Don’t sideline Christ at Christmas
From Deacon Peter Venter, Durban
Now that the seasons of Advent and Christmas is almost upon us, alas we can expect the shopping malls to begin displaying their season greetings such as “Happy Holidays”, “Happy Festive Season”, and the like.

"Christians of all faiths, I believe, would not feel offended if other religions displayed festive greetings on their major religious celebrations."
What is sad is that the management of these malls instruct their promotion departments not to display the word “Christmas” in their greetings that are displayed in the foyers in the misguided belief that the word might upset customers of other religions.
Pope Benedict in his address to the dignitaries in London’s Westminster Hall on his papal visit to Britain in 2010 stated: “There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.” The pope added: “I cannot but voice my concern at the increasing marginalisation of religion, particular Christianity, that is taking place in some quarters, even in nations which place a great emphasis on tolerance.”
Management of these consumer outlets should take note of these sentiments of Pope Benedict. And the key word to the latter is “tolerance”.
Dictionary definitions of tolerance include “the capacity for the practice of recognising and respecting the beliefs or practices of others” and “sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one’s own”.
Christians of all faiths, I believe, would not feel offended if other religions displayed festive greetings on their major religious celebrations.
To bring home the true message of the birth of Christ, a message of joy and hope, parishes are embarking on a programme of “Putting Christ back into Christmas”.
For example, a number of stores in and around the major shopping malls in Durban North have been approached and have accepted to display a Nativity scene in their shop windows—and as yet there has been no known intolerance shown.
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