Forum Discussion: Are You Offended by "Merry Christmas"?
If anyone is "offended" by the latter greeting, it's more likely that they are offended by the presumption that everyone celebrates Christmas or perhaps the presumption that the state has the authority to single out Christmas for special recognition. Admitting this would be difficult for Christian Nationalists because it would undermine their self-righteous rage.
I am curious as to how many of the atheists and agnostics here are offended by the use of "Merry Christmas" as a greeting or display, as opposed to "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays." My thinking is that it really is of no consequence to me how the name of the holiday is derived, it is in the United States and many countries the name of a holiday which many people, including me, enjoy for secular reasons.
Actually, I don't see why "Happy Hanukkah" or any other expression of good will is offensive -- it's the thought that counts. The reason given for suppressing "Merry Christmas" is that it is offensive to some. Do many atheists find it offensive?
I personally use "Happy Holidays" because it's a sign of respect to strangers — I can't know for sure what holiday or holidays they celebrate, so why be presumptuous by only wishing them well on one which they may not care about? When someone says "Merry Christmas," however, I'm not personally offended. I might notice that they don't seem to care what holiday I may or may not celebrate, but then again I might not.
What do you say and what do yo think about the choices? Add your thoughts to the comments here or join the ongoing discussion in the forum.
Comments
you are correct the appreviation A.D. means Anno Domini (In the year of our lord). This convention for writing the date was developed in 525 and was widely used by the 8th century.
But if we are going to talk about days
Monday – named for the Moon, which got its name from the Germanic Moon god Mona.
Tuesday – from the Nordic god Tyr
Wednesday – from the Germanic god Woden
Thursday – means “Day of Thundor”
Friday – named after Frigg
Saturday – from the Roman god Saturn
Sunday – refers to the Sun
Would you like to talk about the Months also??
I think atheists would be less offended by “Merry Christmas” than many from another religions such as Islam or Judaism.
I don’t know if “offended by it” adequately describes my perspective. I don’t take it as an affront. But I do recognize that the person offering the greeting is a bone-head in the sense that they assume everyone celebrates the same holiday as they do.
In other words, for my part, if I don’t know what your preference is, I’ll likey say something as generic as possible: “Happy Holidays.” This still presumes the person celebrates something. But it’s far less of a presumptuous attitude than narrowing down the holiday to me specific religious preference.
I guess I see “Merry Xmas” along the same lines as meeting a strange woman in a public park who is pushing a stroller with a child in it. I don’t know her, but I say, “OH, what a cute baby! He doesn’t have your blonde hair, though. He must have your husband’s hair.”
While presuming the baby is (1) hers and (2) not adopted are generally not considered a breach of consideration, assuming a woman with a baby must be married would be a clodish thing to say.
Now, the woman, even if she is single, may have no problem with the presumption. She may say outright: “Oh, I’m not married–but the hair actually comes from my dad’s side of the family…”
So, even though the “husband” remark is a “foot in mouth” thing to say–it may or may not have been said with any malice. And the person hearing it may / may not take offense.
That’s how I view the greeting, “Merry Xmas.”
The “husband” remark is a “foot in mouth” thing to say–it may be that the husband is not the father.
Better to stop at “cute baby”.
You mean, the reference to the husband isn’t just to find out whether she’s single? Do we have to go to referring to her as “madame”, and letting her correct us to “mademoiselle”?
Anyway, I’m not offended by Merry Christmas. I am offended by those who think it’s some sort of mandate, though.
Shouldn’t it be happy holiday? I only do one holiday this time of year. I’m sick of people at the store trying to push kwanza and hanukkah on me too.
1. You ignore New Year’s?
2. Unless you wear a t-shirt that says “I only do one holiday this time of year,” why should anyone assume that you ignore all but one holiday?
There is no reason to be offended by small talk. Any expression that is used to manipulate or intimidate me is always asking for a tough and obscene reaction along the Cheney line.
As an atheist, I’m not offended by “Merry Christmas” at all. I take it as a friendly well-wish, not as a rude presumption that I celebrate the day as the birth Jesus Christ. I agree with “nal” that it might be more the adherents of other religions who might take offense at this greeting.
