USA is a secular country, meaning no one religion is given prefernce over another, then howcome Christmas is a holiday?
Tradition, culture, customs
Re: question
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*Originally posted by lussi: *
USA is a secular country, meaning no one religion is given prefernce over another, then howcome Christmas is a holiday?
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Just to annoy Arrabobs and their Mullahtic idiotic Muftis.
On a serious note, US has also issued commemorative Eid Mubarak stamps, held Eid parties in the White house, and given a day off to New Jersey kids on Eid. Christmas is a celebration, have some eggnog, and make merry.
And, the Founding Fathers were profoundly religious.
People forget that many of the early immigrants to the US were refugees from religious persecution (Perhaps the Shia should have come). There were literally hundreds of small sects scattered around the country in little enclaves.
If you ever read the history of George Washington, you will find that he was a prolific letter writer. His first letters were to many heads of small religious groups and independent churches assuring them that the government was one of tolerance and religious freedom.
The did acknowledge that the goverment should be "one nation under God", they just did not prescribe which God, or how to worship. Since the vast majority was Chrisitian, they declared a "holiday" so that people could honor the holiday and not be compelled to work.
Would you rather have a Godless country? And what about those "Muslim Lands"?
Lets try not to divert to other topics. Thanks
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*Originally posted by Ohioguy: *
...did acknowledge that the goverment should be "one nation under God", they just did not prescribe which God, or how to worship.
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The Founding Fathers should be thankful that they did not had to deal with ACLU. Else the Supreme Court would have heard the case in 1778 and we'd be working on Dec 24. All in all, it turned out pretty well, I'd say.
All my Jewish friends love Christmas.
They say it is the best day of the year to go skiing. No lift lines at all, you have the whole mountain to yourself!
That’s a lovely name for a soft drink: Mountain Jew
None of my Jewish friends ski. But they do own jewerely stores and other retail shops and they too love the Christmas season.
I only drink Deity Coke.....
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*Originally posted by Ohioguy: *
The did acknowledge that the goverment should be "one nation under God", they just did not prescribe which God, or how to worship.
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How about those American who are atheist and don’t believe in God? It does not matter which God or how to worship God. Just the use of word God denies the ‘separation of Church and state’ rule. There should not be any use of word God anywhere and there should not be any religious holidays like Christmas if Americans want to brag that USA is a secular country.
Does anyone (outside of ACLU) really 'brag' that US is a secular country? I think what Americans may 'brag' about is the freedom to practice (or not) your religion. The use of the word "God" on documents or currency does not change that freedom. As far as celebrating Christmas and Easter, it is much more than a religous holiday.
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*Originally posted by Seminole: *
Does anyone (outside of ACLU) really 'brag' that US is a secular country? I think what Americans may 'brag' about is the freedom to practice (or not) your religion. The use of the word "God" on documents or currency does not change that freedom. As far as celebrating Christmas and Easter, it is much more than a religous holiday.
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More than a religious holiday for retailers, but for people it is still religious holiday. Don’t try to twist that reality. Not just ACLU, but when phrase ‘separation of church and state’ is used, it indeed means a secular nation. Do you want proof? I will give you some. But first I have to go to my Friday prayer. See ya.
At the time the country was founded, frankly even the concept of "atheists" was a remote concept. The very idea of "separation of church and state" was to guarantee freedom of religion, not freedom from the lack of religion. In light of the difficulties of the times, that is religious persecution of minorities, the idea of a country that was not dominated by one relgion was quite radical.
No Dhimmis here.....
I just heard it on NPR….Christmas is to celebrate the birth of the patron saint of the 4th quarter earnings, so see its totally secular.
I think the explanation is that Founding Fathers of US were devout Christians, though they kept religion and state separate to allow all Americans to practice their faith in freedom. However, Christian religious holidays were implemented across the land, to have a time of celebration.
Over time these have become more commercial than religious to allow people from all faiths to join in the festivities.
And may be in the future, other religion's holidays will also be given more government patronage (e.g. official days off at Hanukkah, Eid, Divali etc) as part of multi-culturalism and that there are multiple minority faiths in the nation. Maybe not whole scale days off, but just people of that faith won't have to charge their PTO when they take those days off. :)
Them Honk Mahfah's, then dun dig it.
Though Christmas has religious connotations it seems to have become more or less a cultural phenomenon so deeply ingrained in the American existence that It has transgressed all religious perimeters.
America is secular because you, legally, have the freedom of practising Religion X, any religion or no religion, without the fear of prosecution or any other form of legal opression.
A secular government does not refuse the recognization of religion in itself, what it does is to embrace all the oft diametrically diverse faiths in the country and treat them equally on a common basic level.
Christianity is dominant because It precedes the next major religion by an over-whelming margin and you cannot realistically hope to keep it completely out of the system when those who run the system are its adherents.
Courts are there to keep its effects within acceptable levels and make sure that this meddling doesn't infringe upon the rights of others.
^ A fantastic first post, I must say :k:
Hehe
Christmas is holiday in Pakistan too
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*Originally posted by Iconoclast: *
Hehe
Christmas is holiday in Pakistan too
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Depends on which way you look at it. Its also claimed as the birthday of the Founder of the Nation. So basically, no harm no foul. Everyone is happy.
And for crying out loud... every normal person likes more holidays. If you don't, you are not normal.
Couldn't care less which religion is used as an umbrella. Give a day off on Rosh Hashana too. Will go for a picnic and then come on Gupshup to read others whine why a jewish day is a dayoff :p