This article explores the concept of religious freedom in America, particularly during the holiday season. It critiques the 'War on Christmas' narrative and argues that 'Happy Holidays' as a greeting is a respectful and inclusive way to acknowledge the diversity of celebrations.
The thing with traditions, as we nonreligious Americans well know, is that you can take the parts you like and leave the rest. Thankfully, our Constitution is not so picky-and-choosy. Rest assuredly, it is clear we are all guaranteed the religious freedom to believe, worship, celebrate, or decorate however we choose—this time of year and all year.Even so, there are people who insist the Founding Fathers' idea of religious equality is insufficient.
They believe their particular religion should enjoy special privileges. You've heard their favorite carol, 'War on Christmas' before.These are the grown-ups who still believe in the Christmas myth, and not the harmless Santa Claus one. No, they still cling to the long-busted lore that America is a Christian nation, Christmas is an American holiday, and state-sanctioned religious displays are sacrosanct.Of course, most of us age out of these fantastical stories. I remember, for instance, learning in elementary school that Christmas is celebrated in myriad ways around the world. Later, we discover the holiday was a pagan ritual that predates Christianity by hundreds of years. And we come to appreciate the freedom to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, and so on in 335 million wonderfully diverse ways.'Happy Holidays' includes all these traditions and excludes none. It is inherently uncontroversial, which is the crux of nonsectarianism. The 'War on Christmas' people disagree. They think nonsectarianism, somehow, is an assault on their freedom. It isn't. It isn't anti-religious or even nonreligious. It is, by definition, not a particular religion. And it's an idea more American than apple pie.Even so, every holiday season, a small but vocal group insists they are victims of a secular conspiracy to ruin Christmas. They will suggest that neutrality is tantamount to oppression, that inclusivity is heresy. Now, just as Christians aren't a monolith, neither are the None
Religious Freedom Inclusivity Holiday Traditions Secularism First Amendment
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