I can’t rule out, however, that my attitude may also owe something to the fact that I was raised Catholic.
I’m an atheist. I say, “Have a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, and a Kwaaaaazy Kwanza!”
Apologies to Krusty the clown.
It’s funny how the same Christians who squeak about taking Christ out of Christmas are the same ones who will run the phoney-baloney “hereafter house” at Halloween.
As a Pastafarian, I respond to “Merry Christmas” with a hearty “Merry ChriFSMas”.
When making the initial greeting, however, I just say Happy Holidays. If they get offended because I didn’t cater to their religious affiliation, I tell them they should be more tolerant
I don’t like anyone saying thing about their religion holidays to me unless they know me. When someone says merry christ or happy holidays or ever, god bless you, for whatever reason, I look them in the eye and say No Thank You.
I like the christian christmas, you get the day off work ,a reason to have a few drinks during the day and “celebrate” it with many members of the family. I’m an atheist and respond “happy holidays” to “merry christmas”, most people won’t even notice that it’s a different greeting.
Christmas in the strange position of also being the default secular holiday. I would think strangers would rarely wish you a happy Kwanzaa or Hanukkah unless they have some sort of indication that you celebrate those holidays.
I would find it very strange for a secularist to be offended by someone wishing them “Merry Christmas”.
The opposite is not true…some Christians get very offended if you wish them “Happy Holidays”.
That’s been my observation, anyway.
Then there’s the ever-nonoffensive response to “Merry Christmas,” “Reason’s Greetings!” Or “Happy Solstice!”
When I offer a greeting–I consider it to be _for_ the person I am greeting; in that regard, I think respect for the other person is in order.
The Golden Rule is “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” but the Platinum Rule is “treat others how they would like to be treated.”
If X celebrates Christmas, and Y celebrates Channukah–it seems really nuts to me for X to wish Y a “Merry Christmas.” Y won’t have _any_ Christmas–so the greeting is meaningless. But if X wishes Y “Happy Holiday/s”–then Y can apply it generically to Channukah. If I _know_ a person celebrates Christmas, I have no qualms about sending him/her a Chistmas card. If my friend celebrate Channukah, I send a Channukah card. No problem for me–it’s _for them_ after all. Otherwise, I send holiday greetings to people during the holidays.
I just like the generic “Happy Holiday/s” or “Happy Holiday of Your Choice”. I’ve always worked in places that had a variety of people with different religious backgrounds, including Muslim and Hindu co-workers. No one seems to have been insulted yet. “Merry Christmas” said to me, doesn’t upset me.
I am not offended by someone wishing me Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. I am offended by those that try to force their point of view on others by requiring others to ONLY say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. The message is from the heart of the giver and not necessarily the words.
I just say: “Happy Festivus!” and proceed to the “airing of grievances” and the “feats of strength”.
I remember “Happy Holidays” being used as far back as the 1960s when my parents told me that it is a more inclusive greeting. I was in a diverse elementary school at the time and there were many Catholics, Protestants, and Jews, plus some Buddhists, Taoists, etc. It was a public school on the upper east side of NYC and a lot of UN diplomats’ kids attended. It was a wonderful school, unfortunately now demolished. But I clearly recall being told that it was simply easier to use a more generic greeting that included more people, and that was that. There was no bashing of Christmas or any other holiday, and in fact if anything, Christmas was the main attraction. A couple of years back I was wished a Happy Kwanzaa and I thanked the wisher, as I was happy to be included in her good wishes, and didn’t find it at all offensive. I was raised Catholic Lite in NYC and attended some Jewish friends’ Hanukkah celebrations and got wished Happy Hanukkah and was happy to be included in the festivities. Of course if they knew how I now feel about religion I probably would not be invited.
Happy Christmahannakwanzika to you!
I also would say that I am not usually offended, since I either hear it in the context of someone who wishes me to enjoy the holiday season or else is simply spouting the rote vocalization demanded during this long season of kitsch. Depending on the individual, I may just wish them the same (since if they say it I assume the celebrate it, and couldn’t care what their religion is), or else just say, “thanks, but I don’t celebrate that day.” Given that I live in Texas, most people automatically assume you are a bible-breathing jeebus freak (although most of the students I know are not very devout, or even well read or educated in their beliefs – one semi-creationist leaning student was surprised that I had the bible on my iPhone and read it, when he had not).
