The only thing we have to fear is fear itself
The self-pity of godbotherers never ceases to amaze.
Pop open the mulled wine, fill-up on minced pies, enjoy the office parties, swap presents, take a holiday – but whatever you do, don’t mention Jesus. In fact, don’t even mention the word ‘Christmas’ – say festive season, winter break, or happy holidays.
Sounds like a joke, right? Wrong. It’s Christmas in Britain 2016. No, it’s not all pervasive, but it’s happening, the fist-in-a-velvet-glove reality for any number of people, particularly Christians, in workplaces up and down the country.
And it has led the British Prime Minster, a Catholic bishop, and the UK’s equality commissioner to speak out about this sort of nonsense – it has to stop.
Ah there it is – the fuming outrage at non-existent fists in gloves combined with eagerness to tell other people what to do. “It has to stop” – what does? People not wanting religion forced on them? That has to stop, does it? According to whom, and what will be the penalties for disobedience?
Bishop Mark Davies has warned of a ‘strange silence’ fuelled by a ‘terrible perversion’ of political correctness that is making Christians fearful of speaking publicly about their faith.
Bollocks. Nobody’s afraid. Nobody’s being attacked or punished, and nobody’s afraid. Some of us don’t want to hear people blithering on about “their faith” but that’s not a reason to be afraid. People don’t go around quaking in terror about being asked to stop talking during the movie at movie theaters, and they don’t go around quaking in terror about being asked to keep their religion to themselves, either. They may not like it, but that’s not fear.
“There has been a danger of a strange silence falling over our land which has recently led the Prime Minister to urge Christians never to be afraid of speaking freely in the public space,” said Bishop Davies.
“She insisted that our Christian heritage is something of which everyone can be proud, and Christians must ‘jealously guard’ their right to speak publically about their faith. The Prime Minister is doubtless conscious of the strange phenomenon of local authorities and public bodies who fear that even to mention the word ‘Christmas’ might be a cause of offence.”
Christians don’t have an unfettered “right to speak publicly about their faith.” They have the normal free speech rights that everyone has (in the UK, which is the issue here), but that does not mean they get to force religious discourse on people who don’t want it.
“Somewhat more sinisterly, people tell me how they have felt inhibited or even intimidated in their places of work when speaking of their Christian faith and how it shapes their conscience and values.
“In a country founded on the Christian faith, it is a terrible perversion of political correctness that would so intimidate people from speaking of Christianity: the very faith and moral path which has shaped our way of life.”
That’s so ludicrous. If co-workers don’t want to hear it, they don’t want to hear it. Bishops don’t get to force them to hear it. It’s not persecution to say no thank you, I’m not interested.
Prime Minister May, a practising Anglican and the daughter of an Anglican vicar, expressed her opinions on the treatment of Christians in the public square in response to a question from Fiona Bruce, a member of parliament, in late November.
Mrs Bruce asked the Prime Minister to welcome a new report by the Evangelical Alliance and the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, called Speak Up.
The report, she said, “confirms that in our country the legal rights of freedom of religion and freedom of speech to speak about one’s faith responsibly, respectfully and without fear, are as strong today as ever.”
The Prime Minister welcomed the report, adding: I’m sure that we would all want to ensure that people at work do feel able to speak about their faith, and also be able to speak quite freely about Christmas.”
Mrs Bruce also highlighted comments made by David Isaacs, the UK’s Equalities Commissioner, who is concerned that Christians were now fearful about mentioning their faith in public.
Speaking to The Sunday Times newspaper, Mr Isaacs criticized organizations, including public institutions, which have dropped references to Christmas unnecessarily from cards and celebrations out of fear of offending people of other faiths or none.
Or maybe not out of “fear of offending” but rather out of desire to be considerate. What about that, eh? And what’s wrong with that? Not a damn thing. It’s simply true that Christians are not the only people there are, and that a lot of people enjoy the solstice party who are not Christians.
There’s no war on Christmas, but there certainly is a war on being thoughtful.
Yes, I’m sure we all agree that inclusive language is a good thing.
(…he said, sotto voce, avoiding eye contact, and taking an sudden interest in inspecting his shoes.)
Depends, doesn’t it? I can think of instances when “inclusive language” would be a bad thing. “Let’s all welcome our brothers from the KKK!” for example.
Sometimes “Inclusive language” includes some at the expense of others. And sometimes “inclusive language” promotes bullshit. When that happens, challenging “inclusive language” is a good thing.
You’re doing that passive-aggressive thing again, Silentbob. And it’s not just annoying; it’s evidence of lazy thinking.
Ah, of course: a Catholic rag, complaining that people are sick of hearing their hollow pretensions to moral and spiritual authority, and are inclined to tell them to shut it. Of course, no specific examples are offered of this terrible silencing, and the only concrete fact presented confirms that, in fact, Christians are legally as free to shoot their mouths off as anyone else is. So what, exactly, is he complaining about?
