The war on Christmas

[Natair]

That SPECIFIC kind of tree?

Okay, seriously, I have GOT to see this.

*Ahem*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah_bush

"The Hanukkah bush is a bone of contention between those Jews who see it, especially in its "menorah look-alike" manifestations, as a distinctly Jewish plant badge; and those Jews who regard it as an assimilationist variation of a Christmas tree — especially when it is indistinguishable from the latter. The latter group are concerned about Jews who appear to inch their way away from Jewish and into Christian theological traditions."

I.E. even a majority of the Jewish religion considers it Christian. Next.

[Cold Coast]

I find that strangely hilarious. The Christians rip it off from the Pagans, and the Jews steal it from the Christians, wonder what the Muslims will do to it.

Kwanzaa flower?

Except Muslims don't celebrate Kwanzaa, it's an African holiday. It's also only celebrated by African Canadians and Americans.

[Khadgar]

*Ahem*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah_bush

"The Hanukkah bush is a bone of contention between those Jews who see it, especially in its "menorah look-alike" manifestations, as a distinctly Jewish plant badge; and those Jews who regard it as an assimilationist variation of a Christmas tree — especially when it is indistinguishable from the latter. The latter group are concerned about Jews who appear to inch their way away from Jewish and into Christian theological traditions."

I.E. even the Jewish religion considers it Christian. Next.

Careful with that I.E. some folk are sensitive to that kind of shit.

[Tekania]

Read the thread. At least read the responses to your posts. Using "X" to mean "Christ" is a thousand years old, and comes from the Greek word for Christ (which starts XP (chi-rho) if it is written capitalised). Unless you claim that Constantine I was conducting a "war on Christians" when he converted to Christianity and stuck that symbol on top of his military standards.

The English word for it is Christmas. Have you ever seen JC referred to as Jesus X in English?

In the American context, the X was most famously used by Malcolm Little to cross out his slave name - the same way Xmas is crossing out Christ out of the holiday.

The "X" in Xmas is the same as the "X" used in Xtian, it is part of a traditional Christian system of abbreviating Christ with the Greek Letter "Chi" (X), which predates even the English usage of it (Which goes back to long before Malcolm Little was even born.... centuries before). It has nothing to do with crossing out Christ.

[Salandriagado]

Read the thread. At least read the responses to your posts. Using "X" to mean "Christ" is a thousand years old, and comes from the Greek word for Christ (which starts XP (chi-rho) if it is written capitalised). Unless you claim that Constantine I was conducting a "war on Christians" when he converted to Christianity and stuck that symbol on top of his military standards.

The English word for it is Christmas. Have you ever seen JC referred to as Jesus X in English?

Yes. Ever since the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, in fact. (Usually "Xp" or "Xt.", in the case of that particular book).

In the American context, the X was most famously used by Malcolm Little to cross out his slave name - the same way Xmas is crossing out Christ out of the holiday.

Nope. That "X" isn't an X. It is a capital Chi.

[Mighty Qin]

Actually Christmas is simply attempting to unify all months together into one single holiday. This shall end the Warring Holidays period. Christmas shall take on a new name: Emperor Qin.

I have to rout Han, smash Zhao, destroy Yan, hammer Wei, crush Chu, absorb Qi, build the Great Wall, codify all commerce, eat mercury to become immortal, build the Terracotta Army, burn the books, bury the scholars, and THEN annihilate Kwanzaa, Chanukah, New Years', and remake them into a new holiday which my eunuch will destroy once I've died, returning to chaos!? Aye aye aye!

[The Merchant Republics]

Funny up here in "Godless Commie" Canada. Not only does my town support "Christmas" events but even the major corporation I work for, plays ostensibly Christian Christmas music and encourages us to wish customers "A merry Christmas", although "Happy Holidays" is one of their other suggestions.

[Khadgar]

Actually Christmas is simply attempting to unify all months together into one single holiday. This shall end the Warring Holidays period. Christmas shall take on a new name: Emperor Qin.

