Just who's Birthday is it anyway

[love4mary]

Do you want to put up a Nativity Scene on the court house lawn? Fine, but don’t forget to include all the other non-Christian faith symbols as well, after all, “Political Correctness” must be practiced at all times .

Just Who’s Birthday are we celebrating anyway?!

Jewish, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc…all have their symbols of faith that should be respected (you don’t have to agree with them). Do these and all other Non-Christian faiths teach that the Saviour of the World was born to a Virgin named Mary in Bethlehem? NO! So why, on the second most holiest day to a Christian (1st of course being Easter), the day our Saviour was born, the day we celebrate His birth, do we have to give equal time to symbols of other faiths that do not believe this to be true? Do they lack their own holy day?

Christmas is the celebration of the Birth of Christ.

Happy Birthday Jesus!!

 

[pigtown]

Personally I would have no problem with having a Nativity scene on public property for Christmas and other religious symbols on public property for their religious holidays. Maybe if we showed more respect for other religions there wouldn’t be such an outcry about Christian symbols. Respect all religions. We are a country of differing religions.

 

[KarenNC]

Do you want to put up a Nativity Scene on the court house lawn? Fine, but don’t forget to include all the other non-Christian faith symbols as well, after all, “Political Correctness” must be practiced at all times

Legal correctness must be practiced at all times. American government agencies are not allowed to exercise preference for one religion above others. The Nativity belongs on the church lawn or your own lawn or in front of a private business, not the courthouse.

Just Who’s Birthday are we celebrating anyway?!

I’m celebrating the longest night and the turning of the seasons.

Jewish, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc…all have their symbols of faith that should be respected (you don’t have to agree with them).

Given the news reports of the vandalism of symbols put up by those who actually do stand up for their rights to be given equal treatment under the law, doesn’t seem like “respect” is foremost in the eyes of some folks.

Do these and all other Non-Christian faiths teach that the Saviour of the World was born to a Virgin named Mary in Bethlehem? NO!

No, why should they any more than you should be expected to teach that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura or the Oak King defeats the Holly King? Doesn’t make them any less deserving of their rights under US law.

So why, on the second most holiest day to a Christian (1st of course being Easter), the day our Saviour was born, the day we celebrate His birth, do we have to give equal time to symbols of other faiths that do not believe this to be true? Do they lack their own holy day?

Because their own holy days may also fall at the same time of the year?

 

[love4mary]

KarenNC,

A couple of points here. I fail to see how the government would be endorsing one faith over another if during other holy days, their symbols where on display.

Second, I know that other faiths do not believe in the Virgin Birth of our Lord and Saviour, that is the very point I was trying to make. Christmas is the celebration of that very event but yet we see symbols along side the Nativity Scene,Why?

Not sure about where you live, but here where I live, the court house lawn is a gathering place for alot of people to socialize, and yes, a lot of side walk preaching as well,(just love living in a small southern town). The Nativity Scene has been a charished display for as long as I can remember and does not harm anyone nor interfer with the day to day business at the court house.

The only group in my community who has objected to the Nativity Scene is a small coven of Wiccans eek: ), because I believe their “holy day” is halloween, then I am sure they can put up displays in celebration of this.

 

[KarenNC]

KarenNC,
A couple of points here. I fail to see how the government would be endorsing one faith over another if during other holy days, their symbols where on display.

Ah, it seems that you are unacquainted with the calendars of other religions.

Those that occur in December 2007 (and very late November) that I know of (may be more):

usc.edu/programs/religious_life/calendar/

Wednesday November 28 Ascension of Abdul’Baha (Baha’i)
Marks the ascension to heaven of the son of Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i faith.

Sunday, December 2 First Sunday of Advent (Christian)
The season of preparation for the coming of Christ, also the beginning of the Christian liturgical year. Advent candles are lit in progression each week until the celebration of Christmas begins.
Tuesday, December 4 Hanukkah begins at sundown (Jewish)
Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah lasts for eight days, and commemorates the victory of Judah the Maccabee, and the rededication of the Temple in 165 B.C.E. Jews light successive candles on the menorah on each of the eight days.

Saturday, December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic)
Celebrates the conception of Mary, mother of Jesus.

