[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by No. X: *
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.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by No. X: *
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.
[/QUOTE]
I confess…it’s ME!!! I thought about “another_voice” but thought I’d be detected quickly. So my evil Gupshup twin is now “No. X.”
Seriously, No. X, your initial post sounds much too reasonable for our little town of Gupistan. Sort of how I envision Matsui in a post-lobotomy state.
Merry XMAS, Happy Hanukah, good Kwansa or whatever it is you wish to celebrate (or not) this holiday season. If I bring my merry band of carolers anywhere near your house this year, we’ll do our best to sing only secular songs like White Christmas or Frosty the Snowman out of respect.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by No. X: *
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.
[/QUOTE]
The similtude is probably with Turkey. It has historically gone a lot out of the way to prove its total secularism and separation of state and religion, but despite that both Eids have been national holidays - because Islam precedes the next major religion by an over-whelming margin and you cannot realistically hope to keep it completely out of the system.
