ForumGarden

This is from the British press. I know here, the US Postal service does 4 stamps...One each of religious and non religious Christmas, Hannackah and Kwanza.

Cannot see what the fuss is, though. But then again, I am the one who always buys the non religious one anyway.

Non-religious Christmas stamps criticised

Tue Nov 7, 2006 2:17 PM GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Royal Mail has been criticised for taking "Christ out of Christmas" with this year's collection of festive stamps.

Instead of religious images adorning the Christmas stamps -- which go on sale from Tuesday -- they have pictures of Santa, a snowman, a Christmas tree and a reindeer.

Religious groups say they are concerned the stamps have no connection with the real meaning of Christmas.

Royal Mail said it alternates its stamps between religious and non-faith themes each year.



"It is about celebrating all elements of Christmas," said Patrick O'Neill, head of commercial public relations.

But Paul Woolley, director of Theos, a Christian think tank, said it was indicative of attempts to "push faith to the margins" rather than allow it to flourish.

"It is not healthy for society to do that," he added.

"Our concern is the role of religion in society and the secularising of aspects of society," he added.



© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved

Look for one thing,I'TS A STAMP,lick it and move on.

Who cares whats on it?

I know,I know some people collect them,it's some kind of hobby,good for you those who do,You need too get out more.

I'm no more happy about loseing god in our lives than anyone else but if they want too make stamps alittle more generic,then so be it.Do you think if they put god or what ever on the stamp some people would not use them?Good then maybe they will have overage and may have too lower the price.

It's so rare that I receive a piece of mail these days with a real stamp on it. Most of my mail is bills and other corporate stuff, so it has a metered "stamp".

Having said that, I'd guess it's probably been 25 years or more since any Nativity related scenes have been on a Canadian Christmas (...er, Holiday) stamp.

Personally I am more concerned at an increasingly assertive religious lobby. We need a secular society to keep the peace between all the warring religious groups.

Christmas was originally a pagan festival that was hijacked by the christians. Good grief at one point the puritans actually banned christmas so offended were they by the festivities and the sight of people enjoying themselves instead of just thanking god for their miserable existence.

Why are they so bothered about having the back of christian images licked anyway.

sorry, double posting.

You know this country has far bigger problems to worry about than fret over the theme of this years christmas issue stamps . ...

Richard Bell;452405 wrote: I'd guess it's probably been 25 years or more since any Nativity related scenes have been on a Canadian Christmas (...er, Holiday) stamp.


Well, I was wrong. This year's Christmas stamps feature "Aboriginal interpretations of the traditional theme of mother and child (giving) these stamps a unique spirituality."

That quote is directly from Canada Post. I like the way they say it's about "the traditional theme of mother and child", so that it's drained of any Christmas reference, and that it's an "Aboriginal interpretation", so it's PC.

Still, it's a beautiful stamp :

Attached files

Rats. The stamp doesn't show for me but that's just my computer. I'm sure it's very nice.



This stuff makes me so irritable. Secularism isn't a bad word but it keeps popping up as such.



I am not Christian but I have been known to buy Cmas stamps anyway if I like their design. It's silly that we have people deciding for other people what "the true meaning of Cmas" is. On a stamp! :rolleyes:

Marie5656;452389 wrote: This is from the British press. I know here, the US Postal service does 4 stamps...One each of religious and non religious Christmas, Hannackah and Kwanza.

Cannot see what the fuss is, though. But then again, I am the one who always buys the non religious one anyway.


Perhaps they think that as Christmas is a Christian event, and the P.O. are dishing

out special stamps for the occasion, they ought to be related to Christmas....

Christians stole my holidays! Where's my pagan stamp!?



If they alternate every year, and are fair about it both ways, then why the issue? I appreciate that people see Cmas as only a christian occasion. But then there's that pesky other side...

I agree with all of your sentiments - I just don't see what the big deal is all about. Christmas is many things to many people. It's an exercise in absurdity to complain that the stamps have no religious overture. But as you may know, here in the states we have groups protesting the slightest religious tint in anything related to Christmas. In fact, schools are being pressured to use terms like "Winter" holiday rather than Christmas holiday. One school even told parents they couldn't bring green or red napkins to the class parties becuase they represent Christmas. Absurdity is flowing both ways. Why can't everybody just enjoy what is for most of us a fun, and for someof us a spiritual, holiday? It has both secular and religious connatations. I enjoy both elements.

it is odd that you hear more about objections to christmas than you do about the drugs on our streets. :-5 says alot about us doesn't it.

RedGlitter;452629 wrote: Christians stole my holidays! Where's my pagan stamp!?



If they alternate every year, and are fair about it both ways, then why the issue? I appreciate that people see Cmas as only a christian occasion. But then there's that pesky other side...