Saturday, December 8 Bodhi Day (Buddhist)
The celebration of the day when Prince Gautama vowed to remain under the bodhi tree until he attained enlightenment.

Wednesday, December 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Roman Catholic)
Celebrates Mary as the patron saint of Mexico, honoring her appearance near Mexico City in 1531, C.E.

Tuesday, December 18 Waqf al-Arafa (Muslim)
The day during the annual Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) when pilgrims pray for forgiveness and mercy.

Wednesday, December 19 Eid al-Adha begins at sundown (Muslim)
The three day Eid al-Adha commemorates Abraham and his offering of his son, Ishmael, in obedience to Allah. It is observed as a time of the distribution of meat to the poor.

Thursday, December 20 Eid al-Adha (Muslim)

Friday, December 21 Yule (Pagan/Wiccan)Winter Solstice
Commemorates the rebirth of the sun after the longest night of winter, and also the wintertime birth of God in the form of a King.

Sunday, December 23
HumanLight (Atheist/Humanist/Freethought)
A celebration of the humanist vision for a future in which all people learn to co-exist peacefully and with goodwill toward one another.

Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve (Western Christian)
The eve of Christmas Day

Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Day (Western Christian)
Observed on December 25 in the West, on January 6 by Armenian Christians, and on January 25 by Orthodox Christians, it is the celebration of the birth of Christ. The feast of Christmas lasts for twelve days, from the eve of Christmas Day to the eve of the Epiphany.

Wednesday, December 26 First day of Kwanzaa (African American/Interfaith)
A week-long celebration of African American life and culture.

Wednesday, December 26 Zarathosht Diso (Zoroastrian)
Marks the death of the prophet Zarathustra.

The only group in my community who has objected to the Nativity Scene is a small coven of Wiccans, because I believe their “holy day” is halloween, then I am sure they can put up displays in celebration of this.

One of the holy days for Wicca is indeed Samhain, which is around Halloween. There are 8 holidays celebrated throughout the year–the solstices, the equinoxes and the four cross-quarter days in between. Many other Neopagan religious traditions also celebrate on these days ( or some portion of them).

We celebrate Winter Solstice as our religious holiday (this year we will celebrate tomorrow and Sunday due to our schedules), having a family meal, exchanging gifts, a decorated tree, pouring libations, etc. We observe the American cultural version of Christmas with a Santa stocking on Christmas morning, then we go visit family and friends to share in their religious holiday of Christmas, as we would likely go visit and share in Hanukkah if we had Jewish family, etc.

Similarly, we celebrate Samhain as a religious holiday, a time to remember our ancestors of blood, place and spirit. That includes things like visiting family burial sites, talking about our ancestors, pouring libations, etc. We also celebrate the American cultural holiday of Halloween by dressing up, attending a party with friends and taking our daughter trick or treating.

 

[ralphinal]

This is going to border on sacralege coming from a conservative Catholic, but I have no issue with ending public displays of religious images by government agencies. Why? It is not their job or duty. I do not trust the people in governments to do it correctly. In fact, deep down, I doubt that there are more than 20% who are honestly attempting a Christian life. Maybe that is a little jaded. It just seems like some of them are such open hypocrites I would rather not have them showing my religious symbols. Now, that said, if they are going to do it, they should be fair. Only show images germane to that faith in the time-frame related to that holiday.

Here in Alabama, people run for office on church attendance. It is not who will do the job but who will praise the Lord the loudest. It is frustraiting to say the least. After all, we can defend the Ten Commandments in the court but we have the 49th ranked schools in the country. Some of the kids couldn;t read them if they tried.

 

[KarenNC]

This is going to border on sacralege coming from a conservative Catholic, but I have no issue with ending public displays of religious images by government agencies. Why? It is not their job or duty. I do not trust the people in governments to do it correctly.

Well said. It always astonishes me that people want government to be involved with their religions and in charge of conveying those religions to others, particularly to children.

 

[ralphinal]

Well said. It always astonishes me that people want government to be involved with their religions and in charge of conveying those religions to others, particularly to children.

Sometimes, I think it is basic laziness on the part of parents. Sometimes, I think it is fear that they are not “holy” enough and want someone else to do it.
Sometimes, I think that they are projecting their own desire to do something but lack of action on someone else.