News Opinion

Is the Holiday Season Too Secular?

When "Merry Christmas" isn't P.C., there's a problem, some argue. Others find joy in materialism

By U.S. News Staff

December 18, 2009 RSS Feed Print
  • Comment (12)

When folks are hesitant to wish one other "Merry Christmas" for fear of appearing politically incorrect, argues Rep. Henry Brown of South Carolina, America has lost the true meaning of a blessed time. Others like Onkar Ghate of the Ayn Rand Institute say joy, enhanced by a little materialism, is a beautiful thing. What do you think? Is Christmas too commercial? Take our poll and post your thoughts below. And don't forget to check out the debate in the most recent issue of U.S. News Weekly.

Are the Holidays Too Secular?



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Decorations, lists, and gifts galore. You see it at Christmas and you see it at children's birthday celebrations. Humanity has this inane desire to forget what it's actually celebrating and make it about competition to get a better material object than the next person. Sad, I agree.

Do you really need to know? of IN 1:51PM December 25, 2010

....does even the most thick-headed dolt think we are celebrating? It's not just, "some guy born 2000 years ago". It's the date we celebrate the coming of our savior.

* What other "some guy" had enough of an impact on us all to change the very calendar system we mark time with?

* What other man's birth was predicted 400 years before it happened (read the Old Testament's Book of Daniel)? Why do you think the 3 wise men (magi) left their comfortable lifestyle in ancient Persia for a dangerous trip across the desert if not for Daniel's prophecies?

* Who else can promise eternal salvation? Here's a hint. You cannot earn it for yourself. Dr. Ghate is in error if he foolishly thinks that.

And to think we cheapen all that with buying crap that no one wants, and fewer still need. Materialism indeed! Anyway, here's to a Merry Christ's Mass to you all. And may, "God bless us- every one".

P.S.- It would be remiss of me not to note that according to astrological research, Jesus was probably born approximately in April of 3 BC. Gotta love the irony in that :-)

Tony of VA 2:16PM December 24, 2009

This question isn't phrased right. Dr. Ghate isn't suggesting that the phrase "Merry Christmas" is wrong. If anything, he is saying it is right - and it trying to ground it in something more solid than some guy's birth 2,000 years ago. What his position is is that the true merriment of Christmas is one's own life and achievements; and that - in addition to acknowledging it between one another with well wishings - we should be proud of the material wealth we are able to enjoy.

It isn't a choice between being "politically correct" (which means not having any Christmas spirit and being against all forms of unapologetic human happiness) and being "incorrect" (which means giving credit for holiday cheer where credit isn't due: to religion). Instead, the Ayn Rand Institute's position is a beautiful integration of both material pleasures and spiritual joy.

So, with that, Merry (atheistic, completely self-centered) Christmas to all!

Grant of FL 10:55PM December 19, 2009

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