- Jun 24, 2003
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I should know better than to listen to talk radio, but occaisionally, I tune in a local call-in show on the way home. A guy was on complaining that he thinks Christmas is being increasingly diminished in modern society. His example: signs in stores and malls that used to say "Merry Christmas," now say "Season's Greetings." The greeters in Wal-Mart say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." He believes there's even less non-religious decoration, such as wreaths, lights, Santa, elves, or reindeer figures. He says it's an sign of how creeping secularization and political correctness is destroying Christian values.
Anyone agree with this? I think it's hugely over-reacting to a perception I'm not sure is valid. I'm a non-believer, but I'm certainly not offended by seeing a Merry Christmas sign. Let's face it, we all know Christmas isn't originally a Christian holiday. It was a Roman winter solstice celebration that was adopted by the early church. The NT says nothing about celebrating Jesus's birthday, whenever that is. And commercialization pretty much overwhelmed any religious significance of Christmas a long time ago.
But I also wonder, even if his observation is true, why would this be a problem? If an individual Christian is strong in his faith, and observes the religious nature of the holiday, why would he need validation by signs and displays in stores and streets? Does it really harm his belief if all of society doesn't celebrate Christmas the way he does?
Anyone agree with this? I think it's hugely over-reacting to a perception I'm not sure is valid. I'm a non-believer, but I'm certainly not offended by seeing a Merry Christmas sign. Let's face it, we all know Christmas isn't originally a Christian holiday. It was a Roman winter solstice celebration that was adopted by the early church. The NT says nothing about celebrating Jesus's birthday, whenever that is. And commercialization pretty much overwhelmed any religious significance of Christmas a long time ago.
But I also wonder, even if his observation is true, why would this be a problem? If an individual Christian is strong in his faith, and observes the religious nature of the holiday, why would he need validation by signs and displays in stores and streets? Does it really harm his belief if all of society doesn't celebrate Christmas the way he does?