What's wrong with "Merry Christmas"?

[dumbledore11214]

Geoff:
Precisely my point.

At my church I subscribe to a UK group called "Open Doors" who
support, monitor and report on the 'Persecuted Church'. This is the
name we use for churches in those countries where it is dangerous
to even mention that you are a Christian believer.

Every week, we receive reports of Christians who are ostracised and
discriminated against; who are attacked verbally and physically and
in a number of cases murdered; there are cases of groups who have
been imprisoned on fabricated charges or even without trial -
sometimes for years. For example, the goverment of Eritrea has come
under criticism for locking Christians in groups into shipping 
containers
and only allowing them out for an hour or so a day. Although many
of these incidents are in Muslim countries (and I agree with your 
proviso
above), there are also problem with Buddhist and Hindu governments
and also, inevitably, the Chinese.

Hence, I like to feel that we can "own" our festivals without folk 
who are
outside Christianity apparently trying to dilute our belief to suit 
their own
taste. My apologies if that seems critical but that is how it often 
looks
from my point of view.


Alla:

Geoff, you are one of the people who post here whom I love and 
respect very much and it frustrates me enormously that I have no 
idea what what you just wrote has to do with anything.

Christians are being persecuted in some or many countries? Um, sure 
they are. I think it is HORRIBLE, just as I think that it is 
horrible that many jews for centuries had been persecuted by many 
christians for refusing to accept Christianity - tortured, burned, 
just killed for refusing to accept Jesus in their hearts. Just as I 
think it is HORRIBLE that pagan parents should even THINK to be 
afraid of their child taken away from them, because they are not of 
mainstream religion.


People being persecuted for holding religious beliefs is horrible. I 
think it is a given for most of the people, is it not?

But who in this thread suggested that Christmas should be 
diluted?????


I had been saying all along that I want from the person who 
celebrates Christmas if the person is my close friend to be 
respectful to my beliefs and not ASSUME that everybody celebrates 
Christmas. Hence I love the greeting Happy holidays, that's all.

Am I asking too much, Geoff? If you think I am, well, I guess there 
is nothing more to say other than agree to disagree.

But I certainly disagree with suggestion that people who posted in 
the thread suggested try to own Christmas, dilute it, interfere with 
it celebration, etc.

I mean, maybe I missed this post, so link would be appreciated and 
then I am sorry in advance.

Alla