Ok... I know that at first glance this may seem like a controversial topic to be discussing at all... especially in March, but I promise that it's not. You see, most of the known world is on Facebook and in December 2009 I was invited to join a group with the above title. I'm not generally a "joiner", so I went to have a look to see what it was all about and discovered that a concerned (and growing) group of individuals had started the group to keep Christ in the Festive Season. I couldn't agree more, so I joined.
Fast forward to December 2010 and a friend of mine posted a status on Facebook that asked what the big deal is... after all, Happy Holidays was the same as Merry Christmas... right? Wrong. There is actually a big difference although I agree that the general sentiment can be considered the same. When I stated as much in a comment, my friend indicated that in the USA it has become "Happy Holidays" so as not to insult other religious groups. It got me thinking. Are these other religious groups worried about offending Christians? Why is it that in a Christian country (the USA), there is so much concern about insulting other religious groups and yet, in my own country (South Africa) also a Christian nation, we don't feel the same need to change our traditions?
I've discussed this with people over the past few months and there have been a few suggestions as to why this is. The main theory that emerged over drinks one balmy afternoon was that the USA has become somewhat renowned for removing Christ from just about everything over the past decade. We've all had countless emails from friends and family over the years lamenting the fact that any reference to Christianity and God are being systematically removed from institutions like court houses and government offices. Worst of all... from schools. The theory being that immigrants with other religious beliefs may be offended. Well - I'm about to say something that may well offend a lot of people, but I hope that you will continue to read and that by the time you've read to the end of this blog, you will understand that it's NOT intended to offend anyone. If you were to move to a Muslim or Jewish or Buddist or Hindu country - or even just to a predominantly Amish area - THEY would NOT change their country, their religious beliefs or their laws to make YOU feel better or less offended. Nor would you expect them to... in fact - chances are, you'd respect their right to have their own beliefs... So why are Americans falling over themselves to change the religious beliefs that they left Europe to be free to enjoy? If I move to a Muslim country, I can still be a Christian...
The answer to the question of why we - as South Africans - don't fall over ourselves to "mollycoddle" each other was surprising in its honesty and simplicity... You see... Here in South Africa, we have 9 Provinces and 11 Official Languages... Yes, you read that correctly, 11 official languages! It certainly holds us to our unofficial slogan of "Rainbow Nation". However, it's the statistics that they don't push in the media that are applicable here. You see, we are a Christian Nation. Christianity is the official religion and we swear on bibles and believe in God. However... we also openly and happily wish our friends on their religious holidays, eg Eid Mubarak or Happy Chanuka and in return, they wish us a Merry Christmas. You see, we're open to the fact that we all have our own beliefs and while we may not always agree on the details... we respect the differences that make up our country. We don't feel the need to try to be completely "neutral" in order to show that. I'm proud of the fact that we are a country with a veritable encyclopedia of religions and yet we aren't afraid to celebrate our individual beliefs openly!
So... I guess what I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't be afraid to uphold your own beliefs. As a Christian, you should be saying Merry Christmas. If your non-Christian friends are offended that you've used that phrase, then they are the people with a bias, the ones with an issue. After all, you're hardly likely to be wishing them a Merry Christmas, so how does it affect them? If you're a Muslim in a Christian country... you're just as entitled to celebrate your religion... That is the freedom that America has always stood for and the freedom that South Africa seems to have achieved with grace and aplomb.
Something to think about...!
Until next time...
