[3493] in Depressing_Thoughts
Re: It's started again...
sdcfred@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (sdcfred@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Fri Dec 11 13:47:05 1992
I am Christian (Catholic) and I was discussing this with a Jewish
friend who is offended by XMAS. I think that although the basis of
Christmas is Christian, the message is universal and makes the holiday
more of a humanity holiday than a religious one. One thing she really
doesn't like is that "christ" is in the word christmas. I don't know
what to do about that. I do think that turning it into a Monday holiday
has a certain appeal. For one thing, having it move is very annoying.
For another, some of its religious significance is stripped by secularly
declaring it. Actually, I believe the best option is to make it the
4th Monday after Thanksgiving, so that the merchants don't scream.
A find it disturbing that a holiday with so much potential and with
(theoretically) so much joy can cause so much pain in those who
don't subscribe to the Christian religion. Thus, I think that making
it a little less religion oriented is very worthwhile, and to those
Christians who would be offended by such a move I offer this:
Moving a Christian holiday so that more people in the world can enjoy
the holiday (with or without its Christian significance) is probably
one of the more "giving" acts around.
(note: I am not particularly religious, which is probably why I find moving
Christmas pretty easy to do. But I do think my last argument is
pretty good.)
