Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
I've had enough of this.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
Fair enough.
"Your actions are judged by your intentions"...that's exactly the point. What possible intentions could there be for having a Christmas tree? And how would those intentions be made obvious to the society? "I'm a muslim and I don't celebrate Christmas but here's my tree"???
Living in a country is about respecting its rules and be faithful to the society not worshipping its flag. There's no basis for the flag argument anyway.
LOL...Wow..such a tough question...that must've pained a nerve or two.
Err maybe a glowing and colourful tree excites and cheers the life out of little niece and nephew, they love to play and damage the tree and its little buddies? Seeing them jump with joy makes such precious sighting. Or the tree is simple too aesthetically pleasing for the eyes? ...and by just having tree in your living room for a day or two doesn't mean you are worshipping that flipping thing. Yes I'm a Muslim but I'm not cold sniff snob with a chicken heart that I would feel my faith always so threatened by such petty little things. I'm so so glad to be at peace with such things, even if it gives someone the pleasure of calling me not so religious person, I rather be at peace with myself and others than be that so called in your face religious person going around doing the typical thought and action policing.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
Guys, your views are welcome but no need to shove em down people's throats. What's with group A (yes yes tree is cool) laughing at group B (heck no tree is shirk) and vice versa?
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
I would feel my faith strengthen by resisting so whatever makes you happy. I've never stopped anyone from doing such things but I don't really approve of them. I'd prefer to put all the efforts and enthusiasm in Eid celebrations so my kids can understand the importance of our own festivals. Besides, if they're so petty then we shouldn't even be having a debate over this. They are not petty issues, not for kids anyways.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
....The enthusiasm and effort that goes for Eid in our household would make a little christmas tree look like lonely peanut in comparison. Pathetic for anyone to assume that by just having tree around Christmas time means you don't do jack for Eid, in fact the spiritual energy everyone invest in the events the lead upto Eid as Ramadan or Hajj is what without doing anything overly materialistic makes Eid such superior and heartfelt festival. Yes its a petty issue, people are free to demonise a tree as much as they like. Sadly this is what Islam has reduded down to these days, nit picking and drawing us vs them battle lines. Muslims have to feel paranoid and threatened by every and any non Arab ritual otherwise they are not Muslim.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
[mod] If this is going to turn into an Islam bashing thread, it will be locked. Last warning. State your views about the Christmas tree and move on! [/mod]
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
even a peanut's worth of celebration of Christmas will send a message to our children that celebrating Christmas is an acceptable practice and I don't want that, this is as simple as that. It's not about being threatened or paranoid about non-arab or non-Islamic rituals, if I were paranoid I wouldn't teach them about Christmas which I do. :)
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
:k: i agree
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
I forgot to add that one of the reasons why I don't want my kids to think it's acceptable because I don't want them to grow up confused about this whole issue where on one side they call it a little and petty thing and think of it as an insignificant and of no value but on the other hand they defend it violently and blindly.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
My niece and newhew are simply too young and innocent to even understand the violent and blind attacks on a pretty little tree that they actually treat as a toy not as a fliping scared relic, there's plenty of time for them to become all militant and paranoid about such petty things...I'm not denying that. For now, I'm not to so bothered about playing with their God gifted innocence and aloofness, its such a joy to see the purity in their minds and eyes. They'll eventully learn that everything non Arab is so evil when the time is right.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
:icono:
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
^ :mirch:
why did you change your avatar…it was so inspiring 
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
^If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. :D
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
[mod]No need to get personal here. By all means discuss/challenge other's views with rationale, any further personal digs will not be tolerated.[/mod]
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
nothing really, if you don't believe in teaching kids about the significance and importance of whats behind certain cultural and religious symbols, some parents do. sure, its fun decorating a tree with kids, putting presents under it, so why just do it on christmas?? if its just about the tree and presents and not about celebrating christmas, then why not bring it in any other time of the yr and have a ball decorating it. its simple really, the tree is a predominant symbol of christmas and if you have one in the house then ya it is assumed that you are 'celebrating' christmas and that is the msg that the kids will get no matter how you try to explain it. now if you see no harm in celebrating this particular holiday overall then great, no issues there but lets be honest about it, its not just a tree, you can't take out christmas from a christmas tree. no rocket science there.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
nothing really, if you don't believe in teaching kids about the significance and importance of whats behind these cultural and religious symbols. sure, its fun decorating a tree with kids, putting presents under it, so why just do it on christmas?? if its just about the tree and presents and not about celebrating christmas, then why not bring it in any other time of the yr and have a ball decorating it. its simple really, the tree is a predominant symbol of christmas and if you have one in the house then ya it is assumed that you are 'celebrating' christmas and that is the msg that the kids will get no matter how you try to explain it. now if you see no harm in celebrating this particular holiday then great, no issues there but lets be honest about it, its not just a tree, you can't take out christmas from a christmas tree. no rocket science there.
I can't speak for others but the kids in my family literally treat as toy, no we don't put it out only to mark christmas or put present underneath, its just a tree that kids play around with throughout the whole. We deliberately did that so kill the christmas exclusiveness, my niece would put the lighbulbs on the tree in the middle of July and get excited about it. They naturally love those colourful, glowy and sparkly objects. I have no problem with that, when the tree is their playing buddy for the whole year.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
I can't speak for others but the kids in my family literally treat as toy, no we don't put it out only to mark christmas or put present underneath, its just a tree that kids play around with throughout the whole. We deliberately did that so kill the christmas exclusiveness, my niece would put the lighbulbs on the tree in the middle of July and get excited about it. They naturally love those colourful, glowy and sparkly objects. I have no problem with that, when the tree is their playing buddy for the whole year.
To be honest I'm quite apathetic to the issue of celebrating Christmas, it's all relative to what you perceive it to be. As mentioned earlier in this thread us Muslims are more than happy to follow Hindu traditions but when it comes to Christmas its a different story. Having said that I think the kids in your family could do with a visit to Toys R Us :p
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
i think most people eat turkey at the christmas time of year is because thats when its most widely abnd easily available.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
its all in marketing, christmas is heaviluy commercialised in US, same as eid in Pakistan, non muslims in Pakistan go to eid events, have chaand raat parties, go for eid specials, have eid get togethers. Now we dont have very typical eid ul fitr icons like santa or tree but non muslims do pretty much everything as muslims for eid except for prayers. You will see similar trends in egypt for example.
Re: WHATS wrong with a christmas tree?
Some Muslims in Pakistan always wish you Merry Christmas & Happy Holloween but forget to do the same on Eids. Makes you wonder ...