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Confused Secular Humanist Wants To Know

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Noddy24
 
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 01:53 pm
Question 1: Why do people in the spirit of the Christmas season buy reproductions of religious paintings and stick them on envelopes where they will be smeared with ink?

Question 2: Why are Christmas carols (including exerpts from "The Messiah") considered acceptable background music in supermarkets, discount stores, restaurants and elevators.

I do not mean to offend anyone who finds these customs to be an essential part of the holiday season. As an outsider, I feel that there are important distinctions between the sacred and the profane and that sacred stamps and sacred background music are rather unholy.

Any explanations?
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Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 1,796 • Replies: 27
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fishin
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 01:59 pm
Re: Confused Secular Humanist Wants To Know
Noddy24 wrote:
Question 1: Why do people in the spirit of the Christmas season buy reproductions of religious paintings and stick them on envelopes where they will be smeared with ink?


Because the Postal service won't deliver their letters/cards without a stamp on them??? Is this a trick question? Smile
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dyslexia
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 01:59 pm
it's a mystery to me.
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fealola
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 02:00 pm
Can't explain, but I have the same questions.
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Butrflynet
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 02:06 pm
Quote:
Question 2: Why are Christmas carols (including exerpts from "The Messiah") considered acceptable background music in supermarkets, discount stores, restaurants and elevators.


Because Clear Channel's monopoly on the content of the airwaves is that invasive.
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fealola
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 02:07 pm
Because we're riding on the elevator to heaven?
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Dartagnan
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 02:08 pm
Because the American consumer culture is pedicated on seducing people to buy things, and Xmas season is the major time to buy. Many people like these songs, so there's a positive association between the two activities: listening and shopping.

Spiritual, it ain't...
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Brand X
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 02:10 pm
Quote:
Question 2: Why are Christmas carols (including exerpts from "The Messiah") considered acceptable background music in supermarkets, discount stores, restaurants and elevators.


Mind control? Shocked
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Frank Apisa
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 02:10 pm
I am an agnostic, but I see nothing at all wrong with the idea of religious postage stamps -- or public playing of religious theme music.

Quite honestly, Noddy, although you said...

Quote:
I do not mean to offend anyone who finds these customs to be an essential part of the holiday season


...I cannot help but feel that the motivation for your question was less to obtain information than to poke the theists on-board.
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drom et reve
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 02:11 pm
D'artagnan wrote:
Because the American consumer culture is pedicated on seducing people to buy things, and Xmas season is the major time to buy. Many people like these songs, so there's a positive association between the two activities: listening and shopping.

Spiritual, it ain't...


I agree with D'artagnan... it's trying to give the old Christmas=Spiritual/Religion feel back to things, but ends up being tacky and cheap.

There's also trying to forge a deep, subconcious connection that shopping is the right thing to do at Christmastide, somehow condoning the Spending culture with its inexistant religious side.
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gravy
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 02:35 pm
Stamps and carol-music are reminders to people, as are christmas lights and wreaths.

Unfortunately, the evangelical nature of western religions causes a chauffing anytime these symbols are in public view, because it may be misunderstood as statements of invitation or exclusion.

I find them nostalgic on rare occasion (despite my religous origins), but mostly over-the-top and annoying, as the "spirit of giving" is completely hijacked by the whirlwind of consumerism.

jingle all the way.
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Eva
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 04:43 pm
Because Christmas carols and Christmas stamps have become traditions, and Christmas is an extremely tradition-filled holiday.

And I like it that way. Smile

Ho ho ho...and don't forget to drop a couple of bills in the bucket on your way out of the store. The spirit of giving is only hijacked if you choose to ignore the opportunities.
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husker
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 04:53 pm
I personally like to make a joyful noise. Where song comes into the mix.
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husker
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 04:57 pm
Quote:
Why do people in the spirit of the Christmas season buy reproductions of religious paintings and stick them on envelopes where they will be smeared with ink?


I'm not idol worshipping stamps for sure. Heck I don't even get to see the stamps we use or the ones we get so I only imagine it happens, but no problem - not a sacred cow.
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Phoenix32890
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 04:57 pm
I don't mind the stamps, although I'll opt for the flowered ones, please. They DO look nice on Christmas cards, and are very appropriate.

I don't mind the music, for the first couple of weeks. Hey, people enjoy the music.

After a few weeks of hearing these songs ad nauseum though, there are times that I wanted to break my radio the next time that a station played a Christmas song. The stations really go way overboard.
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husker
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 04:58 pm
I get tired also of the 5 weeks of music ....... grrrrrr
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Diane
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 05:19 pm
Noddy, I'm a secular humanist and enjoy Christmas carols and the traditions of the season.

The original meaning of Christmas, the birth of Christ, is something I don't believe in, but the meaning of giving and closeness is something I treasure.

With all the commercialism, I sometimes dread Christmas--I have to consciously focus on the beauty and serenity that the season can bring; then, I can feel the love and sharing that should be part of our everyday lives. That is when it becomes a beautiful, ecumenical celebration that brings out the best in all of us.
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Mr Stillwater
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 05:24 pm
Diane - you dress a little oddly for a secular humanist.

Or is it just one of those habits you can't get out of?
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Mr Stillwater
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 05:29 pm
Diane wrote:
That is when it becomes a beautiful, ecumenical celebration that brings out the best in all of us.


Don't forget folks that when that happy infant grew up, he got nailed to some planks and died a horrible, horrible death. And we celebrate THAT too!

Guess he should have stuck with the carpentry business, might be slow, but you rarely get nailed to your own work.
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Dartagnan
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Dec, 2003 05:31 pm
I'm waiting for someone to say (at least partly honestly) that he or she doesn't believe in the religious elements of Christmas, but really loves all the commercialism. That would be somehow refreshing...

I mean, I know see ads of folks looking all misty-eyed because they got an SUV for Christmas!
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