In the vernacular employed by both secularists and religionists alike during this season, “good will toward all men” should reign supreme, perhaps most especially by those of us who claim to carry on us the name of Jesus whose life, teachings, mission, and sacrifice we are in the midst of celebrating.
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It seems even people who ought to know better let themselves get wrapped up around the axles on things, including, unfortunately, some Christmas season traditions.
Some shy away from affirming their beliefs and traditions in the name of inclusiveness, while others aren’t nearly shy enough and become somewhat condescending in affirming their beliefs and traditions.
As in most things, there is a more respectful balance to strike.
Unapologetically
All people of all beliefs ought to stand firmly yet humbly in their beliefs. We are and should be free to express our beliefs, to explain them when asked. We are and should be free to practice our traditions, whatever they be.
Some inadvertently dilute their traditions and beliefs simply because others around them whom they love and respect do not share these beliefs. For example, some believers go to great lengths to try to merge the religious and secular traditions, as if these traditions were in some way in conflict with each other. Such dilution is not reasonable, and reasonable people do not expect it of us. Religious and secular traditions can and do coexist rather easily. And there are better and more sincere ways to be properly inclusive and to lift up those around us.
Uncondescendingly
We should absolutely not brow beat others with our beliefs and traditions! There is no room for being condescending about our beliefs and traditions. Too many people get all wrapped up around the axles about a particular aspect of their tradition and become so rabid about advocating it that they can even turn off fellow believers in that tradition.
For a current example, some of us Christians get so spun up about keeping Christ in Christmas that they end up disrespecting and rendering cliché the sacred nature of the name of Christ in their various rants. They also end up disrespecting their fellow man as they criticize, either by implication or overtly, traditions that they deem less worthy of the season. Some Christians condemn other Christians for enjoying the tradition of Santa Claus and the Christmas Tree. Some get all bent out of shape about celebrating Christmas in December instead of what some hold as a more accurate date in the Spring near Passover. The irony of figuratively beating someone over the head with our “Merry Christmas” is thick indeed, and not a little sad.
But believers are not alone in this. Some atheists, though obviously not all, get so spun up about not practicing any Christmas tradition that they become equally condescending. While some certainly celebrate it sincerely, it seems others are now rushing to adopt Winter Solstice as a means to celebrate their non-celebration. Here, too, the irony is thick, and not a little sad.
In the vernacular employed by both secularists and religionists alike during this season, “good will toward all men” should reign supreme, perhaps most especially by those of us who claim to carry on us the name of Jesus whose life, teachings, mission, and sacrifice we are in the midst of celebrating.
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