When Merry Christmas Became Happy Holidays; Is There A War On The Spirituality Of Christmas

Christmas used to have a set meaning, a commemorative time for Christians to celebrate the Birth of Jesus, and while the history of Christmas runs deep there have been questions and concerns about a “War On Christmas.” Is there an underlying cold war against the Christmas holiday? Perhaps there are signs for you that there is a blatant, all-out offensive on Christmas, or maybe you feel that Christmas is the same as it ever was.

However, there have been accusations that the spirituality of Christmas has been eroded and such a case is made with evidence like banning non-secular Christmas music, banning nativity scenes and other religious symbols, and the disappearance of the word “Christmas” from the season.

Is political correctness and constantly living in the gray, rather than recognizing there may be a clear black and white answer on a subject, the best thing to do on this or any other issue? If one person says the sky is blue and another the sky is red should we compromise and just say it’s purple or do we accept that both sides can’t be right?

In an article on CNN.com, Peter Sprigg, a senior fellow for policy studies with the Family Research Council stated, “everyone [has] the freedom to celebrate what they want.” He goes on to say that this idea of making everyone happy, in terms of the Christmas season may be, “stifling the celebration of the majority because it might be offensive to the minority.”

The other side of the argument feels there is absolutely no attack on Christmas, and Christians themselves are voicing some of the opposition for the idea on the “War On Christmas.” Many feel that concerns over the disappearance of Christmas, concerns that have reached the halls of Congress, are unwarranted and any move by Congress to hinder the “War On Christmas” would be a violation against the separation of Church and State. So, these people are saying they don’t want Congress to help stop the “War On Christmas” since there really is no war and it’s a collision between two entities (Church and State) that shouldn’t occur.

Others see the idea of Christmas as a relative notion; you make the holiday mean what you want. They believe there is no reason or basis to believe in any doctrine of Christianity at all (i.e. God or Jesus Christ), so the whole spirituality aspect of Christianity is a useless debate and should be nonexistent.

Also, those who are against the spirituality of Christmas cite that a belief in such an absolute truth, again meaning there is a God, Jesus walked the earth and was who He said He was; this idea of absolute truth is wrong and breeds intolerance of other ideas and beliefs.

So, is the spirituality of the Christian celebration of Christmas being attacked and is the idea of Christmas being eroded away? Is there anything wrong with saying “Happy Holidays” versus “Merry Christmas?” Should any of spirituality be associated with Christmas at all? What are your views on the Christmas holiday in terms of its original Christian foundation and how Christmas is viewed today?

(No matter what side or opinion you take, only civil comments will be posted. Disagreement is fine, hate speech isn’t. Thank You.)