What's wrong with "Happy Holidays"?

[Wildflower Fever]

Anyway, Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings to you all. That said, I can't help but be perplexed with all the furor over the supposed "attack on christmas." Am I crazy, or have people been saying Happy Holidays for many years now (as long as I've been alive)? It's a suitable and all encompassing expression, and I don't think it even needs to be seen as a religious substitute. Fact is, many use it to condense all the seasons holidays, including new years day, into one universal expression. Some people actually don't like it when I say it as they know I am agnostic. Here's the thing with me: I don't mind when someone says "merry christmas" even though I'm non-religious, I understand their sentiment and enjoy the holiday. In that regard, there is no valid reason to feel differently when someone approaches you with "happy holidays." Maybe I should start pushing for my deity to be recognized in public places. :rolleyes:
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
The Church Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster:D

http://airstripone.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/flying-spaghetti-monster.jpg

[Eva]

I think the attack on christmas is part of the gay agenda...

Eva

[Dee]

The Church Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster

My goodness what HUGE meatballs you have! http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/deemark/Emoticons/bigshock.jpg

[Wildflower Fever]

My goodness what HUGE meatballs you have! http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/deemark/Emoticons/bigshock.jpg

Yes, and they are basted in marinara!!!;)
Here we are receiving our blessing from "the creator.":p

http://atheist-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/fsmcostume.jpg

[Wildflower Fever]

And here is our nativity scene. And we don't even mind if you want to put one of those "manger babies" next to it, there's enough room for everyone...;)

http://plutonica.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/fsm-statue.jpg

[Mary6906]

What does it say on the front of the statue?

It looks like "May You.....

[Eva]

Your creator wears flip-flops????????? :eek: She didn't create me. That's for sure! :rolleyes:

Eva

[hoops]

Eva, whew, i'm glad you found that... must be one of the spaghetti god's helpers...you know like Santa's helpers, not the real thing and sometimes a less than perfect representation.
Happy holidays! whatever they may be...i hope you enjoy them and if you don't that's your fault cause you have some kind of large pointy object up your rectum
peace
hoops

[Wildflower Fever]

Your creator wears flip-flops????????? :eek: She didn't create me. That's for sure! :rolleyes:

Eva

That guy named Jesus wore flip-flops of sorts, only they were made of leather. :rolleyes:

[Wildflower Fever]

Happy holidays! whatever they may be...i hope you enjoy them and if you don't that's your fault cause you have some kind of large pointy object up your rectum
peace
hoops

This is precisely the point of this thread. There are a growing number of right wingers out there who are allowing "non-believers" like me to ruin their holiday. I really think their "pointy stick" is the bible. IMO that's their problem, not mine.
Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings to all, and "god" bless us, everyone!:)

[DaveM]

Anyone else wishing to become a Pastafarian (their phrase) may begin their spiritual path at: http://www.venganza.org/

Do note that the home page features a graph tying global warming to the shrinking number of pirates on earth.

I'm convinced. I'm converting. I do hope we get to go around knocking on doors and offering literature. Or at least delivering pizzas.

[Wildflower Fever]

Anyone else wishing to become a Pastafarian (their phrase) may begin their spiritual path at: http://www.venganza.org/

Do note that the home page features a graph tying global warming to the shrinking number of pirates on earth.

I'm convinced. I'm converting. I do hope we get to go around knocking on doors and offering literature. Or at least delivering pizzas.

Our holiday greeting is really Merry Fsmas (FSM= Flying Spag. Monster);)

Here's another nativity, this time featuring Pirates as well, a common FSM theme for you Rudie Pirates out there, as DaveM noted,

http://www.venganza.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/nativity1.jpg

[DaveM]

Pirates AND food? We've got proselytizing to do!

[Eva]

That guy named Jesus wore flip-flops of sorts, only they were made of leather. :rolleyes:
Yeah... I am not fond of his footwear either.

Eva

[Bat]

I heard that they've placed a GPS in the Baby Jesus of the local nativity scene...he keeps getting stolen every year, so maybe they'll find the culprit this time! True story.

