Religious Observances - Offensive or Not?

[Breathe]

Is the observance of religious holidays, festivals or celebrations offensive to other religions? When Christian's celebrate Christmas with lights, trees and plastic nativity scenes, do Muslims and Jews find it offensive. When a Muslim is observing Ramadan do Christian's find it offensive? If a Wiccan ritual is being held in a park do Christians, Muslims or Jews find it offensive? etc, etc, etc.

Mother told to take down her Christmas lights... in case they offend her non-Christian neighbours | Mail Online

Are they offensive?
To the thin-skinned, insecure, the selfish and the buttholes, yes. Or if they have nothing else to do but complain about someone else's religious observance.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Or if they have nothing else to do but complain about someone else's religious observance.

I think this happens more often than we realise. Idle hands are the Devil's workshop.

 

[Breathe]

I think this happens more often than we realise. Idle hands are the Devil's workshop.

Couldn't agree more!

 

[ChristineES]

What I can't understand it why someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas gets offended just hearing the word "Christmas". I don't get offended by the words "Chanukah" or "Kwanzaa" or whatever.

 

[Smoke]

Is the observance of religious holidays, festivals or celebrations offensive to other religions? When Christian's celebrate Christmas with lights, trees and plastic nativity scenes, do Muslims and Jews find it offensive. When a Muslim is observing Ramadan do Christian's find it offensive? If a Wiccan ritual is being held in a park do Christians, Muslims or Jews find it offensive? etc, etc, etc.

I don't find that kind of thing offensive at all, though I have heard of Christians being offended at even the mention of Wiccans.

As an atheist whose Christian husband loves Christmas, I even set up his three Christmas trees myself this year -- though he did all the decorating himself.

Mother told to take down her Christmas lights... in case they offend her non-Christian neighbours | Mail Online

However, I am offended by obnoxious homeowners' associations and their officious functionaries.

My father was talking about things their HOA does and does not allow, and I said I was glad we didn't have an HOA where we live.

Me: I can keep chickens in the yard if I want to.

Dad: I find that hard to believe.

Me: Our neighbors do.

Dad: Why would you want to keep chickens in the yard?

Me: I wouldn't. But I don't want some homeowners' association telling me I can't, either.

In fact, we passed on another house when we learned that we have to seek HOA approval if we wanted to paint the place; they had an approved list of colors.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

However, I am offended by obnoxious homeowners' associations and their officious functionaries.

Amen!

 

[Apex]

Some tips for HOAs, read their contract very carefully. I have read several stories of people who did this and discovered there was really no way their HOA could enforce the rules legally. So they moved in and promptly ignored the HOA.

 

[Riverwolf]

What I can't understand it why someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas gets offended just hearing the word "Christmas". I don't get offended by the words "Chanukah" or "Kwanzaa" or whatever.

I'm not a Christian, and I still say "Merry Christmas!"

 

[horizon_mj1]

The way I see it, if you get really offended by the way someone believes and religious observances they choose for themselves, you should be asking yourself why. I can see a mother or father walking with their small child past someone toting a sign with a mutialated crpse of an unborn child on a posterboard, but at the same time can respect the personal belief. Why do people feel the need to have their beliefs to be heard so loudly? What ever happen to personalization of religious/non-religious beliefs. Although I don't understand, I feel that everyone has the right to freely choose their religious observances without the fear of retribution from a different religion as long as no harm is being done to the people involved or the observers and that it is done within the parameters of the law.

 

[Father John]

In my experience the most vocal dissidents against the public celebration of religious festivals are what I call strident secularists - those who believe that religion is an entirely private matter; that any public expression of religion might contaminate the minds of their children, whom they wish to follow their own religious world views; and that because they wish the world to be entirely irreligious, they have the right to live in an entirely irreligious world.

There will always be a small band of very conservative adherents in any religious tradition (some might call them fundamentalists) who will object to other religions being allowed to practice or ccelebrate their faith in public - some Christians might object vehemently to a Wiccan circle dance in a park; but not see the incongruity of them then having a Palm Sunday march through their town.

