All Comments (9)

"Secular" means not religious. When every aspect of life is governed by an established religious authority, there is no need to have such a word as "secular" because it does not describe anything. That was Medieval Europe, up unitl about the Reformation and Renaissance.

The word "secular" only came into being when non-relgious authorties and motivations arose, that were apart and distinct from the established rule of the Catholic Church. The word "secular" is a negative descriptor, like the word "cordless" in cordless phone.

In our society today, we all live secular lives, even the Conservative Christians are primarily secular people. The only people who do not live secular lives are nuns, priests, and the Amish. If people choose to be secular rather than religious, then that is their free choice. "Secularism" is not a thing to be blamed; it is just a descriptor for the non-religious aspects of life.

Still, with all this secularism "breathing down our necks," anyone is free to go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas day, if they want to. If they choose not to, then there shouldn't be any griping and complaining about how Christmas has lost its religious meaning.

Paganplace:

You left it dangling - substitute for what else?

Christmas is for children. Christmas gifts that is. In the beginning, I think, Santa was really a Saint that brought trivial toys for the tots. That has now evolved into mandatory gifts form everyone to everyone. Jews marry Gentiles just to get in on it. I'm actually aware of a case where the individual, (Jew) so stated - how she felt so left out at Christmas but no more. Maybe it has something to do with Disney's assessment of people - there's a little kid inside us all.

Makes no real sense if you think about it. I must buy something for you that you "might" like and you must buy something for me that I "might" like. We must be careful to spend equal amounts too. Why don't we just buy something for ourselves so we can be a little more sure of liking it? And we will have the register receipts so we can return it, no reason to explain why.

Anyhow - Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and, of course, SEASON'S GREETINGS to all.

Commercialism, I find, is only a problem if you feel you *must buy.*

You only *must buy* if you've been sold this process as a substitute for something else.

Hello Mr. G A N D H i, et al;

Nomastae.

As an Apocalyptic awared 'HOLY COSMIC FEELERS FAITH" asperant;

"i" know that Hindu's celebrate the 'Festival of Lights' called DiPAK (Lamp lighting). And this is around these months Nov.

"i" like [un] Holy Geeta STANZA @ 9:26 that reads, (please note that "i" made IT 'gender friendly', since this was written by 'SWAMi CHiNMAYANANDA when O.U.R. Prophet, of many, Alber Einstein was stil Young [pbu them all]).

STANZA, PG. 559/60: "Whoever offer me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, water, that "I" accept, offered by the "i" with devotion."

It's TRUE. "There are no religion(s) on SPACE-SHIP Earth which does not recognise & encourage 'offerings by the devotees.

[continued] The Modern educated Humate is rather suprised as to why the 'ETERNAL' Eclati, in ALL Religion(s), needs insignificant things like a spoonful of oil for his/her lamp, or candle, or even ad edifice to the House him/herself [aka Nativity Scene Displays , like in Ornaments of XMAS et al], be it a SNYNOGOGUE, CHURCH, a MOSQUE or a TEMPLE.

[contunued] Dreay intellects poisoned with their own misunderstanding, have even come shamelesley to insist that these house HOUSE-OF-G-D(s) should be converted into Hospitals & Schools, Lunatic Asylums & Maternity Holmes!

[continued] But I believe I am talking to a world which has not reached this nadir of Diprivity. NOT YET! In a Society where there is still the play of healthy HEARTS and virulent intellects, there is certainly a need for TEMPLES & WORSHIP. AND

[continued] in these HOUSES OF G-D(s), it is not the intri9cacies of their design, elaboreteness of the ritual(s), nor the splender of Gold & Wealth exhibited , nor even the number of devotees attending, that contribute to their essential success..." End.

So the Stanza clearly paints a pretty mossaic and points out that 'Material Objects [xtmas/Chanukha Presents/gifts etc..] that one offers to the Holy No Mon, are of NO-VALUE to the SOURCE-ONE, aka LORD of the UNIVERSE in a Supernatural way, But

IT is the DEVOTION and LOVE that prompt the 'offerings' that are accepted by the DEITY. Be it a LEAF, A FLOWER, A FRUIT, or WATER, it is a insignificant that that you offer; be it Gold temple, or be it dry leaf

"WHOSOEVER WITH DEVOTION OFFERS" , whatever be the offering, the LORD of VRINDAVANA assures "THAT "I" ACCEPT" from "i"! So,

For when LOVINGLY GIVEN, it becomes a 'DEVOUT GIFT' , and when it is offered by an ECLATi-'ON' (not Off) Asperant/student forever of Source-One, that

The LORD/ECLAT has to accept IT!

