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January 02, 2006
Christmas and New Years are over, and I think I can finally say a few things without being stoned to death by the right or hit by withering ridicule by the left.
As far as all the attempts by stores and such to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” hey, it’s reality, not just political correctness. Several store clerks said to me in all sincerity, “Happy Holidays.” I appreciated that. I wished them a happy holiday back.
The fact that Christ’s name is also in the name "Christmas" isn’t a show stopper, and doesn’t mean therefore that we have to consciously and intentionally acknowledge Christ when we celebrate this holiday. Thor’s name is in the name Thursday. Should I rise every Thursday and pray to Thor, and wish Thor’s blessing upon everyone? And if you argue that I can say “Happy Thursday” without feeling guilty of idolatry, then that’s my point. The name of the day or holiday as it becomes institutionalized can become meaningless.
If the “Christ” in the name Christmas has culturally become meaningless like Thor in Thursday, then there is no need to say, of necessity, Merry Christmas. But nor is there need to NOT to say Merry Christmas. If the name has gone the way of Thor, then “Merry Christmas” would mean no more than “Merry Thursday,” so what’s the harm.
But the name behind Christmas hasn’t gone the way of Thor. Not for the majority of Americans. And that is precisely the problem.
The majority of Americans want the Christ in Merry Christmas to mean, well, Christ.
A very vocal minority of Americans want to remove Christ and all other things Christian from public and commercial discourse.
Yet, isn’t it just unspeakably ironic that it is at the places of commerce where we as Christians demand that Christ’s name be restored, at that place where certain Christian groups want to be sure that signs and clerks say “Merry Christmas.” I just shake my head.
I have long advocated just giving Christmas to the pagans and celebrating Advent in the summer…but that won’t happen…And besides I would miss much. I love the association of Christmas with cold weather and Winter Solstice. But what about the Aussies?
And then there are the Christian purists and liberal naysayers who would throw out Christmas because of the “pagan” associations – you know, the terrible Christmas trees and all. It has long been the practice of Christians to co opt pagan symbols and bring to them Christian meanings. As a good friend has oft noted, this is no better seen in that most central symbol of the Christian faith – the cross, that implement of Roman execution and death now becoming our great symbol of the love of God to sinners. Next to that, the Christmas tree is child’s play.
But to those on the left who truly do desire to drive out of our culture all public reverences to Judeo/Christian heritage, you’ve missed the point of the Constitution, which is freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. And the harder you push, the harder the Christian right wing will push back. Hey can you all just take a year off in 2006?
Joel Gillespie
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