‘our Christian heritage is something of which everyone can be proud’
Interesting use of ‘everyone’ there.
Preaching it to the choir, sure, but, erm, the solstice party wasn’t their endlessly overbearing Johnny-Come-Lately state religion’s party to begin with, anyway. And the axis is gonna go right on being tilted long after, even if _their_ particular cult fades to where its cultural dominance is on the order of that of contemporary Zoroastrianism. People especially in higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere are likely to find it a sensible time to sit indoors next to the fire, together, drinks in hand, for long millennia to come, as they have for so many millennia before.
I’d comment further on the now kinda comic efforts to retain dominance of an event they pretty much hijacked to begin with, but, meh. It _is_ the solstice. Togetherness. Brotherhood. Sisterhood. All that. So just chill out, you apparently endlessly persecuted suffering dears. And join us at the fire, and have a damn drink.
Well, I find the greeting “Happy Holidays” cowardly and insipide. Any concerns regarding my “Holidays” ( like when it’s sunny and hot and I go to the beach) are addressed in my union contract. I enjoy saying “Merry Christmas” partly because it pisses off those who say I shouldn’t, those who act like 19th century Church Ladies out to spoil all the fun.
Of course what the religious want is deference, not respect. That they can no longer command it is entirely their problem, not a society whose norms have shifted.
Silentbob @ 1 –
Yeah, that’s adorable, as always. Drop the little turd then drop the little meta-turd about your courage in telling the truth to power or whatever tf that is.
Anyway, if you are sure, you shouldn’t be. I don’t like cant phrases like “inclusive language,” because they’re cant and because as Stacy pointed out they don’t work anyway. It all depends. Since it all depends there’s not much point in using the cant phrase, is there. I didn’t use it, and instead used my own words to try to be precise about what the issues are.
And, to add some meta-discomfort, saying ‘merry christmas’ has become a coded signal that says: ‘I’m a racist, ‘libertarian’ asshole.’
Much the way that the American Flag was co-opted as a gesture of support for Nixon. (Anyone else remember that one?)
Of course what the religious want is deference, not respect. That they can no longer command it is entirely their problem, not a society whose norms have shifted.
Well, the norms HAVE shifted and, unfortunately, it IS society’s problem. To accommodate this burgeoning diversity 7,000 soldiers and 40-odd of sand-filled dump trucks are now required simply to watch the ball drop in Times Square.
S0 some *religious* can command AND obtain just about anything they want.
But hey!
I’d forego chirping a cheery “Merry Christmas” in exchange for that kind of ‘faith’ inclusiveness any day.
Are you referring to atheists here? Because I for one don’t give a damn if someone tells me Merry Christmas; I only care if they think that is the greeting that must be given, and all others ignored.
What about Jewish people? Do you like saying Merry Christmas to them, and reminding them about all two millennia of hatred and oppression?
This whole discussion is not merely academic, it’s not merely about who gets pissed off, it’s about people who have been systematically oppressed, and in some cases, suffered genocide because of the dominance of Christianity, and the recognition that other people have holidays this time of the year, and might be some of the customers of a retailer that instructs his people to say “Happy Holidays” – it isn’t cowardice, it’s simply human decency. It’s a recognition of the diversity of a very large, noisy, country with people inhabiting it who have different belief systems and different histories, many of which are incompatible with the constant shouting of “Merry Christmas” and “Christ is the reason for the season” that goes on this time of year.
Those who insist we must say “Merry Christmas” are usually saying we must recognize them as the proper owners of this season, and in fact, the entire month plus between Thanksgiving and New Year, which, in their mind, rightfully belong to them and no one else. They are saying that every single person they meet must recognize their God, and their Christ, and their “truth”.
Not only that, but that sort of inclusiveness is just plain good for business. If it wasn’t then retailers wouldn’t bother doing it. Indulging godbotherers just isn’t as profitable as reaching the largest possible audience with your product…
Funny, my experience of living in Britain is pretty different. I’m an atheist, as are many of my friends, and we all say Merry Christmas (unless we’re feeling silly when we celebrate, “Merry Isaac Newtonmas,” or, occasionally, “Io Saturnalia.”). My Sikh neighbour knocked on our door on Xmas day and wished us, “Merry Christmas,” bringing us a tub of Roses chocolates. Looks to me like most people are fairly laid back about the whole thing…
Christians appropriated the Roman Saturnalia/Unconquered Sun festivals and now the infidels are taking them back, it’s about time. Christmas is actually a capitalist celebration of consumerism.
Some of the so-called Christmas traditions are completely ludicrous in the Southern Hemisphere. Where I live the temperature was 36C on Christmas Day.
If a person bangs on about their faith in the workplace, they should expect to be eyeballed and given stern looks, because it is unprofessional. People are going to give you the same look if you keep bringing Dr. Who or Aristotle or any other topic that’s irrelevant.