I have to rout Han, smash Zhao, destroy Yan, hammer Wei, crush Chu, absorb Qi, build the Great Wall, codify all commerce, eat mercury to become immortal, build the Terracotta Army, burn the books, bury the scholars, and THEN annihilate Kwanzaa, Chanukah, New Years', and remake them into a new holiday which my eunuch will destroy once I've died, returning to chaos!? Aye aye aye!

Good thing you've got that immortality elixir.

[Tekania]

Nope. That "X" isn't an X. It is a capital Chi.

Indeed, I hate common misconception perpetuated by the ignorant on this whole "Xmass crossing out Christ" B.S.

[United Mercenary Firms]

Oh, is it time for the war to begin this year? It's not even december yet!

They have this same argument every other year about this time.

[The Emerald Dawn]

Jebediah is a better name.

Call it Jeremiah, and decorate it with bullfrog ornaments.

I call it Bjorn.

[The United Soviet Socialist Republic]

Yes there is one.

[Dyakovo]

Call it Jeremiah, and decorate it with bullfrog ornaments.

I call it Bjorn.

No, offense, but Tek's suggestion is better... Between that and the Tekmas sub he's winning the thread.

[Srboslavija]

Nope. That "X" isn't an X. It is a capital Chi.

Indeed, I hate common misconception perpetuated by the ignorant on this whole "Xmass crossing out Christ" B.S.

Meaning and motive are two different things here.

You have people who are offended by the very mention of Christmas, so anything to negate it is encouraged - including X'ing out the 'birthday boy'. Convenient that it has historical context but completely irrelevant to the motive behind it.

The only ignorant person here is you, and a few others.

[Dyakovo]

Yes there is one.

Only in your imagination.

[The Emerald Dawn]

I call it Bjorn.

No, offense, but Tek's suggestion is better... Between that and the Tekmas sub he's winning the thread.

Oh. Were we competing? Because if we are, I'll just bow out. I suck at competitions.

[The United Soviet Socialist Republic]

Yes there is one.

Only in your imagination.

And in secularists real life.

[Uiiop]

Only in your imagination.

And in secularists real life.

not one i can see

[Dyakovo]

Only in your imagination.

And in secularists real life.

Okay. I'll play along. Give me examples.

[The United Soviet Socialist Republic]

And in secularists real life.

Okay. I'll play along. Give me examples.

Secularists trying to ban religious icons in public. Secularists trying to ban teaching religion in school. Secularists trying to ban Christmas related things...

[Dyakovo]

Okay. I'll play along. Give me examples.

Secularists trying to ban religious icons in public. Secularists trying to ban teaching religion in school. Secularists trying to ban Christmas related things...

Hasn't happened, hasn't happened, hasn't happened.

[NERVUN]

Jebediah is a better name.

Call it Jeremiah, and decorate it with bullfrog ornaments.

And wine?

[Uiiop]

Okay. I'll play along. Give me examples.

Secularists trying to ban religious icons in public. Secularists trying to ban teaching religion in school. Secularists trying to ban Christmas related things...

1st: don't see it
2nd: banning teaching only one religion and not others if not in a biased matter isn't banning teaching of religion
3rd: still don't see it

[The United Soviet Socialist Republic]

Secularists trying to ban religious icons in public. Secularists trying to ban teaching religion in school. Secularists trying to ban Christmas related things...

Hasn't happened, hasn't happened, hasn't happened.

Actually you would be surprised the kinds of anti religious things pulled in the Soviet Union.

[Tekania]

Indeed, I hate common misconception perpetuated by the ignorant on this whole "Xmass crossing out Christ" B.S.

Meaning and motive are two different things here.

You have people who are offended by the very mention of Christmas, so anything to negate it is encouraged - including X'ing out the 'birthday boy'. Convenient that it has historical context but completely irrelevant to the motive behind it.

The only ignorant person here is you, and a few others.

The abbreviation X is invented as a convenience by Christians, and we (that is Christians) have been abbreviating Christ in such manner with Chi for over a millennium. That is both the historical and modern context. Xmas = Christmas, Xtian is Christian, Xtina = Christina. XP = Christ.