When it comes to people crying out that they're having their rights with regard to religion stripped from them in this country, I find they're typically of the Christian faith. This country is predominantly Christian and has been for as long as I can remember (further back than that, as I'm only 30). Without prayer in public schools, The Ten Commandments displayed on government buildings, creationism taught in school, people uttering the words happy holidays in December, the separation of church and state, etc., some like to clamor that their rights are being taken from them - that Christians are the ones being persecuted in this country.
I find this almost comical for how ridiculous it is, yet also very common in like scenarios. When a person or group of people possess more rights than others, when said others obtain equal rights, it may feel to the first group of people that their rights have become fewer. That's not the case. It's just the fact that the others have more rights than they did previously. When women were given the right to vote, I'm sure there were some men whom felt as if their rights were becoming less, because they were so used to possessing more rights than women. They were the dominant gender, the one whom brought the money home, put food on the table, was in control so to speak. When women were given the right to vote along with other rights, that power and control men had felt had decreased substantially to the point where many likely felt that their freedoms were being stripped, but that wasn't the case.
I think the same philosophy can be integrated with religion. For how many years have Christians been the dominant force in this country as far as religions go? As far as image? Outreach? Coverage? Advertising? Etc.? If, for example, we're talking about the phrase "happy holidays," again, that isn't lessening the importance of Christmas. It's just heightening and just including the importance of other holidays. The same goes with "the holiday tree" or "holiday lights". Christians can celebrate Christmas in as extreme a manner as they'd like (well, so long as no laws are broken, I suppose). It's not like a name change on a traditional symbol of Christmas by a public group can alter the significance any for an individual family. Their rights haven't been infringed upon at all. What Christians want, I believe, is to be seen as THE religion in this country with all the others, while being able to freely celebrate what they wish, aren't acknowledged. Projecting an image of equality unto the public irritates many Christians it seems like and makes them feel as if they're rights are being taken from them, when that's not the case. Why we can't just celebrate the holiday(s) with friends and family as we so choose and not care what certain businesses say or do about it/them is beyond me.
What I really find amusing about all of this War-On-Christmas talk is the fact Christmas was originally formed to counter the Pagan's Winter Solstice. It's not Jesus' actual birthday and the holiday has become nothing but a capitalistic paradise, what Jesus would surely have wanted.
But, please, never fear Christians. You are the majority and won't be having your freedoms stripped from you anytime soon. On that note, Happy Holidays to you all!
I find this almost comical for how ridiculous it is, yet also very common in like scenarios. When a person or group of people possess more rights than others, when said others obtain equal rights, it may feel to the first group of people that their rights have become fewer. That's not the case. It's just the fact that the others have more rights than they did previously. When women were given the right to vote, I'm sure there were some men whom felt as if their rights were becoming less, because they were so used to possessing more rights than women. They were the dominant gender, the one whom brought the money home, put food on the table, was in control so to speak. When women were given the right to vote along with other rights, that power and control men had felt had decreased substantially to the point where many likely felt that their freedoms were being stripped, but that wasn't the case.
I think the same philosophy can be integrated with religion. For how many years have Christians been the dominant force in this country as far as religions go? As far as image? Outreach? Coverage? Advertising? Etc.? If, for example, we're talking about the phrase "happy holidays," again, that isn't lessening the importance of Christmas. It's just heightening and just including the importance of other holidays. The same goes with "the holiday tree" or "holiday lights". Christians can celebrate Christmas in as extreme a manner as they'd like (well, so long as no laws are broken, I suppose). It's not like a name change on a traditional symbol of Christmas by a public group can alter the significance any for an individual family. Their rights haven't been infringed upon at all. What Christians want, I believe, is to be seen as THE religion in this country with all the others, while being able to freely celebrate what they wish, aren't acknowledged. Projecting an image of equality unto the public irritates many Christians it seems like and makes them feel as if they're rights are being taken from them, when that's not the case. Why we can't just celebrate the holiday(s) with friends and family as we so choose and not care what certain businesses say or do about it/them is beyond me.
What I really find amusing about all of this War-On-Christmas talk is the fact Christmas was originally formed to counter the Pagan's Winter Solstice. It's not Jesus' actual birthday and the holiday has become nothing but a capitalistic paradise, what Jesus would surely have wanted.
But, please, never fear Christians. You are the majority and won't be having your freedoms stripped from you anytime soon. On that note, Happy Holidays to you all!
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