a situation.

There are people who are baffled that I don't celebrate Christmas, even after I tell them I'm Jewish. Like they don't see the incompatibility of the two things. And then they'll try to go on to convince me that I can celebrate it in a secular way, like it's some great loss for me and my family that we don't do Christmas, like we've just been looking for a way to do it and this person is going to make it ok.

A lot of Jews do celebrate Christmas in their own way. It's cultural - not religious - for many Cristians too. I suggest that you ease up about it.

WTF? Stop shoving your crap down other people's throats.

Christmas should go away - it's over-commercialized and played out.

Could be that pp doesn't see it as crap. As they said, it's cultural and not religious for many Christians too. To me, it's getting back to its pagan roots -- all about celebrating in the darkest days of winter.

That is the issue. People making assumptions about what other people want to experience.

Just because you enjoy something doesn't mean it should be forced on everyone else.

I strongly suggest that you give it up. Celebrate whatever holidays you want to and realize that you're living in a country with majority Christian roots, which often celebrates holidays without religious overtones.

Give what up? Not wanting your Christian-rooted holidays shoved down my throat?

We don't live in a Christian country. Stop pretending like we do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin-off from a deleted part of another thread where it was off-topic...

I completely understand the appeal of secular Christmas for cultural Christians (for lack of a better phrase). It's fun and the decorations are pretty and there is a lot of family tradition that can still be passed down without all the religious components for those who have left Christianity. Truly, I'm happy for everyone who finds meaning in this iteration of Christmas.

What I don't understand is the insistence that the rest of us should celebrate it too. I understand that it's secular for you. I understand that you don't understand why the rest of us still call it a Christian holiday when you've divorced so much of the religion from it. But still, why do you insist that we all understand it the way you do and push and push people to celebrate secular Christmas (and I don't mean inviting us to your Christmas party, but really pushing us to teach our kids about Santa and decorate our own houses, because it will be fun and, really, it's not about Jesus)? I don't care that it's fun or that it's not about Jesus; it's just not my holiday, and I have plenty of my own holidays. You can just have Christmas to yourself. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas on December 25 and everything.

No one cares what you do. Everyone makes their own choices for their family.

Not really -- lots of times people come on here specifically looking for advice on how to handle a situation.

There are people who are baffled that I don't celebrate Christmas, even after I tell them I'm Jewish. Like they don't see the incompatibility of the two things. And then they'll try to go on to convince me that I can celebrate it in a secular way, like it's some great loss for me and my family that we don't do Christmas, like we've just been looking for a way to do it and this person is going to make it ok.

A lot of Jews do celebrate Christmas in their own way. It's cultural - not religious - for many Cristians too. I suggest that you ease up about it.

WTF? Stop shoving your crap down other people's throats.

Christmas should go away - it's over-commercialized and played out.

Could be that pp doesn't see it as crap. As they said, it's cultural and not religious for many Christians too. To me, it's getting back to its pagan roots -- all about celebrating in the darkest days of winter.

That is the issue. People making assumptions about what other people want to experience.

Just because you enjoy something doesn't mean it should be forced on everyone else.

I strongly suggest that you give it up. Celebrate whatever holidays you want to and realize that you're living in a country with majority Christian roots, which often celebrates holidays without religious overtones.

+1. As an atheist, I don't care that Christmas and Easter (albeit they were appropriated from older pagan traditions) have Christian roots.

Separately, the idea that we should teach or be respectful of all religions and their holidays is ridiculous. If we gave all religions equal consideration, there would be no time to learn.

The fact of the matter is that this country was created by people who were Christian which are embedded in our culture. Go with it and enjoy the spirit of sharing and of rebirth.

What were you before you were atheist? I'll bet your family was Christian. IME, only cultural Christians argue that minorities shouldn't seek basic understanding and respect from the majority.

It would be impossible to give equal understanding and respect to every religion. Estimates indicate there are 4-10k religions in the world. You expect a country that is historically culturally Christian to accommodate and "respect" all of those? Are we supposed to have a day off for every religious holiday? How is your minority not being "respected"?

I expect a country that prides itself on being a nation of immigrants and a multicultural melting pot to try to live up to that, even when we fail to do so. I expect that when people of minority religions tell you we don't see Christmas as a secular "American" holiday, you could have enough respect for the religious diversity of our great country to just let it go, instead of telling us we're wrong or trying to patronizingly explain how Christmas is "embedded" in American culture, so we should just get "in the spirit."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin-off from a deleted part of another thread where it was off-topic...

I completely understand the appeal of secular Christmas for cultural Christians (for lack of a better phrase). It's fun and the decorations are pretty and there is a lot of family tradition that can still be passed down without all the religious components for those who have left Christianity. Truly, I'm happy for everyone who finds meaning in this iteration of Christmas.

What I don't understand is the insistence that the rest of us should celebrate it too. I understand that it's secular for you. I understand that you don't understand why the rest of us still call it a Christian holiday when you've divorced so much of the religion from it. But still, why do you insist that we all understand it the way you do and push and push people to celebrate secular Christmas (and I don't mean inviting us to your Christmas party, but really pushing us to teach our kids about Santa and decorate our own houses, because it will be fun and, really, it's not about Jesus)? I don't care that it's fun or that it's not about Jesus; it's just not my holiday, and I have plenty of my own holidays. You can just have Christmas to yourself. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas on December 25 and everything.

