Xmas greeting sin

[Sean]

Fair enough Meade... you can read whatever you like into my post. It was simply a response to Dave followed by a more general thought on the comparison which had been made between rioting Muslims and non-rioting Christians.

I'll stop now because I'm not sure why I'm justifying my own opinion. Turn it into whatever you wish. It reeks of burning martyr though...

[Rick]

I'm a Christian and I don't celebrate religious holidays.

I say Merry Christmas because it is a National Holiday, I get 2 days off and have no problem what so ever taking them.

Easter Sunday? Just another day of worship.

However I don't celebrate Hanukkah or Ramadan either.

To be sure I don't overtly condemn those that do I just don't agree with them the necessity of such celebration...

[dgs49]

There was a cute article in the local paper today about what has come to be a tradition among Pittsburgh's non-Christians - not celebrating Christmas at a Chinese restaurant. Christmas is their biggest day of the year. Jews, Indians, and Asians all stampede to our Chinese restaurants on Christmas to the extent that is has become the fashionable thing to do.

And I find it terribly upsetting. These people should be at home fretting because they are not "saved"!

[oldr_n_wsr]

I don't see the need to "shun" what other celebrate. Do we shun the neighbors kids birthday party? Do we feel we need to attend every funeral at the local parlor?

Why shun Christmas (or whatever someone else celebrates) just because you do not celebrate that occasion?

I went to a high school that was about 60% Jewish. I have to say it was great and not just the learning experience which, only now, am I appreciative of. I celebrated (C)Hannakah, Passover and other Jewish holidays (although I did not sit in the makeshift shed, nor did I fast) with them (I took a pass on the gefilte fish) and they came over and celebrated our Christian holidays with us. I would say Merry Christmas/Happy Easter to them and they responded with Happy (C)Hannakah/Happy Passover to me. No Biggy. One big happy time. I would think Allah would approve. And if not, to hell with him.

[MajGenl.Meade]

It was simply a response to Dave followed by a more general thought on the comparison which had been made between rioting Muslims and non-rioting Christians.

[Sean]

Like I said, believe whatever you like... although I don't think for a second you actually believe it...

You're a little more transparent then you seem to think... especially when it comes to the tactics you use to defend your beliefs...

[MajGenl.Meade]

I thot Muslims considered JC a great prophet. What's wrong with celebrating his birth?

More to the point, what's wrong with not celebrating his birth? Why should anyone get upset because non-Christian faiths don't want to celebrate Christian events?

I'm sorry, but I really don't see how that's "more to the point"....In fact it looks like a complete strawman to me....Who's been complaining or getting "upset" if non-Christians don't want to celebrate Christian events?

Actually Jim, it was a direct response to the first part of Dave's post. Read the two posts together...

(My italics)

Sean, you claim that I fail to understand how your “direct response” to the first part of Dave’s post had anything whatsoever to do with what he posted. Certainly you don’t have to “justify” to me any opinion you may have. But when you speak total bollocks don’t be surprised if someone shouts “balls”.

I thought your new explanation about people getting “upset because non-Christian faiths don’t want to celebrate Christian events” had something to do with earlier remarks about Moslems rioting and Christians not rioting was laughable. So I laughed.

And by the way I do really believe you misunderstood dgs; that you posted in response to what you thought he was saying; and are now hopping around like a flea in a frying pan trying to suggest that I’m up to something non-cleverly non-obscure.

But I’d be interested and delighted if you cared to explain your opinion about my tactics - perhaps too much sarcasm sometimes, admittedly. But maybe it’s that instead of just stating opinions I try to take the time to explain what they are and argue rationally in support. And when people don’t understand me I explain further. And then again. And then again. And . . . .

[Sean]

I'm really not interested anymore Meade. If you want to twist what I wrote into something completely different and if you want to accuse me of dishonesty in my posts then you can fuck right off and take your self-righteous bullshit with you.

Those who know me know that I post sincerely and admit when I am wrong, those who assume otherwise without reason can kiss my arse!

[Joe Guy]

I believe Sean's comment "what's wrong with not celebrating his birth?" was completely within the context of the thread subject. He simply put that thought out for consideration.

A Muslim says there is something very wrong with celebrating Jesus's birth?" and some people respond to that idea.

Then Sean questions - "What's wrong with not celebrating Jesus's birth?" He does not suggest that dgs said anything about "get(ting) upset because non-Christian faiths don't want to celebrate Christian events."

His post is very much within the context of this thread and it's wrong to say otherwise (in my unholy opinion).

Gob created this thread. If anyone should be blamed for how people respond to it, it should be him...

