Materialism polluting Christmas

[ik911]

from CNN.com
Pope: Materialism pollutes Christmas

Sunday, December 11, 2005 Posted: 1402 GMT (2202 HKT)

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- Pope Benedict has warned against rampant materialism which he said was polluting the spirit of Christmas.

"In today's consumer society, this time of the year unfortunately suffers from a sort of commercial 'pollution' that threatens to alter its real spirit," the Pope told a large crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square on Sunday to hear his weekly Angelus blessing.

He said Christmas should be marked with sober celebrations and urged Christians to display a nativity crib in their houses as "a simple but effective way of showing their faith and conveying it to their children."

Last year, under Pope John Paul, the Vatican launched a high-profile campaign to urge Roman Catholic Italy not to compromise the spirit of Christmas through excess or dilute its message out of fear of offending a growing Muslim population.

The quickpoll next to the article revealed that 88% of the people agree with the title.

However, a number of questions rise:
- do you intend to spend more than last year or the same? (or less than last year... yeah, right, keep fooling yourself.)
- how much do you spend on Christmas?
- do you agree with the pope?
and the question that I find most interesting concerning the article:
- should Christmas, the feast of light, be a sober celebration or a good once-per-year excuse for feasting and big spending?

[Siberys]

-If I had money, yes, I believe i would spend. However, not just for the commercial products, but for the sake of giving. I once went all year making a thousand paper cranes and giving them to people instead of giving costly goods, which they respected as a sign of friendship.

-I spend little to nothing each christmas, as I have no job (17 years old)

-100% all for that statement by the pope. It has become a beast that cannot be contained (quoted from Lewis Black), and it shouldn't be just about presents and stuff. It's a time of rejoice, and IMO, it doesn't matter the religion. I believe in a sense, it has nothing to do with religion, but more as to friendship, good will towards others, rejoice, and giving.

(Yes, I know it is a christian religion, it's just an opinion)

-Sober

[Hill-Shatar]

Most likely I will spend more than ever, given some cousins in the family that are slowly growing to an age where rattles just won't do it anymore.

I'd just like to point out that the US has now stopped calling it Christmas. The christmas holiday is now a seasonal holiday, and they call their Christmas tree in the lighthouse a seasonal tree. Two woman were fired from their jobs in the US because they said Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays.

A little tidbit to add to future comments.

Er... staying away from the last dash, thanks.

[Siberys]

"Two woman were fired from their jobs in the US because they said Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays."

That's.....bloody insane.

[ik911]

Originally Posted by Siberys

"Two woman were fired from their jobs in the US because they said Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays."

That's.....bloody insane.

People get fired for the most trivial of things when they've become obsolete.

[Phreddie]

Especially seeing as the White House COntrolled by the WASPS... (White AngloSaxon Presbyteerians) and Condi... honestly name one non christian person in the white house (whose not working some sort of diversity council)

[Dottie]

I think a lot of things have been increasingly commercialized over the years, which is in many cases very dangerous. However, holidays is one of the least important items imo.

Originally Posted by ik911

However, a number of questions rise:
- do you intend to spend more than last year or the same? (or less than last year... yeah, right, keep fooling yourself.)
- how much do you spend on Christmas?
- do you agree with the pope?
and the question that I find most interesting concerning the article:
- should Christmas, the feast of light, be a sober celebration or a good once-per-year excuse for feasting and big spending?

I will spend as last year, which is zero. If I want to give a gift to someone I don't wait for christmas.

I have no reason to have opinions on how people should celebrate christmas. If someone wants to buy expensive things for their friends and family then fine, if someone wants to drink themselves into a stupor or spend the christmas meditating over the horrors of the world, then that's fine as well.

I dislike the attempt to try to force people to behave in a certain way, when the behaviour in question is not functional, regardless of whether it is the pope or big business who's behind it.

edit-
Cute avatar change Ik.

[dj_venom]

In response to the earlier point about people being fired, over here a principal had to do a written apology to people in her school community because she said Merry Christmas in the school newsletter. It's been in the news, and frankly, we say stuff 'em.

If someone tells me to say Happy Holidays I refuse. I can recognise not everyone is Christian. I can recognise not everyone celebrates Christmas. But me offending your beliefs by saying two words? How about you offending my beliefs my ruining the day with irrelevant political correctness.

And we haven't had major changes over here, probably because our PM is a Christian, as are most of us ex-cons .

Originally Posted by ikky

However, a number of questions rise:
- do you intend to spend more than last year or the same? (or less than last year... yeah, right, keep fooling yourself.)
- how much do you spend on Christmas?
- do you agree with the pope?
and the question that I find most interesting concerning the article:
- should Christmas, the feast of light, be a sober celebration or a good once-per-year excuse for feasting and big spending?