Hence the 'Theory of SACRIFICE' insisted of ALL Faith(s), Belief(s) or Religious [Man Made] SYSTEM(s).

SO bottom line, All these Religions are PRE-APOCALYPTIC & Biblically Tautolocal in form & are just a way to get 'tithes' 'Charity' 'Givens' via Money etc.. Includes Bartering with the Priest, Immams, Rabbi's, Shamans, Paganics etc.. etc..

It's a big business for SuperStupidStious potential good Eclati-On's whom are OFF , just for a TIME!

BEHOLD:
The Lord/Krishna/Allah/Yaweh/Jehova/Ishvara/Buddha etc.., consents, but only for a TIME [Temperature of O.U.R. Universe].

Hark: IT IS TIME!. All known faiths are POLY not MONO!

THEREFORE: Magnify, Uphold & Make Honorable the NEW SONG, coming from All O.U.R. Old-songs (scriptures as infixus books etc..) , aka

the 'O.ne U.niversal R.eligion Book of TRANSFINITY (reality) ,aka OUR-BOT for short, and please throw away, all your Pre-Apocalyptic religion System(s) that your mom & dad raised you & others on, that is 'a ancient concept belonging to someone else' (some Humate not G-D) & not your own genuine faith!!

This is JUST part of the TRUTH (opposite of MYTH) of the story, but a BHAGAVADIA or REVELATION (opposite of hiding 'secrets' of BHAGAVADIA or of secrets of Upanishads anylonger or hiding such therein & thereof).

SHOOKRIA!

Mr Arun Gandhi:

All issues are economic. You can spell that with a capital E these days. And, of course all religions are economies of a sorts.

Have you reviewed, http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul yet? Turns out that everything is for sale. The cleverest merchants of them all sell tickets to hell.

Isn't the big hoopla about Christmas spending advertising of a sorts by those who have dedicated their lives to the son of the being in the burning bush? How much extra goes on their "Christmas plates" because they have managed to inject guilt in the commercial side of "bringing gifts to the new born king"?

The notion of Christmas presents comes from the story of the Maji bringing gifts to the new born king. Of course God's representatives expect everyone to bring Him gifts too - and they are there to collect them for Him. Maybe that's what it's all about only God's representatives didn't think about how that would make merchants rich when they came up with the idea? It's too late now. Well, there is Linus who is looking for the Great Pumpkin to bring presents at Halloween.

A certain segment of very loud Christians projects an image of their faith that appears to selectively ignore the basic tenets of Christianity.

Think about the noisy and demeaning rhetoric directed to immigrants, and contrast this with the Bible's teaching of strangers. The parents of Jesus were themselves immigrants, or at least refugees. How would the author of the Bible view some of the anti-immigrant voices in our nation?

On the death penalty, and much of our rhetoric towards "justice" really stands for vengeance, even revenge. Contrary to Judeo-Christian tradition and teachings, we seek vengeance for the sake of assuaging the distress of the victim. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches forgiveness, and to abstain from retribution, to not hold a grudge in the face of evil doers, and to love thy fellow man.

Our public treatment of the poor does not generally reflect sympathy, whereas we eagerly identify with the rich. Voices that blame poor and homeless for their lot are widely accepted. But clearly Christianity does not sanction extreme wealth at the expense of others. In America, the camel passes through the eye of the needle, indeed.

Ryan:

some of the most spiritual people I know are secularists. they simply do not believe in the need to organize spirituality. Humanists believe that human beings are capable of great charity, social and environmental justice and personal growth without having to focus on any form of deity or supernatural power. Pagans, including myself, believe in the natural (not supernatural) energies of the Earth and the cycle of the seasons.

it is the capitolists who have created a divide between the religious celebration of the holidays through commercialism, consumerism and the worship of celebrity.

Spirituality is a daily undertaking and should not be confused with religion, in spite of their long historical association. The big news in the USA as we approach Christmas is whether or not shoppers and consumers will be sufficiently diligent in their spending duties and habits to make the stock market rise on schedule (not this year I'm afraid). The greed of the money lenders (remember them??) has put the economy in some jeopardy of late.

The principle of non-violence and the practice of the Golden Rule are very much in short supply among many of those that shout religion to the rooftops while piously observing all the proper rites and rituals of the season.

Doesn't secularism lead towards a lack of spirituality? This would seemingly be why commercialism, etc has been on the rise. Secularism has stripped spirituality from religious holidays.