to hate it when people write "Xmas"?

[LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary]

It is, after all, a festival about Christ.

Putting an "x" instead of His name is lazy and disrespectful.
If you don't want a Christian Christmas, refer to the "holidays" instead.

MrsTP, Ganesh IS a soldier! He leads Shiva's army.

Hi all,
Thanks for your reports, we've had a look around and we do not conclude that the OP is trolling. As you were.

I'd hardly describe Christianity as weak, seeing as how it's the largest religion in the world. I would also say (when compared to some other religions) it's actually very tolerant. Someone saying they object to the word xmas hardly represents the majority of Christians.
I'm a Christian and I don't object to the word Xmas, what bothers me is some of the ridiculous politically correct terms for replacing the word Christmas with something like winterfest or winter holiday. I also object to the banning in some schools of the nativity play. But that's a whole new thread.

If the OPs legitimate perhaps they'd like to address the multiple people pointing out that the Christian church uses the X abbreviation?

Iced - if the majority of kids in a particular school aren't Christian, what's wrong with not doing a nativity play?

That said, to my knowledge most Christmas 'bans' are the inventions of the Daily Mail and its ilk, rather than being real things.

Jassy obviously I mean where the majority are Christian. Apart from that we can't get away from the fact that Britain is predominately a Christian country, therefore we shouldn't have to appease anybody. People of other faiths if asked would probably love to see the Nativity play, it's only the idiotic councils who think otherwise. If other faiths were to be offended by it then it would be them who could be perceived as having a weak faith.

Am I going to have to refer to Malcolm X as Malcolm Christ? :o

I don't think the OP is not legit; she/he and I have recently had quite a nice exchange on another thread. Confusing.

Jassy obviously I mean where the majority are Christian

Unfortunately it's not 'obvious', given the status of compulsory Christian worship in state schools.

And who decides what's the 'majority'? It's interesting (and quite telling) that you refer only to 'other faiths' in your post - ie religion is the default. While in fact the massive gap between those who identify as 'Christian' (eg in the Census, 60%) and those who say they believe in any deity (repeated and consistent large scale research surveys, around 30-40%) throws up an interesting question of what is faith, and what is culture.

So what if it's compulsory in schools. It's predominately a Christian country. Why should it change. It doesn't have to.

But it's not predominantly a Christian country. It's a country where the god most people don't believe in is the Christian one.

Can I join in as a practising Christian (or Xian, I don't give a flying one!)

OP - you are being unreasonable, both in your original post and subsequently.

Although I don't particularly enjoy the over commercialisation of Christmas, I choose to use advent and Christmas as a time of reflection, worship and celebration of MY faith, and don't feel the need to make others conform to how I feel.
Your veiled accusations that others on this thread are not Christian because of their views is a) unChristian in and of itself, and b) not your place to judge. Take the plank out of your own eye etc.

On a slightly seperate note, the God I love, and His Son, whom I follow said precisely nothing on the subject of homosexuality, but plenty on judging others, hypocritical worship, and social injustice. I feel vindicated therefore, in saying that God has no problem with homosexuality, and loves those who love others, regardless of what genitals they have in common.

So what if it's compulsory in schools. It's predominately a Christian country. Why should it change. It doesn't have to.

What a very... tolerant position. Given the change in people identifying as Christian in the Census between 2001 and 2011, by 2021 Christians (as identified in the dodgy Census measure) will be below 50%. So you might want to start practising that famed humility.

Do you really count the 20-30% of people who ticked 'Christian' on the census but don't believe in the Christian God as having Christian faith?

And given that the vast majority of faith schools funded by the state are Christian, why don't the minority who actually do believe in God send their kids there, leaving the non-faith schools for the rest of us?

Id say the stance taken against Christianity is rather intolerant.

Which stance against Christianity would that be? The one that prevents Christians from worshipping or expressing their faith? Or the one that prevents Christians from imposing their faith on people who don't want it? Because I am utterly against the former and utterly in favour of the latter.

I'd say the stance taken against Christianity is rather intolerant

Which one is that? The one where I and others are perfectly happy for you to practise your faith, but would prefer it wasn't imposed upon those who don't share that faith because (and I paraphrase) 'there are currently more of us, so nyah nyah.'

Why is asking for equivalent recognition and respect for all beliefs and none in what should be neutral spaces (non-faith state schools where education is required by the state) a 'stance against Christianity' and 'intolerant'? Honestly interested in your reasoning there.

On these threads 'intolerant of and persecuting Christians and Christianity' turns out to be closer to 'I object to the suggestion that Christians and Christian churches should be treated equally to everyone else through the removal of special treatment by the state.'

When was the last time someone imposed their faith on you. The only time I've ever had a faith imposed on me was jehovah witnesses knocking on my door. You know the ones, they won't take no for an answer.

My kids never did a nativity play. They did a play with some sort of loose connection to christmas.

When was the last time someone imposed their faith on you

Compulsory Christian worship in non-faith state schools my children will attend unless I go fee-paying, required by statute (to which you say 'so what, it's the majority religion')? Your demand for a nativity play, with the expectation that those who aren't Christian should 'love' it? Appointed Christian clergy in the legislature? State funding for schools that discriminate based on parental faith limiting children's educational choices?

There you go - I've answered your question. Will you answer mine?

How do want schools to be run?

Would you mind answering what particular 'stance against Christianity' you objected to?

How I'd like schools to be run is rather a broad question but right now this is feeling a wee bit one-sided.

I object to Christians being ridiculed for their faith. There's your answer. Christian bashing is rife?you only have to read some of the comments.
My demand for a nativity play? and that people should love it? Who makes the demands that there shouldn't be one?
What is wrong with the nativity, and who makes the decisions that some people won't like it. What on earth is the harm in it. Some people take offence at anything, and really, you can't appease everyone. It's tiresome.

Hang on, it was you who said you objected to the 'banning' (I assume that means 'not doing') nativity plays, and yes, you expect people of 'other faiths' to 'probably love' seeing them.

Do you not see how your expectation that your faith should take precedence because of an inaccurate view that it's the faith of 'the majority', and anything else is tiresome appeasement, isn't actually all that tolerant?

I think it's also valuable to differentiate criticism of Christianity with criticism of Christians. Really.

The main example I saw of the latter was OP questioning the true Christianity of AnnaMarlowe and, er, the Pope.

Never normally post on these threads as they always end up going the same way but left and his or her viewpoints have driven me to raise my hand up and say - I am a Christian (albeit one of those Catholic pretend ones ) and I feel the need to distance myself from pretty much everything left is stating and so to any atheists reading what she is saying and thinking that she is an example of all you dislike about Christians -please know we aren't all like that! And for the record my "Christian/lite" approach means I am pro same sex marriage, would have zero issue with no more school worship and as long as it came with total reform of the Lords into an elected chamber would be happy to see the Bishops give up their automatic seats there! left I think you need to revisit the whole love aspect of Christianity.

Just what is so wrong with a nativity play, what is so objectionable about them anyway. Should they be banned for a minority who might not like them. I never said I expected people to love them, I said they probably would. Slightly different. Just who are these people who object anyway?