I think there is moderate backlash against the comercialism of Christmas. I know some families (albiet not many) who've given up on gift-buying all together. They just celebrate the gift of God and enjoy His blessings... meditate on the meaning of the season... do family things. It's stress-free. I love that. I love it up to my eyeballs. What a completely grand idea.

Ergo: if we're going to get so defensive about having people take "Christ out of Christmas" shouldn't "we" (whoever we are) then be on the offensive line and be taking the commercialism out of Christmas? Don't just be passive and whiny about it. Don't feed the beast.

On a related note, a student of mine stayed in my class during lunch, reluctant to leave. He knew my heart was full of love for God. (I try to be different. It's a requisite, right?) He asked me spiritual questions and wanted to make Christ his King -- he wanted redemption and accepted God's Gift this holiday season. If that's not what Christmas is about, I don't know what it's about. When was your last encounter with our Holy God? When did you last drop your guard, soften your heart toward Him, and ask some questions?

Wouldn't it actually be better if we did celebrate his death too? Born in October? That's great! Celebrate in Decmber because of the fact that some pagan groups had it as a date of meaning on their calender? So what?!!!

Now celebrate His death would be a real event because of what it means. The ultimate marter story saving all of mankind. Can you imagine if we gave gifts, saw family and friends and had special meetings with long lost loved ones?

This is my first commend on JoeUser! w00t. I read this site every day and have never really had the time to comment, but I love the site, so I am commenting today. And since today is my birthday, what a good day to make my first comments on JoeUser

I'm so sick of all of this "you can't sing f'ing Christmas charols in schools, or say the pledge of allegence or teach the mother f'ing declaration of independence" cause it "offends" some people. I am personally offended by all of these people being offended by everything. When do I get to make a rule that says "you can't be offended by anything anymore cause you're offending me by being offended on such picky issues!" My brother is now a lawyer, I think he and I should get together and start suing all the people that are offending me by being offended. If someone doesn't take a stand and stop all this crap, I think my head might explode.

That's my two cents anyways.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

The real crux of the matter is Christ and the Bible...... that is the real issue?

There are other observances (acknowlegements) that take place in the public school that have references to other religions. How about Thanksgiving or even Halloween? Could that be construed as having a relious flavor? What about the study or reading of Muslim material. We hear of that being done in schools, with little or no objection. What about the emphasis on Earth Day- Mother Earth? There are some people that worship the creation. Does that have a religious flavor? Should any or all of it be allowed?

Merry Christmas
preacherman

A good many people would like Christmas to have some religious significance for them. But while they pay a lot of attention and effort to the social and domestic aspects of Christmas, not much preparation goes into the spiritual aspect. The wise men, Simeon, Hannah and of course Mary prepared for Christmas in different ways; and they experienced Christ when he arrived. If we too could take adavantage of the waiting period, traditionally called Advent, Christmas might become more meaningful to our spirits too.
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I totally agree though am not religious. we forget the real value and meaning of christmas by celebrating christmas the way we want and not considering what it is for. Noone who not a christian should even celebrate this occasion cos it's simply not valued the way it is supposed to be. Take this from someone who don't go to church but who still believes that she will be accepted by christ someday.(and soon I hope)

this is why nietsche was so perceptive, he saw that people were not really living as jesus wanted; plus God/Jesus never did write those books, other men did, thinking the best writers were in the book of wisdom and book of job which I was first to look at in a class. Very inciteful. Other good writings come from prophets who saw that the poor and other downtroden were getting the shaft; God to them was a liberator. (Nice james cone book, "The spirtituals and the Blues."

I can't really believe in a God who is vengeful; its sort of a contradiction of a God who is supposed to have given up his own son for our sake; a god that in the book of job who loves all his 'creations' even those who do bad. And he won't destroy them because of that love.

I totally agree though am not religious. we forget the real value and meaning of christmas by celebrating christmas the way we want and not considering what it is for.

the concept of santa should be found in your heart....apparently yours is stuck in between your ass cheeks...

Now that is not very "Christ"ian of you now is it?

After all the whole topic is from ones own "point of view" of Christmas. One side wants to cram "Christ" down your throat and the other want's it "removed" from everything including the Constitution, Bill Of Rights etc.