No one cares what you do. Everyone makes their own choices for their family.

Not really -- lots of times people come on here specifically looking for advice on how to handle a situation.

There are people who are baffled that I don't celebrate Christmas, even after I tell them I'm Jewish. Like they don't see the incompatibility of the two things. And then they'll try to go on to convince me that I can celebrate it in a secular way, like it's some great loss for me and my family that we don't do Christmas, like we've just been looking for a way to do it and this person is going to make it ok.

A lot of Jews do celebrate Christmas in their own way. It's cultural - not religious - for many Cristians too. I suggest that you ease up about it.

WTF? Stop shoving your crap down other people's throats.

Christmas should go away - it's over-commercialized and played out.

Could be that pp doesn't see it as crap. As they said, it's cultural and not religious for many Christians too. To me, it's getting back to its pagan roots -- all about celebrating in the darkest days of winter.

That is the issue. People making assumptions about what other people want to experience.

Just because you enjoy something doesn't mean it should be forced on everyone else.

I strongly suggest that you give it up. Celebrate whatever holidays you want to and realize that you're living in a country with majority Christian roots, which often celebrates holidays without religious overtones.

+1. As an atheist, I don't care that Christmas and Easter (albeit they were appropriated from older pagan traditions) have Christian roots.

Separately, the idea that we should teach or be respectful of all religions and their holidays is ridiculous. If we gave all religions equal consideration, there would be no time to learn.

The fact of the matter is that this country was created by people who were Christian which are embedded in our culture. Go with it and enjoy the spirit of sharing and of rebirth.

You don't think we should be respectful to all religions? WTAF?

Stop trying to shove your ChRisTiaN holidays down other people's throats. Not everyone wants that commercialized crap based on anachronistic fables.

Poster didn't say we should not be respectful to all religions. Poster said, "and their holidays". Context is whether public schools should engage with every religion and every religious observance.

Nice try to twist their words, but its clearly there in black and white.

PP said EXACTLY that. If the PP was just talking about holidays they could have just said "be respectful of all various holidays", but they very clearly said "religions and their holidays".

"the idea that we should teach or be respectful of all religions and their holidays is ridiculous"

You can't gaslight this one.

Learn how a conjuctive works.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Spin-off from a deleted part of another thread where it was off-topic...

I completely understand the appeal of secular Christmas for cultural Christians (for lack of a better phrase). It's fun and the decorations are pretty and there is a lot of family tradition that can still be passed down without all the religious components for those who have left Christianity. Truly, I'm happy for everyone who finds meaning in this iteration of Christmas.

What I don't understand is the insistence that the rest of us should celebrate it too. I understand that it's secular for you. I understand that you don't understand why the rest of us still call it a Christian holiday when you've divorced so much of the religion from it. But still, why do you insist that we all understand it the way you do and push and push people to celebrate secular Christmas (and I don't mean inviting us to your Christmas party, but really pushing us to teach our kids about Santa and decorate our own houses, because it will be fun and, really, it's not about Jesus)? I don't care that it's fun or that it's not about Jesus; it's just not my holiday, and I have plenty of my own holidays. You can just have Christmas to yourself. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas on December 25 and everything.

No one cares what you do. Everyone makes their own choices for their family.

Not really -- lots of times people come on here specifically looking for advice on how to handle a situation.

There are people who are baffled that I don't celebrate Christmas, even after I tell them I'm Jewish. Like they don't see the incompatibility of the two things. And then they'll try to go on to convince me that I can celebrate it in a secular way, like it's some great loss for me and my family that we don't do Christmas, like we've just been looking for a way to do it and this person is going to make it ok.

A lot of Jews do celebrate Christmas in their own way. It's cultural - not religious - for many Cristians too. I suggest that you ease up about it.

WTF? Stop shoving your crap down other people's throats.

Christmas should go away - it's over-commercialized and played out.

Could be that pp doesn't see it as crap. As they said, it's cultural and not religious for many Christians too. To me, it's getting back to its pagan roots -- all about celebrating in the darkest days of winter.

That is the issue. People making assumptions about what other people want to experience.

Just because you enjoy something doesn't mean it should be forced on everyone else.

I strongly suggest that you give it up. Celebrate whatever holidays you want to and realize that you're living in a country with majority Christian roots, which often celebrates holidays without religious overtones.

+1. As an atheist, I don't care that Christmas and Easter (albeit they were appropriated from older pagan traditions) have Christian roots.

Separately, the idea that we should teach or be respectful of all religions and their holidays is ridiculous. If we gave all religions equal consideration, there would be no time to learn.

The fact of the matter is that this country was created by people who were Christian which are embedded in our culture. Go with it and enjoy the spirit of sharing and of rebirth.

You don't think we should be respectful to all religions? WTAF?

Stop trying to shove your ChRisTiaN holidays down other people's throats. Not everyone wants that commercialized crap based on anachronistic fables.

Poster didn't say we should not be respectful to all religions. Poster said, "and their holidays". Context is whether public schools should engage with every religion and every religious observance.

Nice try to twist their words, but its clearly there in black and white.

PP said EXACTLY that. If the PP was just talking about holidays they could have just said "be respectful of all various holidays", but they very clearly said "religions and their holidays".

"the idea that we should teach or be respectful of all religions and their holidays is ridiculous"

You can't gaslight this one.