[hoops]

bat, seems someone thinks they need him more than others.
peace
hoops

[Bat]

I really doubt that, Hoops...I'd be surprised if anyone took him for religious succour. Probably a UC frat joke.

[DaveM]

Well, if he turns up in the dumpster behind Planned Parenthood....I don't know anything about it.

[hoops]

Davem, i would love to laugh my head off, but i just have this strange feeling that somehow my father would find out and i would never hear the end of it...not worth it
bat, i agree with you. tho i know your part of ohio is far north of kentucky, i still somehow mak a connect between the two states. and i was going to make a comment about women who want to be mothers, but i thought better of it.
peace
hoops

[Bat]

Some women should be mothers, and others never should. As long as the loops stick to the dollbaby, I'm for letting her have it...just don't start hanging around maternity wards...

[Wildflower Fever]

bat, i agree with you. tho i know your part of ohio is far north of kentucky, i still somehow mak a connect between the two states.
peace
hoops

Just south of Cincy in Kentucky is Florence, KY, with a water tower that reads "Florence, Y'All." Also stay away from the Cheviot area of Cincy, all I can tell you is that they don't serve brandy at Patty's Place, just whiskey and beer. Oh yes, and if you ask for that beer in a bottle, you'll be greeted with more hostility and told that they only have cans, like you're some kind of moron.:rolleyes:

[DaveM]

Hoops, when the stress gets to be too much, just do what I do: drive around to the nearest "crisis pregnancy center" and leave a coat hanger on their doorknob.

Among my more-cherished possessions is a plastic fetus from a giveaway basket at the county fair some years ago (sign on said basket read: "One Per Person"--I said that was fine advice and they didn't get it). I have tried to come up with the perfect use for it....for awhile I was going to plant it among the main dishes at a particularly-hated buffet, but was afraid it might nelt and make someone sick. Then it was going on the car antenna, but I didn't want to attract pro-lifers with rocks.

This year, however, it is in my housemate's Nativity scene. If she has noticed, she hasn't said a word yet....

[trish55]

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Etc, Etc, Etc...

[coffeegyrl]

DaveM, you dastardly dude, you crack me up!
Keep up the good work. ; )

[Wildflower Fever]

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Etc, Etc, Etc...

:rolleyes: ;)

http://s3.amazonaws.com/fthink/happy-holidays-card-flying-spaghetti-monster.jpg

[hoops]

davem, just to remind you, my dad is the eguy who saw a stranger's car with a pro choice sticker on it and put a pro life sticker over it...yup, that guy. i won't even go into thanksgiving. all i know is i am just not getting pregnant unless i am the virgin mary, yet hell awaits for oh so many things...such as being an organ donor. can't wait till this years christmas gift ( last year was th life sized 10 commandments) happy holidays!
peace
hoops

[DaveM]

Does he have a coat hanger for a radio antenna? Would he like one?

Not too long ago I saw a web site which offered "NASA" and "Viagra" versions of the classic "fish" sticker. Works for me.

I believe two summers ago there was something of a rash of vandals breaking car windows hereabouts. All of the cars involved had "Flush Rush" bumper stickers. An area police chief (I am not making this up!) stated that people could possibly protect themselves from the vandals by putting their stickers on the outside of the windows to avoid presenting temptation to thieves. Bumpers were not mentioned.

[Mary6906]

.... all i know is i am just not getting pregnant unless i am the virgin mary ....


Hey, wait a minute.... I thought I was the Virgin Mary? :confused: :p

[DaveM]

Um....not if you've had acquaintance with a wiener.

[Mary6906]

Um....not if you've had acquaintance with a wiener.

Touché, DaveM :D

[Eva]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! :D
Ehm... what was this thread about again? :o

Eva

[DaveM]

If I recall correctly, at least one of the Gospels doesn't exactly describe an Immaculate Conception. It says that Mary was off by herself somewhere and "the spirit of the Lord came upon her". This can be interpreted several ways, some of them far less than Immaculate.

