This is as far as I’m going in Bill O’Reilly’s faux War on Christmas:
That’s it. That’s the only shot this rude, arrogant, unethical, satanic atheist is firing in Billy’s war. Now I’m running for cover from the barrage of insults, castigations and damnations that fundogelicals will undoubtedly start pouring over me like hot oil in 3…2…1…
– the chaplain
ubi dubium
December 7, 2012 at 3:27 pm
And as a good Pastafarian, I’ll wish you “Happy Holiday”! (Of course, it’s been Holiday since right after Halloween, and it will last until at least Superbowl Sunday.)
the chaplain
December 7, 2012 at 4:12 pm
May the Flying Spaghetti Monster touch you with his noodly appendage this holiday season. And go easy on the carbonara – you don’t want to get indigestion.
Rick
December 7, 2012 at 3:48 pm
That seems to be a logical, pragmatic approach to the holiday season. There are several holidays in December that are observed by people of different faiths and beliefs. We can’t know for sure what belief system anyone might follow and I certainly can’t assume everyone one I greet is a Christian. Nor should anyone who greets me assume that I am a Christian.
If anyone greets me with a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays or Happy Winter Solstice, I’ll acknowledge them and wish them likewise without taking any offense. The way I see, if someone is offended, it’s because they chose to be offended. If I say “Happy Holidays” I’m covering all the possibilities and once I know their preference I can bid them the appropriate holiday wishes. Or, if they’re all pissed, just blow them off entirely.
the chaplain
December 7, 2012 at 4:14 pm
I honestly don’t get why some people are so uptight with the idea that everyone around them should acknowledge their holiday in exactly the way they prescribe. To top it off, they then presume to call it a season of joy or some such rot.
Recovering Agnostic
December 7, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Yep, they can’t just accept the fact that people are enjoying and celebrating an occasion in a slightly different way from them. What’s more important – to participate in a major celebration, or to subscribe to some specific understanding of its significance and origins?
Graham
December 9, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Well i think that,s how 99.9% of Christians in the UK would see it too. Let everybody celebrate it or not as they want. The clue is in the name as to what its all about but its not compulsory. Some Atheists i know don’t give gifts, decorate or anything and good for them if that’s their belief, in fact i admire them because they have at least thought about it seriously. Problem, is it gets political and councils ban public nativity scenes which seems a bit crass. As a Christian i have no desire to declare war on the Druids at their solstice at Stonehenge for example but when you try to ”eradicate” Christianity as Richard Dawkins has said, that’s when attitudes begin to harden. Its not such a big deal though Christians should be more concerned about those in need at Christmas rather than the occasional bit of political posturing. Let all viewpoints be taught and expressed and let everyone decide for themselves Easter is much more important to us anyway.
the chaplain
December 12, 2012 at 8:53 am
There’s nothing “crass” about banning nativity scenes from public property, which is a different thing from banning such scenes from places where the public can see them. Atheists don’t give a rat’s ass what people display on their own property. But, if governments are going to allow religious displays on government property – property paid for by all members of society – then they have to allow equal opportunities for such displays. If Christians can display their icons on government property, then Wiccans, Buddhists, Pagans, Jews, Muslims, etc. should have opportunities to do the same. It is not at all inappropriate for governments to disallow all such displays on land funded and owned by the public at large.
My understanding of Dawkins, from what I’ve read of his stuff, is that he would like to see all superstitions, and all religions based on superstitions, disappear. I’ve never known him to advocate a forceful “eradication” of these things. Rather, I think his desire is to use education to help people free themselves of beliefs that often shackle them (and others around them), such as beliefs that men are superior to women, that homosexuality is evil, that even heterosexual sex is a dirty activity, etc. I know that many religious people don’t believe any of those things, but, unfortunately, many others do believe them and they make people’s lives miserable because of the way the behave based on those beliefs.
desertscope
December 10, 2012 at 7:23 pm
I was at a conference recently and went to dinner with colleagues. A person walking by said Happy Holidays to someone else. The intern took offense and said, “It’s Christmas! Merry Christmas! What is with these stupid Californians and their political correctness?” After opting not to tell her something untoward, I suggested, “You know, people have been saying that for at least a couple of generations.” I failed to add that prior to Fox News, even the most Bible-bethumped never gave a rat’s ass. I ought to have mentioned that.
the chaplain
December 12, 2012 at 8:55 am
The brainwashing is strong in that intern.
Mike aka MonolithTMA
December 12, 2012 at 10:55 pm
My contribution to the war on Christmas is to wish the Salvation Army bell ringers a Merry Christmas while everyone else is doing their best to ignore them. I don’t give them a dime, but I give them a smile and a holiday greeting that they appreciate.