[btw - I just had some more vegemite on triscuits. I think it affects my thought process]

[Sean]

Thank you Joe.

[Rick]

Oh come on Sean he's just feeling bad for not including you in his poll...

[Lord Jim]

[btw - I just had some more vegemite on triscuits. I think it affects my thought process]

That's how it starts....

Next thing you know, you'll find yourself seized with an over-powering desire to watch cricket matches, repeal The Second Amendment, replace our system of government with a parliamentary one, and drive on the wrong side of the road....

You need to get help now.... and save yourself from this downward spiral...

[Rick]

Just be thankful it's not Marmite, Vegemite doesn't contain the B12 that Marmite does, he'd be wired and posting all kinds of polls then...

[Joe Guy]

Is it time for another poll?

btw - I will be buying some Marmite in the future. But for now I'm staying with the Vegemite. I'm not certain whether that's anything like going from Vicodin to Heroin, but that's the road I'm on....

[Rick]

Vegemite the gateway spread, oh the humanity.

Save yersef Joe, and for the time being just store all those polls in a vault bring them out when yer better...

[MajGenl.Meade]

I believe Sean's comment "what's wrong with not celebrating his birth?" was completely within the context of the thread subject. He simply put that thought out for consideration. . . . A Muslim says there is something very wrong with celebrating Jesus's birth?" and some people respond to that idea.

Then Sean questions - "What's wrong with not celebrating Jesus's birth?" He does not suggest that dgs said anything about "get(ting) upset because non-Christian faiths don't want to celebrate Christian events." His post is very much within the context of this thread and it's wrong to say otherwise (in my unholy opinion)

I agree about context Joe - I even said so:

Sean's post might better be placed directly under the op and ask why anyone is upset about the fatwa when, after all, "non-Christian faiths don't want to celebrate Christian events". Let them eat fatwas. Or smoke 'em if you have 'em

. That there is agreeing with Sean.

Sometimes I despair of the inability to read and understand English. "What is wrong with NOT celebrating his birth" is a total non-starter in response to "A muslim says there is something very wrong with celebrating...". It makes no sense because they both carry the exact same meaning; it's not a response but a reiteration. A response to the muslim would consist of "what is wrong with celebrating his birth". Which is what dgs wrote.

Sean was responding (and says so) to dgs - not to anything else. dgs says "What's wrong with celebrating his birth" and the reply is "What's wrong with NOT celebrating his birth. Why should anyone get upset because non-Christian faiths don't etc"

As LJ pertinently asked, who did Sean have in mind as being "upset because non-Christian faiths don't celebrate" Christian festivals? Who? Was there anyone in this thread upset about that?

Are Moslems upset because non-Christian faiths DON'T celebrate? No. Buddhists? No. Atheists? No. Only a h ypothetical theoretical "Christian" could be upset that non-Christian faiths don't celebrate. And Sean's post was in "direct response" to dgs. Therefore the only Christian posting who can be misunderstood as "upset" is dgs.

So Sean, I can understand that you are not interested in replying other than by ad hominems and abusive language. I'm not accusing you of dishonesty (far from it) and I regret the flea in a fying pan statement. I also regret that I'll never find out about my transparency and tactics. I suspect it has something to do with recognizing the logical meaning of what people say. I have twisted nothing that you wrote - only asked what you could possibly mean by it

Meade

[Sean]

I'm not getting into it Meade... suffice to say that I've seen the 'reasonable man' persona used before. You're not quite as good as Rangermom was at it but you're not far off. You seem to start from the position that all those here who don't share your faith have some sort of agenda and this completely arses up your ability to debate reasonably from the word go. Of course I don't expect you to recognise a personal flaw...

[MajGenl.Meade]

Fair enough - although I did earlier recognise at least two personal flaws - too much sarcasm and going on. And on. And on.

I don't recall Rangermom but 'reasonable man' is not a persona. I am a reasonable man. Critical often, objectionable sometimes (or perhaps often) and definitely given to worrying a thing to death. Self-righteous is a word I've applied to myself from time to time too.

You are right that I don't recognise your description of me as thinking that all who don't share my faith have some sort of agenda. And I feel that debating reasonably (as I think I did in this current exchange) is exactly what I do in that subject area, although not in others sometimes. If that is not so, if I need to recognise this "personal flaw" and correct it, then I would appreciate your pointing it out (but with an explanation) whenever it happens.

Meade

[Lord Jim]

I hope that means that this particular unpleasant exchange between two valued posters is over....

[Sean]

No worries Jim... I've got better things to worry about.