My $.02 as a retired pastor:
Dixie's right, so is the point about 'separation of church and sate'. But the intent was NOT to keep the church out of government, but to keep government out of the church!!! Remember, the countries our forefathers came from all had State-run' churches. If you didn't go to the 'official' church, you were rebelling against the king, queen, czar, etc.. America allows for all different faiths- and guarantees the government will not interfere in matters of faith. Sadly Janet Reno and a few others have twisted that out of recognition
JBUG308- you are very right: God is always with us! When we think He's silent, He's most active behind the scenes.
I'm not religious, not even a little bit. But this issue stems from the freedom of choice being taken away. It's my choice to believe or not believe... To have faith or not... To enjoy Christmas... And I wouldn't mind the teachings of religion in schools as long as it's taught from a history stand point rather than a recruitment process. "Believe what I say cause it's true cause I say so". Again, I don't mind religion at all but this country was founded on the belief to CHOOSE! You're choice is all that should matter. Debate all you want, but it's your choice. To sit and worry about what someone else is going to think or press apon you to make you conform to their ways is ridiculous. If a teacher wants to teach it to their students fine... I grew up saying the pledge before every school day up to a certain grade, I don't recall. Then it just all disappeared... I worship my country and my country values and my freedom of CHOICE! It's Merry Christmas, because the holiday was created with christian faith in mind to celebrate just that the birth of christ.. I'm not religious but I celebrate, I don't say "Happy Holidays". But everyone has their right to call it as they will but everyone is so worried about who they may offend. If you don't agree with Merry Christmas, then call it what you want it's your choice. But to make everyone conform cause it may offend one person... Think of it this way... just to throw a number out there... out of 10 people... 8 celebrate it as Merry Christmas.... But 1 celebrates another faith.. and one celebrates another faith... So instead of saying Merry Christmas we have to say Happy Holidays to avoid offending the two people not willing to say the same... Fine... Well you just alienated 8 people out of the 10 instead of allowing the other two to choose their own way of expression... WHY? So instead we alienate the masses to avoid upsetting the few and allowing the few to choose to express their own way.. We all have to change. But guess what... Keep the change! I don't want it!
Now this is coming from someone with no religious background or faith and I'm offended by the fact I should say "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas to supposedly keep the peace. Pretty soon will be told how to walk because it might offend someone who walks differently.
Freedom of Choice and Freedom of Speech and Freedom of expression... What happened to them?
Greybeard got it right.. It's keeping the government out of my religion. Let them call it as they please, but dont tell myself and others that my religious based holiday isn't just that, by calling it something different.
