Dressing Up Like Idiots & Being Fired For Being One

Two INSANE Topics Here: Misguided People are Dressing Up Like Jesus at their jobs and in public to "fight the secularization of Christmas" which doesn't allow them to say "Merry Christmas" to customers that come in. Customers who they do not know.

AND

A woman in Florida claims she was fired for refusing to stop saying "Merry Christmas" to customers. Once again, customers who she doesn't know. Oh, and she's suing!

Okay, let's just stop and take a second to analyze these things LOGICALLY.

People were told by their pastor in Kansas City, Kansas to dress up like Jesus and "at least" wear a crown of thorns and a sash or robe.

They are doing this at their places of work, especially in malls and restaurants because they think it will help fight the "secularization of Christmas" because they aren't allowed to say "Merry Christmas" in the work place to the customers that come in. CUSTOMERS THAT THEY DO NOT EVEN KNOW.

I will ask this: WHY in the world do people feel that they must say "Merry Christmas" to people who they do not even know. To people who may be Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, or what ever else.

Why does it offend certain Christians to not ASSUME that someone who they do not know is Christian like them?

Additionally, as you can see from the photo link below, these people are making themselves look ridiculous and one individual is claiming to have lost her job because of her unwillingness to use logic when dealing with her company's customers and refraining from using the religion-specific greeting.


P.S. What's the deal with nut-job church ideas coming out of Kansas? (Like Westboro Church in Topeka).


Story Links:
Fired for Idiocracy
Dressing Like Jesus
Pictures: HERE

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays

So as trivial as this may seem, the debate rages on over whether or not to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" to people who you do not even know.

Isn't it simple to find the answer?

If you don't know someone, why assume they are Christian?

What's offensive or less meaningful about saying "Happy Holidays?"
What is the built-in or inherent superiority in saying "Merry Christmas" ?

Working at a store in a strip mall I see this little battle raging everyday.

I TRY to avoid the issue all together by saying, "Have a nice day," or "Have a good night," maybe "Have a great weekend!"

Other employees at the store sometimes do say "Happy Holidays," which is fine, if you are willing to deal with the more than occasional proclamation-esque response of "Merry Christmas!" Which normally might not pass through your ears causing any stir of emotion, but these people say it like they are proving a point.

Then they follow it up with a look in their eyes as if to say, "Yah, that's right I SAID IT!"

I even get this holier-than-thou, that's right I DARE to assume you are Christian - Because I am one and I'm a rebel who is doing something NOBLE!!! - Response after saying "have a good day!"

What's the deal with people?

Jesus & Holiday Joy: Codependent?

It's getting confusing...

I have recently discussed with numerous individuals the connection between "The Holidays" and religion.

Some people have said that it is possible to just enjoy the holidays without even having to worry about religion.

As a person who is as close to atheist as you can get without declaring it outright, I have to kind of disagree, as some people wont let you avoid religion, and here is some proof:

In Patchogue, New York, the annual boat parade that takes place on the Long Island river recently changed it's name from "Patchogue Christmas Boat Parade" to "Patchogue Boat Parade of Lights."

The result was religious backlash.

Essentially, the attitude of many was "It's our religion or the highway."

Apparently a boat parade carries some sort of religious importance?

I'm confused.

The famous fireworks company Grucci, (not to be confused with Gucci) who used to donate fireworks to the event, completely dropped its engagement with the event and severed its ties with the boat parade.

No donations to bring holiday joy this year :(

Why?

Well, the Grucci Fireworks vice president Philip Butler vehemently opposed the re-naming of the boat parade.

Christian folks called the re-naming "the secularization of Christmas."

Someone please tell me what part of the bible describes the holy boat parade?

Supporters of Grucci's VP pushed for area residents to avoid attending the parade on the Patchogue River.

The result?

Rather than the expected 1,500 person turnout, attendance dropped to around 1,000.

The religious outrage resulted in a parade lacking in firework prowess.

Hold on...I thought parades had nothing to do with religion?

Oh well, organizers said that the parade was still a success. Looks like a lot of CHRISTIAN folks missed out on all the fun.

...And they missed out on it all because Christians think that they own the holiday season.

(Hint to those who do not understand: There are Muslim, Jewish, AND Christian Holidays at this time of the year... oh yah, and don't forget Kwanzaa)

Surviving the "Holidays": An Atheist's Lament

I recently had a discussion with people about the so-called "Holiday Season" that we are already beginning to be inundated in.

As an atheist, I see Christmas as more evidence that many (NOTE: not all) religious people do not know what they truly believe, much less what they are doing, or how to THINK rationally about what they are saying and doing.

Christmas was supposed to be about the virgin birth of an alleged "Savior" who actually is "god," in human form coming to die for our sins, that we committed against him... so I guess he's apologizing to himself for our sins offending him (so it's already unbelievable).

Anyway.... we somehow get Santa, evergreen trees being cut down and pulled indoors, another plant hanging from the ceiling to prompt kissing, lights being put on the outside of houses, and ridiculous consumer overspending on items that usually aren't deemed to be "necessities."

The phrases like..."buy now and save" do not make any sense either. Think about it... "buy now and save"... or "don't buy it at all because you don't need it and save all of your money that you would have otherwise wasted."

Religious holidays do not make sense and neither do the commercials that accompany them... yet people gobble this crap up like its crack.

Christmas= Santa and overspending

Easter= candy, hiding eggs, and bunnies?

Semi-secular Thanksgiving (initially was thanking "God" for good harvests, even though the people had done all the work) = Parades, Football, Overeating, and of course, Black Friday (consumer mania, once again, usually for non-necessities).

So what's my point?

"WHY are YOU ATTACKING religion!?!?"

"Why can't you just let people be happy?"

"Why can't you just enjoy the holidays like everyone else?"

- Why? - Because its all made up, pointless, and frankly, it insults my intelligence.

I'm pointing out how none of this makes sense and how our country is filled with consumers rather than thinkers. Do people even know why they do what they do? Do people even have the capability to stop, think, and rationalize their holiday-related actions?

I wish they did.

Feel free to hate on me.