 

[Alla Prima]

Is the observance of religious holidays, festivals or celebrations offensive to other religions? When Christian's celebrate Christmas with lights, trees and plastic nativity scenes, do Muslims and Jews find it offensive. When a Muslim is observing Ramadan do Christian's find it offensive? If a Wiccan ritual is being held in a park do Christians, Muslims or Jews find it offensive? etc, etc, etc.

I'm not a Christian but I don't find any Christian holiday offensive. In fact I like Christmas. Reminds me of my childhood. A very happy time. Islam is a different story because I find Islam itself offensive.

 

[frg001]

I have no problem with religious observances, so long as they don't affect people who do not have the same belief, and that other observances by other beliefs are not hindered (within the law of course).

 

[lilithu]

I don't think people need be offended. Lights are pretty decorations, and celebrations are symbols. If it is a public place, like a park, a line needs to be drawn on whether any or all celebrations may be held there.

If a Wiccan celebration is not allowed due to misunderstanding or offense, then neither can a Christian, Jewish, or Pastafarian be allowed.

What he said. Tho I wouldn't allow "Pastafarian" in any case, since it's not a real religion but rather an intentional mockery of other people's beliefs.

In the topic, I am not offended by the religious or cultural displays of others, unless they are specifically intended to offend me. For example, someone displaying a cross on their lawn is not trying to invoke the Crusaders; they intend to invoke their Christian faith. My family puts up blue-and-white lights during this time, and we display our Chanukiah in the window over the eight nights of Chanukah. We don't mean to offend non-Jews by our celebration.

What he said too. Intent is important.


In response to what others have said, I insist that "Christmas trees" are not Christian. Nativity scenes, yes. Trees decorated with colorful lights and tinsel, no. Not Christian. Pretty, yes. :angel2:

 

[.lava]

Is the observance of religious holidays, festivals or celebrations offensive to other religions? When Christian's celebrate Christmas with lights, trees and plastic nativity scenes, do Muslims and Jews find it offensive. When a Muslim is observing Ramadan do Christian's find it offensive? If a Wiccan ritual is being held in a park do Christians, Muslims or Jews find it offensive? etc, etc, etc.

Mother told to take down her Christmas lights... in case they offend her non-Christian neighbours | Mail Online

i do not find celebrations of other religions offensive. at least the ones i know

.

 

[Kade]

No i don't think a religious observance or holidays can be offensive... why would anybody think that?

 

[ChristineES]

I have noticed a new mindset of some people and it's this:"if I don't celebrate something, no one else should either". I don't get it. If someone wants to celebrate Christmas, they can- and if they don't, they don't don't have to. The same goes with anything else. I think there are some folks out there who want everyone to be exactly the same as each other. But not everyone is the same- everyone is different.

 

[lilithu]

I have noticed a new mindset of some people and it's this:"if I don't celebrate something, no one else should either". I don't get it. If someone wants to celebrate Christmas, they can- and if they don't, they don't don't have to. The same goes with anything else.

UUs celebrate everything. Solstice, Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa... The more celebrating the better. :angel2: (I get depressed from the darkness of winter; I'll take all the holiday lights and cheer I can get.)

I think there are some folks out there who want everyone to be exactly the same as each other. But not everyone is the same- everyone is different.

Or they're thinking, "I'm not having any fun so no one else can either!"

 

[.lava]

I have noticed a new mindset of some people and it's this:"if I don't celebrate something, no one else should either". I don't get it.

if there is spine of ego, that is it.

.

 

[Breathe]

No i don't think a religious observance or holidays can be offensive... why would anybody think that?

Some people are spoilsports, I guess.
Ah, and welcome to the forum.

 

[Caladan]

As a secular Jew, there is a Jewish proverb that I like, though I dont remember it word for word, it says that being considerate and treating other people with respect is more important than fulfilling a religious regulation or law that comes in the way.
just for for thought, I suppose.

EDIT:

OK reading the Original Post, Its a bit out of context. no I think that in general, holidays have no reason being offensive to people of other faiths, it should be a celebration of diversity ideally.