If it was popular enough, I should think that there a special stamp would be

issued. Try asking the P.O., or making a request.

guppy;452691 wrote: it is odd that you hear more about objections to christmas than you do about the drugs on our streets. :-5 says alot about us doesn't it.


Don't know about the states but here it seems to be mainly christians that object to everybody having a big party rather than celebrating christ's birthday. Since they hijacked the date anyway I don't think they should object too much. There seems to be somethimg deep in our psyche that makes us want to parrty in the winter and when the day start to lengthen and shorten with the seasons.

Thanks Bill.

Agreed, GMC.

I respect christians' right to celebrate christmas for what it means to them. No problem. But what's wrong with letting others celebrate what it means to *them* too? No need for hostility or pushiness. Nobody's slighting Jesus by not being in the fan club. For me cmas is a family time. I think that's an important reason to celebrate. Also about winter and the sleeping earth.

gmc;453367 wrote: Don't know about the states but here it seems to be mainly christians that object to everybody having a big party rather than celebrating christ's birthday. Since they hijacked the date anyway I don't think they should object too much. There seems to be somethimg deep in our psyche that makes us want to parrty in the winter and when the day start to lengthen and shorten with the seasons.


Not true here in the states. Christians don't demand that Christmas religious symbols be put up, but secularists demand that Christmas religious symbols be brought down. Christians don't demand that Christmas be celebrated in school with religious themes, but secularists demand that the word Christmas not even be used because it has religious connotations and even Christmas trees are under assault - guilt by association with a "religious" holiday. Some have even demanded that they be called festival trees rather than CHRISTmas trees.

Adam Zapple;453512 wrote: Not true here in the states. Christians don't demand that Christmas religious symbols be put up, but secularists demand that Christmas religious symbols be brought down. Christians don't demand that Christmas be celebrated in school with religious themes, but secularists demand that the word Christmas not even be used because it has religious connotations and even Christmas trees are under assault - guilt by association with a "religious" holiday. Some have even demanded that they be called festival trees rather than CHRISTmas trees.


Lots of this thread seems to me to be bloody silly. It's Christmas. It's a Christian

festival. Nothing wrong with that! If it co-incides with another faith's festival, then

let them celebrate however they like. Most people in the UK at least will say that

they're at least somewhat Christian, hence the flippin' religious theme! What

about the other faiths? If people have *no* Christian leanings, then they should

just belt up, and not criticise. It ain't their celebration! Same for the even more

important festivities at Easter! Were I a Hindu, for instance, I would celebrate

Diwali, which this year fell on the 21st. October. As I'm not, I didn't, but neither

did I moan my flippin' head off about it!

Adam Zapple;453512 wrote: Not true here in the states. Christians don't demand that Christmas religious symbols be put up, but secularists demand that Christmas religious symbols be brought down. Christians don't demand that Christmas be celebrated in school with religious themes, but secularists demand that the word Christmas not even be used because it has religious connotations and even Christmas trees are under assault - guilt by association with a "religious" holiday. Some have even demanded that they be called festival trees rather than CHRISTmas trees.


The christmas tree is a pagan symbol. At the point in the winter when the last animals were being slaughtered The decorations stem from the practice of draping the entrails over the trees as an offereing to the gods. At least that is the version that appeals to me, I can just see some drunken celt throwing the entrails around just for fun.

posted by adamzapple

Not true here in the states. Christians don't demand that Christmas religious symbols be put up, but secularists demand that Christmas religious symbols be brought down. Christians don't demand that Christmas be celebrated in school with religious themes, but secularists demand that the word Christmas not even be used because it has religious connotations and even Christmas trees are under assault - guilt by association with a "religious" holiday. Some have even demanded that they be called festival trees rather than CHRISTmas trees.




Tell them all to F(*&* off you're having a party.

All the discussion about what you should or should not do at christmas time is an attempt by the po-faced to stop everyone else enjoying themselves. If you're miserable yourself you want everybody to join you in your misery and resent anyone having a good tiime. As the wee frees always say-"you're not put in earth to be happy" "laugh and the devil gets in".

If you're happy you might try and cheer someone up but otherwise leave them to their own misery. The miserable can't do that they have to interfere.

gmc;453901 wrote: The christmas tree is a pagan symbol.


As far as I'm aware, it is possibly related to pagan traditionan, but does not

come from it - the origins being in Germany, over a thousand years ago.

Here in the states the problem may just go away. As only yesterday on TV, I saw advertised "create your own stamp" on your own PC, using a picture of loved ones if desired. (Looking into to it. Since it may be fun to have "my face" on a stamp, as it goes through the mail system:D :rolleyes: :p )

SnoozeControl;453940 wrote: This thread inspired me to buy some Christmas themed stamps this year.


NICE, like it!!!