The Society for a Merry Christmas

See Dick's Run From Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (David Rupert) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:22:00 +0000

If you go into a Dick's Sporting Goods store, don't look for "Christmas." It won't be there.

You won't find it in their newspaper inserts or on their website either. And their television commercials...forget it.

In our research of the Top 100 retailers in America, Dick's advertising is likely the most "Christmas-denying" of all.

We searched high and low for "Christmas" at Dick's, only to find they couldn't care less about Christmas.

Sure, Dick's wants you to buy their products...but no retailer in the nation has appeared to go out of its way to ban "Christmas" more than Dick's.

TAKE ACTION HERE

http://www.onemilliondads.com/TakeAction.asp?id=334

Email Dick's Sporting Goods president Joe Schmidt, then call Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Hennion at 724-273-3222. Let Dick's know their "anti-Christmas" policy is bad for business.

Christmas vs. Ramadan

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:23:00 +0000

In 2007 , the U.S. House of Representatives voted 376 to 0 fin favor of a resolution giving tribute to Ramadan and Islam, but a similiarly worded resolution giving tribute to Christmas and Christianity found 9 members voting against the resolution, 10 who voted just "present" and 40 others who skipped the vote altogether.

What gives?

Do clerks wish you a Merry Christmas?

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:21:00 +0000

Just wondering here. How many store clerks -- if any -- have wished you a Merry Christmas this year?

leave your comment below.

Happy feelings of winter!

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:18:00 +0000

Central Michigan University warned students in 2003 about Christmas, and suggested that students be "sensitive" to others.

"It is inappropirae to decorate things iwth Santa Calus or reindeer or christmas decorations. Good ideas for decorations are snowflackes, snowpeople, poinsettias to give people a feeling of winter."

I just feel so warm? How about you?

Ben Stein, a Jew, speaks out for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:19:00 +0000

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees.

I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu.

If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.

I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

"There's a big empty spot on the lawn for the atheists"

noreply@blogger.com (David Rupert) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:36:00 +0000

Larimer County, Colorado, Sheriff Jim Alderhen figured out a way to continue to celebrate Christmas and not hurt anyone's feelings.

For years, the office has hosted a Christmas party at the Sheriff's office. At the party, a nativity scene, a menorah, and a Christmas tree are lit up.

After fielding complaints from the Colorado Coalition of Reason, the Sheriff invited them to the party -- and even offered them a spot for their display.

He left a "big empty spot on the lawn for the atheists."

Good for the Sheriff. That's all we are asking...is for equal footing with secularism.

Read the story here.

Cub Foods is afraid of the "C' word..very afraid

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:41:00 +0000

Read the story here

We prefer "Merry Christmas"

noreply@blogger.com (David Rupert) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:15:00 +0000

Americans by a huge majority prefer "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays" as a greeting.

That's according to Rasmussen Reports, which surveyed 1,000 adults on Nov. 20-21, producing a result with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent with a 95 percent level of confidence.

The national telephone survey revealed 72 percent of adults prefer "Merry Christmas" on signs greeting them with a seasonal message. Only 22 percent wanted "Happy Holidays."

The survey revealed older Americans favor "Merry Christmas" more than younger adults. Married adults like the traditional greeting more than unmarrieds.

Read the story here:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=117536

Book Review: Secular Sabotage

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:07:00 +0000

Book review: Secular Sabotage: How liberals are destroying religion and culture in America, by Bill Donohue.

Bill Donohue is ticked. He’s angry at the loss of culture. He’s angry at the marginalization of religion. He’s angry at the sweeping secularism that seeks to minimize any who dare worship God.

As the President of the Catholic League, Donohue has been at the forefront of the culture wars for two decades. The bare-knuckled fighter hasn’t back down from any of the pressure tactics by gay, abortion or atheistic groups that have attacked traditional American culture for years.

The book, Secular Sabotage, has a Catholic bent to – chronicling the Catholic League’s fights on every front. Its encouraging to know that there are those who are making a reasonable – and feisty – defense of traditional expressions of faith.

He takes on the many sabotages to faith, including the sabatoge to Christmas and Easter by secular culture. He lists the many attacks, defeats and victories over the Christmas Holiday. He tells the story about schools that allow crescent , menorahs and stars, but ban nativity scenes. He tells about court victories, street wins, and just good common sense.

Want a copy of the book? We have five to give away. Email your name and address here.

Is Rudolph really a Christian symbol?

noreply@blogger.com (David Rupert) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:40:00 +0000

The song-”Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” has been dropped from a holiday school concert because of a parental complaint that it was "too religious" because the song included the words "Santa" and "Christmas."

Jeez.

Scrooge Awards, p. 1

noreply@blogger.com (David Rupert) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:11:00 +0000

The Answer For the Faith blog has announced their "Scrooge Awards"

The first recipient is the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia

A three-judge panel upheld a ban on religious ’holiday’ songs in the New Jersey School District of South Orange and Maplewood. The three Judges ruled that school administrators were free to determine which songs they consider appropriate in providing a a secular and “inclusive” academic environment.