[Oak Kitten]

While we are on the subject (kind of - it is impossible to keep Rudies on topic) allow me to reprise my holiday greeting from last year:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c70/rbalano/YultideGreetings.gif

[Mary6906]

.... that Mary was off by herself somewhere and "the spirit of the Lord came upon her". This can be interpreted several ways, some of them far less than Immaculate.
:rolleyes: >>BLUSH<< :o


And, I like your Yultide Greetings, Oak Kitten, very clever!! :D

[hoops]

i make my yearly clarification.

the immaculate conception has NOTHING TO DO WITH MARY GETTING PREGNANT. it has to do with her mother conceiving her...the first and only human since adam and eve to be born without the stain of sin. mary, sinless from birth to death, she did not have original sin on her soul. thank you
peace
hoops

[DaveM]

Doesn't sound like any fun at all when you put it that way. Being Catholic must have much the same entertainment value as being Methodist-Lutheran (retired).

[Eva]

No way Dave! Catholics can go to the bar and get drunk after church. At least that's what they used to do in my dad's village.

Eva

[Oak Kitten]

i make my yearly clarification.

the immaculate conception has NOTHING TO DO WITH MARY GETTING PREGNANT. it has to do with her mother conceiving her...the first and only human since adam and eve to be born without the stain of sin. mary, sinless from birth to death, she did not have original sin on her soul. thank you
peace
hoops

Thanks Hoops,

I think it was me you set straight last year, in the interim I forgot what you told me/us. My mind does not retain dogma well. By the end of the day I will have forgotten again. Um, what were we talking about?

Oak

[Bat]

So, how did Mary come to be so damned pure? What about her mother, and the rest of her foremothers? Was the whole family pure? How do they know these things? Hmmmm?? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Mary6906]

All I want to say is HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE everybody!!

http://www.rubberchickencards.com/content.php/action/play_card/id/552/

[trish55]

To all those who want to pull apart and make fun of religion and biblical stories go ahead but there is a thing called FAITH that you cannot touch

[Wildflower Fever]

To all those who want to pull apart and make fun of religion and biblical stories go ahead but there is a thing called FAITH that you cannot touch

Well, to me the point is that FAITH is sacred, no matter WHAT you have faith in. For me, I have faith in myself, my friends, my family and so on. If someone chooses to playfully mock religion, you can still have your faith, just smile and look away- no harm done. What if I was to say I have FAITH that there is no god, and here is the publication I rely on to tell me so:
(shouldn't that be respected, the idea of the church of the FSM is to show you that anyone's beliefs may or may not be true. None of us really knows...)

http://www.venganza.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/gospel.jpg

[Wildflower Fever]

DaveM, here are some car emblems for ya:

http://www.venganza.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/piratefish3.jpg

http://www.venganza.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/piratefish2.jpg

[DaveM]

Trish, for the record, I have no quarrel with anyone's faith, no matter what it may or may not be. I am, however, an equal opportunity offender, who does not believe in sacred cows (no offense to Hindus intended), so if something seems like a good basis for a (reasonably) harmless laugh....

If there is one thing that is impossible for my belief system to encompass, it is the idea that God has no sense of humor.

[Mary6906]

....
If there is one thing that is impossible for my belief system to encompass, it is the idea that God has no sense of humor.

I was just going to say that same thing, DaveM.

[Eva]

If there is one thing that is impossible for my belief system to encompass, it is the idea that God has no sense of humor.
Oooooh good one. I don't believe in a god as the big religions say it. But if there is something it has to have a good sense of humour. It probably has, otherwise humanity never would have evolved. I mean... humanity is one big joke anyway to me.

Now let's have a drink together in the nearest pub.

Eva

[DaveM]

In one of Ray Bradbury's Martian stories, a group of priests are arguing about how to introduce the concept of God to the Martians. One brings up the subject of humor, to which another replies: "I was not aware that He ever laughed".

"WHAT?" the first priest says, "the creator of the ostrich, the platypus, and man?"

It works for me.