Am not offended at all. It’s the same to me as someone saying, “Bless you,” if I sneeze. But I’ll roll my eyes and say, “Uh….okay?” if the greeter starts going off on the “reason for the season” stuff.
Comments from 2007?
Anyhoo, I’m not particularly offended by Merry Christmas.
I do get offended when people like Bill O’Reilly scream about Happy Holidays being some sort of attack on Xians. Holiday is derived from Holy Day. Saying Happy Holidays makes anyone (who celebrates a holy day) included. But “Papa Bear” has never been about inclusion has he? (Unless you’re a white, closed-minded, Neo-con Xian)
Kudos to MikeC. As an atheist, I am not offended by “Merry Christmas.” In fact, I take it as a statement of goodwill and as that it warms my heart. I’m only offended by the set that tries to take the traditional greeting and turn it into fightin’ words.
Someone wrote a letter to the editor of my local newspaper the other day, saying that the only reason stores are now saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” is because of a small group of “bigoted atheists”, who are trying to remove all religious references from the public eye.
Honestly, how far gone does someone have to be to see failure to recognise one’s favoured holiday over all others as bigotry?
On another note, I didn’t realise we atheists had that much influence and power. Step aside, Jews! There’s a new conspiracy in town!
i am not offended. never was or have. i dont hate religous people i just dont care for god.
Yes, I’m an atheist, and I’d like to see Christianity fade away into history, along with all other forms of monotheism. However, I have better things to do than get pissy because somebody says ‘Merry Christmas’.
I say “Merry Christmas”.
If you’re offended by it, tough. Hell, most people are offended by just waking up in the morning.
We, as a country, are getting too politically correct. It’s time we stopped accomodating everyone’s fake religions and start re-building this once-great country of ours.
I’m with you Eddie Van Helsing (28). Christmas is not religion specific, even though some think it is. As well as a holiday, it is a time of year. As aethiests, I think we would do well to demonstrate some generousity of spirit to others in our culture by acknowledging their well indended wishes, ajnd simply wish them back the same as they express to us.
Christmas, as a season, is part of our culture. To take issue with someone’s good wishes to us is bordering on the very type of narrow mindedness of which we frequently accuse Christians. There are a great many other issues that are far more deserving of our attention and comment than a well meant wish for our happiness during the Christmas season. Let’s get with the program and stop quibbling like children.
Thank goodness my fellow atheists are not offended by “Merry Christmas” (except for the one who hates Bill O’Reilly). Annonymous said it best. Let us all enjoy this holiday season and celebrate with Christians and non-Christians alike.
Merry Christmas everyone!
I hope Santa gives you lots of presents.
No. I’m not offended by any holiday greeting. That is silly. If a Christian wishes me “Merry Christmas”, of if a Jewish person wishes me “Happy Hannukah”, or whatever, I treat it as an invitation to join in their particular cultural festivity. How could anybody be offended by a thing like that? It’s not about: “me, me, me.” It’s about: “let’s all have a good time, whatever it is we celebrate.”
Not only am I not offended but I return the greeting in the spirit it is tendered to me. I believe that in most cases the Merry Christmas or Happy Hannukah or whatever is said with the hopes that I too will enjoy the season and I appreciate the sentiment.
I’m a Christian. I went on a atheist message board to see how atheists feel about someone saying Merry Christmas. Since we just finished up December 23rd, I started by saying Happy Festivus, then I said Hope your Dec. 25th is enjoyable. And that’s Christmas. So merry Christmas. Is that offensive? I submit that it should not be. All the comments I got back from the atheists were of Merry Christmas in return, No I’m not offended by that…there was even one guy who said “Do you really think we’re pricks like that?” I didn’t really think they were, but I kind of wanted to find out. And I found out these atheists didn’t act offended, and this is on a message board where pretty much anything goes. So I’m still trying to figure out who the people are that do respond in an offended manner when someone tells them “Merry Christmas.” I haven’t found out yet. I hope to, though.