Read the story here.

Why are we so sensitive?

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:47:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

The total number of non-Christians in America add up to less than 10 million people, which is around three percent of the population, according to Dinesh D-Souza.

In terms of religious background, America are no more diverse today than it was in the 19^th century. So why must we cow tail to secularists? Why must we be so gosh-darn sensitive, with our “Happy Holidays” and winter wonderlands? Why must we throw ourselves on the altar of secularism? Why do we have to play so nice?

Comment here

Give Gap the Heave Ho

noreply@blogger.com (David Rupert) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:08:00 +0000

The New Breed of Advertisers has an interesting post on the stupid GAP commerical here.

Here are his two chief complaints.

"If this is merely a controversy-pushing, promotional stunt to garner earned media (free public attention)- then it's monkey-trick advertising which I can't respect. Any copy-writer can predict a pot-stirring message, but manipulation of an audience for disingenuous reasons fails in the end...Show us your wisdom, not childish antics."

"... this commercial reveals a cowardly, insecure response to human diversity. We don't have to agree with our neighbors' religious views, but pulling out a generic diversity eraser leads to a cheapened version of reality and a sense of being lost."

What do you think?

Christmas with a Capital C

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:52:00 +0000

Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic - bad, bad, bad

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:48:00 +0000

The American family association is calling for a "Christmas" boycott of Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic stores.

Take their poll on their latest commercia

The naughty or nice list

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:42:00 +0000

The America Family Association has released their list of "Naughty or Nice," the companies who are so afraid of the word Christmas and the implications on America, that they have artfully sliced it out of their vocabulary.

The list can be found here and is also reprinted below.

Companies FOR "Christmas"updated 11-18-09
Amazon.com
Bass Pro Shops
Bath & Body Works
Bed Bath & Beyond
Belk
Big Lots
Books-A-Million
Cabella's
Collective Brands
Costco
Dollar Tree
Family Dollar
Dollar General
H.E.B. Stores
Hallmark
Hobby Lobby
Home Depot
JC Penney
Kmart
Lowe's
Macy's
Meijer
Menard's
Michael's Stores
Neiman Marcus
Petsmart
Pier One
Imports
Publix
QVC
Rite Aid
Sears
Super D Drug Stores
Target
Toys R Us
Walgreens
Wal-Mart/Sam's Club

Companies marginalizing "Christmas"
updated 11-10-09
Best Buy
Hy-Vee Stores
Kohl's
Safeway

Companies against "Christmas" updated 11-18-09
Advance Auto Parts
Aldi
Banana Republic
Barnes & Noble
CVS Pharmacy
Dick's Sporting Goods
Gap Stores
Harris Teeter Stores
Home Shopping Network
Kroger
Limited Brands
Nordstrom
Office Depot
Old Navy
Radio Shack
Staples
Victoria's Secret

Change you can really believe in

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:57:00 +0000

Courtesy Rob Shoaff, Harrisburg PA

Is Christmas completely lost?

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:32:00 +0000

Hat tip to Concept 53 who found this article and wrote a great post:

This is from USA Today:

"The focus on peace and giving gifts allows you to safely focus on nice things instead of the idea that God sent his son Jesus to be Christ, who dies on a cross. It’s human nature to want to take the ‘nice’ without the ‘truth,’ ” says Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research in Nashville

It’s not that Christmas partying is wrong: There just has to be a larger purpose for it, says pastor and author Rick Warren. His newest book, The Purpose of Christmas, cites celebration as one of the three things announced by the angels at Christ’s birth, along with salvation and reconciliation to God.

But social scientists say several trends work against the push to focus on doctrine:

•The percentage of U.S. adults who say they have no religious identity has more than doubled, from 7% in 1990 to 15.2% in 2008, says sociologist Barry Kosmin, principal investigator of the American Religious Identification Survey and a research professor at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.

•Data from Christian trends researcher Barna Research in Oxnard, Calif., finds the long-familiar bump in Christmas church attendance is mostly somewhat-regular attendees coming in from the cold more often.

•Interfaith marriages — in which couples often blur or ignore religious differences — have increased from 2.9% of U.S. adults in 1973 to 8.5% in 2006, says Tom Smith, director of the General Social Survey for the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

But ultimately, the most significant reason behind the shift away from focusing on a religious Christmas that stresses the birth of Jesus may be found in the latest survey from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

The survey found that more than half of U.S. Christians (52%) today do not say Christianity is the exclusive path to eternal life.

Horton blames Christians themselves for taking the Christ out of Christmas. “Secularism cannot be blamed on the secularists, many of whom were raised in the church. We are the problem,” he says.""

via Where is Christ in Christmas? - USATODAY.com.

Hatred of Christmas is alive and well

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:58:00 +0000

A wonderful group of happy, inclusive people have posted this sign on the state capitol grounds in Olympia, WA.

"During this season of THE WINTER SOLSTICE may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

If faith bothers them so much, then why are they angry? Shouldnt they simply be happy in their smug disbelief?