• Well as inflation rises, one is naturally compelled to spend more... what? It makes sense, and you think of a better reason
• Not too much, just buy presents for close family.
• Well yes, but what better way to inspire joining in a dwindling church be offering the chance to get drunk .
• I think someone should celebrate how they want, provided it doesn't break any of the Commandments. If sitting there is quiet contemplation is good for you, then do it. If spending money on friends and family is good, then you do that too.

[Lestat]

Well I've been volunteered to be on stand by in the holidays, while most of my colleagues are rejoining their families in their respective home countries. So anyone wishing me "Happy Holidays" will get headbutted.

Anyway, Christmas is a christian feast, why hide it? If the other denominations are freeriding on the fact that a country has a (Western) christian heritage and thus a holiday on the 25th of December, they'll be able to stand a little Merry Christmassing, no?
When I got Eid-al-Fitr & Tabaski as a holiday when in a muslim country, I'm was not complaining when anyone wishes me a happy Eid-al-Fitr or happy Tabaski.
I have the idea that this political correctness is getting a bit over the top.

But since I'm not home for Christmas, what probably will happen is we'll dine somewhere with those colleagues that got left behind... Nothing too fancy, just to chase the loneliness.

[Phreddie]

Happy Holidays Lestat!

Lestat, this fellow colleage of yours, how old is she?

I said it before somewhere, santa claus is also doing something to demean the holidays, he takes the focus off of their original spiritual intent, but for those non spirirtuals who celebrate, I believe that it deameans the values of Hard work a little bit, all you ahve to do is wait and what you want you get (with a few variations, and a spattering of general screw ups)

[Hill-Shatar]

@ DJV and Lestat: Gotta love reverse racial profiling.

[Luis Antonio]

- do you intend to spend more than last year or the same? (or less than last year... yeah, right, keep fooling yourself.)

I want to spend more, but due to the simple fact that I want to be earning more. Its like an end of year reward. No religious thinking attached to Christmas - I se it merely as a commercial date.

- how much do you spend on Christmas?

In fact not much. I usually buy a game, a gift for the closer persons, but I wont create debts for the next year.

- do you agree with the pope?

No, because I think his view is late. The church should have adopted that position years ago, when her power was enough to drive the masses.

and the question that I find most interesting concerning the article:
- should Christmas, the feast of light, be a sober celebration or a good once-per-year excuse for feasting and big spending?

Why to generalize it? You want to party and spend? Do it. You prefer to pray and remain with family and close friends in a Christian environment? Fine. After all, thats one of the few choices we have. Roleplay your Christmas. The important part is to enjoy the way you do it, I guess.

[HighLordDave]

Originally Posted by Phreddie

Especially seeing as the White House COntrolled by the WASPS... (White AngloSaxon Presbyteerians) and Condi... honestly name one non christian person in the white house (whose not working some sort of diversity council)

WASP stands for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, not Presbyterian.

Dubya and his cronies are fundy Christians; I belive he's a Southern Baptist.

If Presbyterians were in control of the executive branch of government, we wouldn't be in Iraq and there would be more work done for social justice than for helping rich people avoid paying taxes.

I agree with the Pope that Christmas has become too commercial.

But I also realise that Christmas is also the reason why people have jobs. We live in a consumption-based economy. If people aren't buying and selling goods and services, most of which is purchased between Halloween and New Year's, then the economy would need to find some new basis, and frankly, I don't see that happening.

One reason why stores don't advertise for Christmas is because the fundy Christians have in the past hounded them for commercialising Christmas. Now they're wanting it made commercial again (let's face it, the holiday isn't going away, just like other super-commercial holidays like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day aren't either) when the name was taken off it.

The stores also don't want to alienate all the people who are buying stuff for Hanukkah and Kwanza, so "happy holidays" is much more generic and doens't leave any consumer feeling like they're not being catered to.

[Phreddie]

I could swear it was Presbyterian... maybe it is protestant, all i know is that all presidents have been protestant/presbyterian except for JFK, who was catholic.

[dj_venom]

@Lestat, I agree with you completely. I'd say 110%, but as well all know, it's not really possible .

@Phreddie, who would have thought the cheeky fellow introduced by Coke would have such a dramatic effect. I guess Coke corrupts in more ways than one .

[QUOTE=Luis AntonioNo, because I think his view is late. The church should have adopted that position years ago, when her power was enough to drive the masses.[/QUOTE]

LA, be careful about calling the Church a 'her', you are bound to have a bunch of priests running after you throwing bibles .