Jesus out in the cold for Christmas
Removing the Christ out of Christmas, are other faiths really offended?
bq.. _Britian’s Culture Ministry has sparked a yuletide furore by producing season’s greeting cards that deliberately avoid any mention of Christmas._
_Terrified of offending followers of other religions, officials have banished the word Christmas and all Christian imagery from its cards sent out this winter._
_Each of the 12-card series carries the inscription “Season’s Greetings” because it was thought “Happy Christmas” could insult non-Christian religious minorities._
_The only religious images are a drawing of Muslim mosques and a photograph of two Hindu dancers._
p. Does this move toward political correctness resolve or encourage conflict?
bq.. _But the move has unleashed the sort of religious ire it was supposed to avoid._
_Christian leaders have condemned the decision as devaluing the spiritual meaning of Christmas._
_”When we forget that Christ is central to Christmas, we risk turning the celebration into a winter festival of spectacular indulgence. I am not sure that is good for the soul,” said Bishop of Norwich Graham James._
p. What about the other faiths to which the Ministry is being sensitive? In general are they offended by Christmas?
bq.. _Even Muslims said the decision was puzzling._
_”We would not be insulted by a card that mentions Christmas,” said a spokesman for the Association of British Muslims._
_”It is, after all, a Christian festival in a majority Christian nation, so one would expect some recognition of this fact. I would not expect Christians living in Muslim countries to be insulted by Ramadan celebrations.”_
p. [ "Full Story @ The Advertiser (Jesus out in the cold for Christmas)":http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,8147403%255E912,00.html ]
p(small). Source: South Australia Advertiser, Australia (c) 2003 Advertiser Newspapers Ltd
Filed under: Church and State
The last quote interested me. “I would not expect Christians living in Muslim countries to be insulted by Ramadan celebrations” I don’t ever remember seeing a news story about how non-Christian holidays, like Ramadan, are muted to avoid offending Christians. Interesting thought. Thanks for the article.