[hoops]

I am a faithful Catholic ( well maybe not so much according to all the rules) but i laugh about it all the time cause I think, if you don't laugh you've missed the point. i also believe that all have the right to believe what they choose. "it is not by the letter of the law that we are judged, but by the heart"
also, if you read the new testament, Jesus speaks often of the Samaratans who were enemies of the Jews in evry sense of the word. Yet Jesus speaks of them as having faith, of believing, of being the good guy ( such as in the story of the good Samaratan). Jesus even speeaks to a Samaratan woman...double no no to Jews, and finds her to be a good a faithfulled woman. He heals the 10 lepers and only the Samaratan returns to thank Him. and there are amny more accounts of Jesus and Gentiles, sinners, theives and enemies of the Jews. He knew something.
peace
hoops

[MadMusician]

I was researching some music today and ran across the below singer/songwriter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wlgWQwD_0Y

Your God
Words And Music By
Cheryl Wheeler

Is your God the same God who's working with the Pope?
Is it the same God suspicious of Tinky Winky?
Is it the God corralling virgins into herds of 72,
deciding where to send them when the glorious martyrs are through?

Is your God the same God who's burning the science books
and trampling lives to hoist the right to life signs?
Or is he running the breeding program from the Temple by the lake
till one big in-bred family will be an entire state?

Are they his priests who can't keep from buggering little boys?
Is it your cash retaining their attorneys?
I guess he had to overlook the nastiness with the tykes,
to keep the grace of marriage from the clutches of fags and dykes.

Is your God the same God who won the Superbowl?
I hope it's not that loser God the Eagles had.
Or is your's the God decreeing all the women wear a sack,
and presiding over stonings and beheadings in Iraq?

Is your God commanding you
to tell everybody what to do,
to kill your brain and praise his name
and bury the bastard who's not the same,
and spew your heinous and hateful ****
like something holy was driving it
to take over all the earth and skies above?
Oh mercy, whatever happened to the GOD of love?

[Wildflower Fever]

On that note, here's one of my favorites:
XTC, "Dear God" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk41Gbjljfo

XTC "Dear God"

Dear God,
Hope you got the letter,
And I pray you can make it better down here.
I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer,
But all the people that you made in your image,
See them starving on their feet,
'Cause they don't get enough to eat
From God,
I can't believe in you.
Dear God,
sorry to disturb you,
but I feel that I should be heard loud and clear.
We all need a big reduction in amount of tears,
And all the people that you made in your image,
See them fighting in the street,
'Cause they can't make opinions meet,
About God,
I can't believe in you.
Did you make disease, and the diamond blue?
Did you make mankind after we made you?
And the devil too!
Dear God,
Don't know if you noticed,
But your name is on a lot of quotes in this book.
Us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look,
And all the people that you made in your image,
Still believing that junk is true.
Well I know it ain't and so do you,
Dear God,
I can't believe in,
I don't believe in,
I won't believe in heaven and hell.
No saints, no sinners,
No Devil as well.
No pearly gates, no thorny crown.
You're always letting us humans down.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown.
Those lost at sea and never found,
And it's the same the whole world 'round.
The hurt I see helps to compound,
that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Is just somebody's unholy hoax,
And if you're up there you'll perceive,
That my heart's here upon my sleeve.
If there's one thing I don't believe in...
It's you,
Dear God.

[DaveM]

Sarah McLachlan did a delightfully angst-ridden version of the same song, though I believe she changed a few of the words.

[hoops]

yeah, she was angry in that one...
peace
hoops

[Wildflower Fever]

Sarah McLachlan did a delightfully angst-ridden version of the same song, though I believe she changed a few of the words.

Yes, I've got that mp3. I still prefer the original by XTC because of the child doing the intro and outro.

[sky]

Hoops,

Wow, I alway thought that Mary was supposed to be the virgin mother when she gave birth to jesus, -hence the immaculate conception. But now I learned that the immaculate conception isn't the same thing as the virgin birth-- right? Wow, see I learned something new today!

Chhristianity is all about the different interpretation of things. And you can't argue very well when it comes to faith and interpretation can you?

