Hijinx, (12/17/2008 6:03:03 AM)

You would think, But dont count on it!

Razna, Greenville (12/17/2008 6:47:18 AM)

As I recall, Jesus didn't go around telling people to put up little nativity scenes, decorate evergreen trees, hang wreaths on their doors, or sing Christmas carols, for that matter. I don't know about anybody else, but the book I read gives his advice as being to love God and love my neighbor. I interpret that to mean not to go around knocking the way my neighbor chooses to celebrate winter holidays (or not celebrate them, as the case may be). Somehow I don't think Jesus would be all that pleased with the "War on Christmas" screaming campaign. I rather imagine he'd prefer a smile, a wave, and a hearty "Happy Holidays, neighbor!" to that. Just my humble opinion.

Bigbadbri, Broken Arrow (12/17/2008 7:13:18 AM)

Amen Razna. It is ironic to me that some who profess to be good Christians stray far from his message of peace, love, and tolerance. The "War on Christmas" is a total myth. I have not heard any of my Jewish or Muslim friends bash Christmas, in fact quite the opposite. How many times do we Christians say Happy Hannakuh, or even shaloam?

Michael Phillips, Tulsa (12/17/2008 8:50:04 AM)

There once was a war on Christmas, but it is now over and the Christians won. You can learn a lot by listening to extreme right wing hate radio, and I learned that more and more store employees across the country are saying "Merry Christmas" when a customer leaves with a bundle of gifts. Even John Gibson who wrote the definitive book on the subject admits that it is becoming difficult to engage the elusive enemy.

Mr. Brown, Tulsa (12/17/2008 9:15:30 AM)

They usually find themselves fighting for a little
respect for their chosen belief system, which probably won't come from a person ignorant enough to spell "Christian" with a "K".

Matt W., Tulsa (12/17/2008 9:17:45 AM)

Bigbadbri, I hope you have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hannukuh, and a Joyous Quanza. There ya go, make you feel any better? It didn't help me any...

Who cares if those "christians" want to yell at people during the holidays, that is their choice; I mean if anyone wants to spend their holiday yelling at me, than they can... although I will only take it for so long before I call the police and have them taken away for trespassing or disturbing the peace.

zzx375, BA (12/17/2008 9:37:20 AM)

At the end of the day (and discussion) Christianity is either true or false. Hard to prove? Can't say either way?

Perhaps, but that doesn't change the basic fact.

And Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, like Christianity, with their various truth claims, are either true or false.

One thing is certain, though, and that is they all cannot be simultaneously true.

Tim Denver, Denver (12/17/2008 9:56:23 AM)

I don't care if the shop owner greets with with "Merry Christmas" "Happy Holidays" or "Happy Horus' birthday." It's the season to be kind and respectful to all people, regardless of religious identity. No one has declared war on Christians or Christmas. Be respectufl, people, and kind to each other. Too bad we can't remember the meaning of the season 365 days a year. That's hat Jesus expects.

Tim Denver, Denver (12/17/2008 9:57:29 AM)

sorry, meant that what Jesus expects.

redbeard, Stillwater (12/17/2008 11:54:20 AM)

Good post,Tim.

I don't know what all the fuss is about. I never stopped saying "Merry Christmas" and never noticed anybody else stopping.

Some folks have to manufacture an issue so they can rally the troops,I guess. What a waste of time.

redbeard, Stillwater (12/17/2008 11:55:13 AM)

Merry Christmas everybody!.....and a Happy New Year.

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (12/17/2008 11:57:47 AM)

My thoughts exactly, redbeard. I've never noticed any cause for alarm. Just people wishing each other a happy Christmas.

What's the big deal? Did I miss something?

redbeard, Stillwater (12/17/2008 12:12:17 PM)

Thanks,Swami. By the way....what is that new avatar you got?

Is that Bush in a pimp suit?

redbeard, Stillwater (12/17/2008 12:13:29 PM)

Proud Muslim, what's the Muslim holiday that comes around this time of year?

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (12/17/2008 12:29:05 PM)

That would be Eid al-Adha, but it moves backward 11 days every year, since the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar calendar. Last year, it was pretty close to Christmas. This year, I think it was on the 7th or 8th, can't remember.