Chuck Norris writes in his Human Events column, "If such words were written against any social minority group, protests would be ubiquitous. But anti-religious bigotry is in vogue these days. Still, there is absolutely no justification for these atheists' written revile."

We say "Merry Christmas." They say "Bah Humbug." You can have your own non-holiday. And we'll celebrate as we wish.

And is there really just a natural world? On the next moonless night, look deep into the darkness of space and honestly think .... what lies beyond? Where does it end?

"For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities -- his eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." -- Romans 1

The Lights of Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:34:00 +0000

By David Rupert

Christmas is a season of bright lights. They adorn our windows and our homes. Strings of multicolored lamps festively dance on trees flashing in a thousand combinations. Some blink in reckless abandon, while others flow in majestic choreographed ballets. Some neighborhoods flash like carnivals, while others glow with peaceful serenity.

For me, these millions of bulbs are blessed reminders of hope. They are unwitting participants and visual reminders of the message of Christmas.

The first Christmas lights were the bright heavenly hosts that surrounding the shepherds, trumpeting the manger miracle. An angel comforted them and said “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.”

In our nation today, this “good news of great joy” has become an irritant to many. The traditional Christmas story is being carefully clipped out with the sharp scissors of men and institutions bent on ridding our nation of spiritual meaning.

Plato’s wisdom long ago resonates even today: “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

Reacting out of their own fear of the Lights of Christmas, the secularists go one step further and determine to snuff out our lights as well.

The newspapers will be full stories of these light-snuffers and darkness-lovers. Schools will ban carols and plays. We’ll battle over manger scenes on public property.

Christmas cards once were radiant reflections of the hope of the season. Now they are reduced to banalities. Now discount stores sell boxes of green and red cards with such meaningful expressions such as “Joyous Holidays”, and “Season’s Greetings”. For me, the stiff-sounding and just plain boring Winter Holiday can’t hold a candle to the lights of a Jesus-centered Christian.

And everyone from mall clerks to school teachers are afraid of The Light of the simple expression: “Merry Christmas.”

The Good news is that Christmas survives the onslaught of humanism. As our most multifaceted holiday, Christmas is historical in nature, cultural in practice and religious in its significance. It represents the heart and soul of our nation.

In spite of an increasingly secular society’s value imposition on the majority of its citizenry, the Light of this holiday burns brighter yet. It is because as humans, we look longingly into our souls and ache with the pain of need. We need peace. We need joy. We need the lasting gift that is without price. We need light to shine in our dark world.

Listen to the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

“Then Pealed the bells
More loud and deep;
‘God is not dead;
nor doth He sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth
Good-will to men!”

Society cannot dim the bright light of the True Spirit of Christmas.

email the author here:

Also join the Society for a Merry Christmas here.

What a nice poinsetta

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:45:00 +0000

The University of North Carolina library has banned Christmas trees, because a few staffers have complained over the years.

No student has ever had a problem, just librarians with their glasses perched on the ends of their noses, looking for offense. The provost who made the decision did so because, "it just didnt seem right to celebrate one set of customs" at a library, where knowledge is so important. It actually seems that at this library, ignorance is a more exalted skill.

So instead, they've put in 'festive poinsettas.' It's just a tree. And 95 percent of us dont have a problem. Merry Christmas to the other five percent too.

A buddhist's take on Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:37:00 +0000

Read this and you'll see that Christmas is not so much a religious holiday, but a secular one.

http://lostamerica.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/i-believe-in-merry-christmas/

If its secular, then why attack it?

C.S. Lewis on X-Mas

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:34:00 +0000

The venerable Christian thinker, author and speaker weighs in on the "XMAS" debate. He uses allegory to tell a tale.

Read him here:

he basically says the two holidays are different, so why fuss?

Merry Tossmas video

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:57:00 +0000

Courtesy of Focus on the Family, used by permission

Focus on Family exposes retailers who stand against Christmas tradition

noreply@blogger.com (Red Letter Believers) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:02:00 +0000

Despite earning billions of dollars during Christmas, many retailers are opposed to mentioning the word "Christmas."

What an irony.

Focus on the Family has released a "naughty or nice" list of Christmas-friendly retailers.

Those retailers who aren't afraid of the word "Christmas" are:

Cabela's, Crate&Barrel, Dillard's, Eddie Bauer, JCPenney, Kohl's, L.L.Bean, Lands' End, Linens 'n Things, Lowe's, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Pier 1 Imports, Sears, The Home Depot, Target and Wal-Mart.

"Christmas-negligent" retailers, those who have marginal use of "Christmas" include:

Barnes & Noble, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Borders, Circuit City, Dick's Sporting Goods, GAP, KB Toys, Kmart and Toys "R" Us

Those who have completely abandoned "Christmas" are:

American Eagle, Banana Republic, Bloomingdale's, Lane Bryant and Old Navy

We here understand the crass commercialization of Christmas -- but we also enourage the honest acknowledgement of our cultural and foundational roots in this nation. And those roots include "Christmas" . What do you think? Add your comment below.

Originally published by Focus on the Family Action. Copyright ¬© 2008 Focus on the Family.