That was until recently, when I started to realize that in doing so I am silently condoning the demise of our Judeo-Christian culture. For me being a "secular Christian" is now a political statement against those liberal forces that are causing us to say "Happy Holidays" and Holiday tree'' etc.
Really? I say Merry Christmas, and I'm and Atheist. The Public School my kids attend did a Christmas Tree, not a holiday tree. Much of this is made up nonsense to sell books. Now, it's time for a brief history of the modern Christmas celebration:
From About:
Conservative Christians complain about secularists, atheists, and liberals trying to undermine Christmas, but there is little historical understanding and awareness in these complaints. An examination of Christian history indicates that religion has been slowly stripped from Christmas, as well as other Christian holidays, over a long time now — and by Christians themselves, primarily the conservative Protestants who are today complaining the loudest.
...
The religious holidays of November and December were designed to help Christians contemplate death and judgment; this, in turn, was supposed to help prepare Christians for the Christmas season when they were supposed to contemplate Jesus, salvation, and heaven. Traditionally, the Christmas “season” actually lasted through February 2nd, when Christians celebrated the Feast of the Presentation at the Temple and the Purification of the Virgin.Gift giving occurred throughout January, but most intensely during the “12 days of Christmas,” which were the days between Christ’s Mass and the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. Yes, it all happened after Christmas day. Today, celebrations of Christmas occur before or on the actual day; afterward, the season is over except for the New Year celebrations which are devoid of any Christian meaning or tradition.
Once the religious elements were stripped from November and December generally, thus taking away practically the entire liturgical calendar, killing the religious elements of Christmas day was the logical conclusion. Protestants helped here as well by eliminating mass on this date. So, the next time a Christian insists that we put the Christ back in Christmas, tell them that they should also:
- Put the Mass back in Christmas
- Restore Michaelmas
- Restore Candlemas
- Restore Childermas
- Restore the Feast of the Epiphany
- Restore the Advent season
- Restore gift-giving to the real Christmas season, which occurs after Christmas day
- Don't put up a Christmas tree until Christmas Eve — if at all
- Use Christmas as a day of contemplating Christ, not for engaging in commerce
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