The whole idea of original sin and being born in sin is foreign to me because I was raised christian- but in a church that believes ALL children are born free from sin and remain completely pure until they are least 8 years old. Thats why they don't baptize anyone before they turn 8 years old, because you can't sin until you understand that what you are doing is wrong. Until then the parents are responsible for everything the kids do.

[trish55]

Faith is personal and you can't tell me what I believe is not true, well actually you can tell me anything, it is a free country, well not exactly free these days..however I will say some of you people on this site are CRAZY!! But love to you all anyway:D

[Eva]

however I will say some of you people on this site are CRAZY!!
Huh... I hadn´t noticed yet... :confused:

Eva

[Dee]

Yes, we are. Aren't you glad? :o

[hoops]

crazy as a loon here...wanna see the paperwork?? Sky, it is interesting what you learn. i know catholics are supposed to believe that we are all born with the "stain of sin" but i just can't believe that a little baby has sin on it's soul...I have gone to church since i was brought home from the hospital and so have all the children in my family. i find baptism as a baby to be more of a rite of entry rather than a forgiveness of sins or a protection from sin.
Trish yes we are crazy, i'm glad you like us this way. i don't know anything about your faith and you don't have to share it just know that no one judges you by it here.
peace
hoops

[sky]

Hoops, We do baby blessings around here usually when the baby is 4-6 weeks old which is really just a baby naming ceremony with a prayer involved to bless the child--but like i mentioned they aren't baptized.

I don't see anything wrong with saying happy holidays, -especially since there IS more than one holday going on... Why not wish everyone a good time celebrating whatever it is they are celebrating?

[trish55]

why cant I say Merry Christmas, is there anything wrong with that? If you dont like it dont listen to it.:eek:

[Eva]

You can say it to me Trish :) I like all good wishes.

Eva

[Bat]

Well said, Eva! That goes for me, too. Merry Christmas, Trish, and everyone else,too! It's a lovely day, with a great tradition of exchanging good will and presents...I think it's a lot of fun to give and receive surprises...too bad we don't do it a little more often...I try to spread it out a little over the year, but Christmas is the big day for it, and I love it!
Marcia got me a sound system that will put my old vinyl on CDs...I've wanted one of those forever, and so far, I'm just delighting in hearing all my old records again. I'll put the ones that still play without too many scratches onto CD so I can play them anywhere...but there is such joy in hearing them again, you can't imagine! I've played everything from Mickey Katz doing Klezmer to Shostakovitch's 5th (it's on now), and about 300 hours to go!
Our turkey is in the oven, and we'll have another great dinner...
The only thing that is wrong is that Santa didn't deliver Marcia's big present, which she's also been wanting for a long time...but I got a message that it's on the truck somewhere, so it will be here. I gave her the paper with the tracking number so she can follow it...not quite the same, but better than nothing. So much for spreading presents out...

So, I do hope everyone is having as good a day as we are!
Merry Christmas, indeed!

[sky]

turkey in the oven here with all of the fixings too. I still have 5 kids under 12 so the Hoildays are always exciting around here, I just hope we can teach them the real meaning of christmas and that it is not just about presents.

And I think we are all crazy in our own way aren't we.

[hoops]

I'll go for Merry Christmas to all too! i've probably said it over 200 times in the last 2 days and no one complained, infact everyone smiled and many said it back to me. i don;t know who they were or what holiday they were celebrating, but wishing someone a happy day seems to always be a good thing to do
peace
hoops

[Wildflower Fever]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all, how about that?:D To Trish, and anyone else, I've just got to say again that nobody said you can't say Merry Christmas...the point here is that YOU or anyone else shouldn't be offended by Happy Holidays. I'm sorry but I face this argument way too often, it's like talking to a brick wall. Someone will say that happy holidays demeans christmas, and yet if they say merry christmas I (as an agnostic) am not offended and understand the sentiment. Case closed. Have a great one everybody!!!:)

[gisli]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all, how about that?:D

Yeah!!!!!!! how about that and the same to you and yours. Actually in my language we say Gleðileg jól and the word GLEÐILEG means both happy and merry........plus joyfull.....How about that????


So


GLEÐILEG JÓL