Merry Christ birth!

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 2:25 pm

Uh... how in the world did this topic turn around to yet another, to me pointless argument, or whatever it is?

In sweden, no-one thinks about this, or bothers with non-religious connected names. It's possible that it's connected to the fact that we don't use an equivalent name of Christ-mas, rather we use the name Jul. Very similiar to Yule, yes.

Jul, simply means something aking to big festivity, really cheery, something like that, it's a bit unclear where it comes from and such.

Also, take in mind, that most of sweden is secularized to irrecognition, even tho almost everyone is technically baptized at the age of 1, and hence christians, no-one would call themselves religious. We only go to church on a few occassions in life, one of them being funerals.

Even tho many do the Confirmation, the real initiation into our swedish church, since well, your baptized so early that you don't acctually become christian, hardly anyone does it for that reason, but because it's a tradition to buy various lavish goods to those that do it.

Now... I can honestly say that I've only met ONE guy, in my age-group that would call himself religious*, and he was a Jehovas Vitness, or well, his parents was, I didn't acctually ever see HIM do or say anything remotely religious.

Just my 2 cents, wich bubbles up to the point that this is mostly a cultural issue, mostly bu you lads from the UK and the US, rest of us have no time for such idlying about.

*not counting any muslim people, never met anyone outside muslim or christian religions btw.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 3:48 pm

Denyer wrote:
Yaya wrote: when I don't reply back with "Merry Christmas" but a "happy holidays", the Christian gets offended or taken aback.
The correct attitude in these circumstances is: f*ck 'em.

Well, it does piss me off mainly because I can't believe people would be so freakin ignorant. I mean, why doesn't it register with them that other faiths exist and that there are people in this world who don't hold Jesus to be God? And even if it doesn't register, shouldn't the more appropriate Christian response be one not of anger but of pity? I mean if a Christian believes that I will burn in hell for not accepting Jesus as God, why should they dislike me for it, for according to their belief, aren't I going to get something far, far worse than they can imagine? But nope. They still have to stare at me, aghast, that I don't believe what they do. Again, its ignorance.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 6:40 pm

man, i thought it was all about Christians trying to make me guy crappy novelty socks.

bastards.

anyone who cares about this is clearly a waste of oxygen so needs not be paid any real heed, eh?

merry christmas, happy holidays and of course GO **** YOURSELF.

Optimus Prime Rib · Post by **Optimus Prime Rib** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:02 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:
Optimus Prime Rib wrote:
Professor Smooth wrote: No one does. Some Christians seem to believe that saying Merry Christmas to a non-Christian is akin to setting somebody's mother on fire.
I think thats backwards. I see more non Christians bitching that by saying Merry Christmas we are pushing our religion onto them.
I can see why you'd think that, but you're mistaken. See if you can follow me, here, because it's kind of complicated. Christians believe that non Christians believe that Christians are forcing their religion on them. Non Christians (for the most part) simply do not care. I suppose that some of the really fundamentalist people belonging to non Christian religions may be bothered to say "I don't celebrate Christmas," but that's usually followed by "...but thanks anyway." We don't care if you wish us a Merry Christmas because it's your custom and we know you're trying to be nice by saying it. It's just like we didn't really care when Christmas trees were put up in the center of town. Just because we don't follow your religion does not mean that every display affiliated with it offends us. I speak for most non-Christians when I say that we honestly do not care. It's not important enough to us to have it offend.

When we say "Happy Holidays" we're not saying "Happy Holidays...Except Christmas!" It's just "Happy Holidays= Happy Thanksgiving, New Years, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Channuka, Solstice, Festivus, etc." There are a lot of bloody holidays this time of year!

No what Im saying is that if I say Merry Christmas I shouldnt have to hear someone TELL ME WHAT TO SAY. If someone replies "Happy Hollidays" thats perfectly fine with me. It IS the Holiday season with 90% of world religions having major holidays this month. Happy Holidays is very friendly and I would gladly tell people that had I thought about it. The problem was that utter **** who got snotty with me after I tried to be a decent person about her behavior.

Post by **Denyer** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 9:10 pm

Yaya wrote:They still have to stare at me, aghast, that I don't believe what they do.

Think of it as an opportunity to beat it into them through repetition...

Post by **Kaylee** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 11:21 pm

Merry Christmas and all my love for the New Year, everyone. I hope all your dreams come true.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 11:29 pm

Karl Lynch wrote:Merry Christmas and all my love for the New Year, everyone. I hope all your dreams come true.

Karl Mate, where have u been! ?

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 12:14 pm

...now he's gone again

Bouncelot · Post by **Bouncelot** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 4:34 pm

A belated Merry Christmas to everyone. And I think the phrase "Happy Holidays" is an Americanism, 'cos I've never heard anyone this side of the Atlantic use it.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 3:44 pm

Merry Midwinter everyone

The "holidays" thing is tosh. I know jews, muslims and atheists who celebrate Christmas, just like I'm allowed to celebrate Eid or Divali if I want. It's a celebration that should be inclusive, not something that should be segregated.

Gah, I'm hungover.

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 4:30 pm

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

I enjoyed the time with my family (and my boyfriend's family), and we had excellent food. This week I have taken off work, so time for sleeping, movies/dvds, cooking and fun!

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:47 pm

Metal Vendetta wrote:The "holidays" thing is tosh!

You, sir, are brilliant.

Keep up the good work, lad. And have a beer on me.

(hehe)

Laser Rod Optimus Prime · Post by **Laser Rod Optimus Prime** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 5:02 am

Since this seems to more or less be the holiday thread, thought I'd bring this up here: Anybody get anything good this year?

I got a bunch of new clothes, which was nice because I intended to clean out my closet anyways.

A couple of giftcards I already have managed to use up.

Some new tools to add to the toolbox.

And a Nintendo DS with Mario Kart. (current online record of 5 wins and 5 losses)

Very nice hoildays for me. Spent it with parts of my family that I rarely get to see, played with the 7 little ones (read: younger than me) and only got upset at one point over the whole 5 day affair. Thumbs up all the way around.

Bouncelot · Post by **Bouncelot** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 7:53 am

Laser Rod Optimus Prime wrote:Since this seems to more or less be the holiday thread, thought I'd bring this up here: Anybody get anything good this year?

A remote controlled Dalek.

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 4:40 pm

I already got all my presents on the 5th of December, according to Dutch tradition. So nothing for Christmas.

BUT: my boyfriend bought us the Robin of Sherwood boxed set!

:):) So we'll have a nice and nostalgic Christmas holiday.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 6:43 am

Raise your hand if you didn't get the Serenity DVD.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 8:25 am

Well it's long overdue, buuut - Merry Christmas to all! Or to be politically correct, merry Pine-fest to all!

Yes, don't laugh... when the communists were in power after 1950, they tried to replace the name and custom of Christmas with 'Pine-Fest'... good try but it never worked. They did manage to make people believe that Santa Claus is associated with Christmas, though.

RIB, you'd never had the problem with the smart-ass lady in Hungary - we call Christmas 'Karacsony' and there is no trace of Jesus Christ's or God's name in that word. Conclusion - move to HUngary!