Thanks, Roscoe Toomba. Merry Christmas!

redbeard, Stillwater (12/17/2008 12:39:42 PM)

PM,I had a Muslim neighbor,from Jordan(he moved away recently) and last year around the holidays his daughter brought some food over for my family and several neighbors. His daughter told my daughter that it was part of their holiday and something about sharing with the less fortunate.

The food was chicken and rice,but it was seasoned differently than I have eaten...really delicious.

I miss him and his family since they moved. They were very nice people and good friends.

I was told that his wife did not have her visa renewed so she had to leave the country.

A sad story........

redbeard, Stillwater (12/17/2008 12:52:08 PM)

Your posts are similar to his.My mistake.

It will be interesting to see what Bush does after he is out. Probably sitting on the board at some oil company,I imagine.

zTruth, Tulsa (12/17/2008 1:31:26 PM)

We must realize that many Islamic leaders, including ones selected by the Islamic Society of Tulsa, would not approve of Muslims saying Merry Christmas.

Muslims do not recognize Jesus's birthday or that he is Christ the Lord so I must be missing something here by Proud Muslim's Merry Christmas greeting. No disrespect intended, PM, just confused.

For Christians, Christmas marks and honors the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

We believe he is divine and was resurrected after his crucifixion and the second person in the Trinity. All of which is strongly denouced in the Quran.

Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, and a close associate of IST's Mujeeb Cheema (google: The North American Islamic Trust - see the about page) stated in 2006 on terror-supporter Yusef Qaradawi's Qatar-based Islamonline:

"...Some people claim that Christmas is now a secular holiday and it is very much an American national holiday rather than a religious holiday. But it is wrong to assume that because this holiday is national, it has ceased to be Christian. It is true that this holiday is very popular -- it is basically a religious holiday. Its very name and all its symbolism is Christian through and through.

Christians celebrate at Christmas what they believe to be the "day of the birth of God's Son" or what they call "God Incarnate". Thus it is not only a celebration of another religion, it is also a celebration that is based on a belief that is totally against the teachings of Islam. -- Muslims must be very careful in this matter. The greatest danger is for our next generation, who may slowly lose their Islamic faith in tawhid and may start believing in Jesus as "more than a prophet and servant of Allah". The argument that “Christmas is, after all, Prophet Jesus' birthday and so there is no harm in celebrating Christmas” is neither logical nor Islamic.

Why should Muslims celebrate Jesus' birthday? -- For us Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the final Prophet and Messenger of Allah, not Jesus..."

google: Can Muslims Celebrate Christmas Islamonline

psychedelikrelik, Tulsa (12/17/2008 2:12:42 PM)

In my heart, I believe God is Father to us all, and like any good father, he wants the best for his children. I think it must be breaking his heart what his children do to each other in his name.

Tim Denver, Denver (12/17/2008 2:28:37 PM)

Ztruth, knock it off. Proud Muslim wished us all a happy Chirstmas, why can't you leave it at that? My manager yesterday stopped on her way out the door for her two week vacation. She wished me a Merry Christmas. I in turn wished her a happy Channukah.

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (12/17/2008 2:36:07 PM)

That is a sad story, redbeard. Sounds like they enjoyed being your neighbor.

You guys have to excuse z. We're having a discussion on whether or not Islam is the source of all evil (jk, z). She's been stalking me around the board lately, trying to catch me in the act of being evil. I don't mind. It's like having a conscience. ; )

Thanks for standing up for me though, BYD and I.M. Right. It's good Christians like you that make your religion so highly respected 'round the globe.

Merry Christmas, BYD!
Happy Hanukah, I.M. Right! (Right back at ya!) ; )

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (12/17/2008 2:37:47 PM)

Oh, and you too, Tim! Thanks!

Merry Christmas!

Original Floyd R Turbo, Rural (12/17/2008 3:34:50 PM)

To inject a little dogma into the conversation, we believers should remember that the only time the gospels record of Jesus losing His temper was at the temple, where people were turning Holy Days (holidays) into a time of profit. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!

zzx375, BA (12/17/2008 4:16:39 PM)

"And you could extend that logic and say that of all those sects in the phone book - all of whom claim to be Christian - at most one could be correct.. "

How so?

Do you disagree that Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism cannot be simultaneously true?

OKLA, (12/17/2008 5:10:53 PM)

All you have to do is suggest we "cancel" Christmas, and it's amazing how many people we no longer offend! It's all about the dollar, as usual.