As for saying “Merry Christmas”, these days, I really need to hear the tone of voice. Because while many people still use it as the traditional message of good will, ever since right wing leaders started pretending the was a war on Christmas, some people use it to say, “Here’s the chip on my shoulder– I dare you to knock it off, you heathen.”
Yeah, Samantha, that’s very much the case. My students wish me a warm Merry Christmas, and I don’t grab them by the throat, shake them, and say “That’s Happy Holidays, you arsehole!” I wish them Merry Christmas back.
Yet somehow these folks with their “War on Christmas” act as though we are all doing the grab them by the throat and shake them thing.
“Happy Holidays” is an old standard greeting that has only been noteworthy recently because it doesn’t explicitly mention Christmas, and certain right-wing pundits decided to care about that factor. It does double duty as an inclusive greeting, but was not devised as such.
I avoid saying Merry Christmas because of all the people who demand that I do say it, and all the people who get pissed off when I don’t say it. I usually don’t bother with any holiday-oriented greeting at all.
Exactly. Some are wishing you well, but others are demanding some kind of show of tribal affiliation. I had a friend who responded to a store Santa’s “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays”, and jolly old St. Nick started berating her right there in the store. “Peace on earth” my ass.
The US and Europe are not facing the threat of terrorism because people don’t say “Merry Christmas” anymore and there’s no aspect of of this threat that involves respect.
I made my comment in the context of the original article and Ophelia’s commentary. You’re just making shit up.
It’s a load of shite, everyone says Merry Christmas over here, religious or not. If you were to say Happy Holidays, I’d assume you were an American.
It’s just a bunch of manufactured outrage because Father Christmas is more popular than Jesus. There’s no war on Christmas, it’s as popular as ever, they’re just pissed that not everyone celebrates the mid-winter feast in the way they want it celebrated
Absolute cobblers. 25th December in Britain, “Christmas Day”, is one of eight, government ordained national holidays. The Queen pops up on telly and tells us all what’s what as head of state and as the “Supreme Governor of the Church of England”. I’ve never heard anyone say “festive season, winter break, or happy holidays” in everyday conversation. Perhaps ‘season’s greetings’ preprinted in a Christmas card. It must really piss them off that we have an entirely secular holiday the following day, Boxing Day, that almost takes as much prominence in national calendar (eat too much again, watch a James Bond or Carry On film for the tenth time). Oh, the perpetual whinge of christian entitlement.
There’s a rabid Christian street preacher at a mainline rail terminal in London that wears a loudhailer slung over his shoulder. He stands at he top of an escalator connecting the station to the Tube network and hands out leaflets that most people ignore. When you decline the leaflet and get on the escalator, he shouts at you as a captive audience. “It’s a nasty place, Hell” and the like. If you complain to the station staff, they tell him to move from the Tube’s property. He crosses a line on the ground onto the mainline rail station and repeats the process. There’s nothing the either station management can do about it. They have to do this so often they use the overhead speakers in the station to save time. “Could our resident street preacher move from London Underground property? We’ve had a passenger complaint about you”. He exists and is unashamedly telling everyone about Jesus. It’s just that, like the station managers, nobody takes him or his ilk seriously. He does what he wants and everybody else does what they want – to ignore him.
Jehovah’s Witness stand book racks in front of most major railway stations and stand in a lackluster fashion at the side, not even engaging people. They’ve got the hint. Even the Scientologists expect you to go into their shops and don’t even go out onto the street. It’s a shame the catholics didn’t get the memo and don’t respect the fact that, as numerous surveys have shown in recent years, the majority of Britain is now non-religious.
’25th December in Britain, “Christmas Day”, is one of eight, government ordained national holidays. The Queen pops up on telly and tells us all what’s what as head of state and as the “Supreme Governor of the Church of England”. ‘
And Dr Who is on.
I occasionally get very pissed off with the louder street preachers – mostly the ones who pick a bus queue and have a go at all those of us trapped standing there. There are a couple of good Biblical responses that at least give everyone else a laugh, even if it doesn’t shut up the the evangelist wanker:
Matthew 6:5
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:1
Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Then there’s the misogynistic Corinthians verse if you have a female evangelist:
1 Corinthians 34 – 35
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
OK, technically in churches but still gets a laugh sometimes. (Hey, it’s their book, not mine. I don’t agree with it but if they’re evangelising they really ought to keep their own rules, don’t you think?)
Here in the US “Happy Holidays” has until recently (cough) been taken to be shorthand to lump in the closely spaced observances of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and maybe a nod to Hanukkah – for any non-USians wondering about our quaint custom.
Graham Smith: my late wife was a primary school teacher and bit of an Anglophile, and somehow got a charming children’s book about Father Christmas trying vainly to get away on holiday without being recognized to share with her students. “Oh crumbs” was his frequent response to being sussed out.