I was raised Catholic. Everyone I knew as a kid was Catholic. I was never Catholic. I was a confused kid being raised in a home where religion just was. There wasn't a choice, or the thought of a choice. Your parents were Catholic, therefore you were Catholic. In most religions the ideology is passed from generation to generation with barely a thought. I have never been one to take someones word for fact without some semblance of proof.
When I was 6 years old, I went to Parochial School. I was immersed in this religious culture being thrust upon me. I remember asking my 1st grade teacher how I am supposed to believe in God? Some mystical person that lives in the sky and rules us. She merely put her hand on my shoulder and said "Because Tracy, we have faith". This was not a answer I could accept. I went thru the motions, Church, Sacramental rites, etc. not for myself, but for my family. When I was about 10, I spoke with my father. Telling him I didn't think I believed in God. I asked if he did. He said, he did in as much as he couldn't prove or disprove his existence. He chose to believe, but did not believe in organized religion. He used the term Agnostic. I then took on that term to describe myself. As I got older, I knew emphatically, I just didn't believe in God. I was/am an Atheist. This is a choice I have made for myself. I don't try to convert anyone. I will have a theological discussion about the topic, and why I believe as I do. I have no desire to change what anyone else believes. I truly feel that it is up to every individual to decide for themselves. If belief in a deity makes them feel more connected, secure, purposeful, great. I'm happy for them. I would ask for the same respect for my beliefs in return. Science is where my faith lays. No amount of testifying will change that. With this being said, let me get to why I'm here today.
I see endless posts on social media, "put the Merry Christmas back into Christmas" "it's Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays" "The white house should call it a Christmas Tree, not a Holiday Tree" and much more. Ladies and Gentleman, Despite the obvious belief, this is not a Christian nation. The US was founded when the Colonists fled religious persecution in Europe. We wanted a place where we could believe what we wanted without fear of punishment. Many religious quotes attributed to our founding fathers, are either false or partial statements. Most of the founding fathers believe that religion should be separate from the government. Hence separtation of church and state. The reason for this? So one groups ideals are not forced upon everyone. (this is why we left England remember). As stated earlier, I was raised in a Catholic home. Since my birth, my family has grown. Some members of my family are........JEWISH. They are wonderful people, who having been around a lot longer than Christians, deserve to have their holiday recognized as well. Chanukah is an important time in the Jewish faith. Just because it isn't a Christian holiday, doesn't make it any less important. In our family sometimes Jewish and Christian holidays intersect. We celebrate both. I have friends that are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Wicken. They have their holdiays or days of celebration. They are entitled to them. Some even fall within the month of December.
To insist that only the Christmas holiday be acknowledge is arrogant, insensitive and wrong. Many celebrations preceded Christmas, many of which the traditions we celebrate today are derived from. In fact, the actual birth of Christ is said to be in March. We say Happy Holidays, because we choose to acknowledge that the person in front of us my not be Christian. We nevertheless want them to enjoy the joyous season in any way they celebrate.
If you want to wish someone a Merry Christmas, great, thank you for the good thoughts. But remember, not everyone is Christian and many don't celebrate Christmas, so if they respond Happy Holidays, or Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanza, Pancha Ganapati, Bohdi Day, Yule (just to name a few), just reply kindly and move on.
Christmas celebrates the birth and life of Christ. (a Jew). The goal of a Christian is to be like him. He would stand among the masses, embracing all people's cultures and traditions, not yelling to all that would hear. "This is my day, not anyone else's, only celebrate me" Lets all take a lesson out of his book. and love and accept all people as he would.
So to everyone everywhere I say "Happy Holidays" and may your chosen one be grand.
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