At Hot Air, Tina Korbe tells us that “vast majority of Americans still self-identify as Christians”:
In advance of Christmas, Gallup released the results of a year’s worth of interviews of Americans about their attitudes toward religion. The results aren’t necessarily surprising, but they do make you wonder: How exactly is it that the phrase “Merry Christmas” has been branded offensive? From the poll summary:
The United States remains a predominantly Christian nation, with 78% of all adults identifying with a Christian faith, and more than 9 in 10 of those who have a religious identity identifying as Christians. [M]ore than 9 in 10 Americans say they believe in God, and … 8 in 10 say religion is a very or fairly important part of their lives.
Then again, perhaps the politicization of Christmas — the suspicion of public displays of religiosity, the secularization of sacred expressions — comes from the majority’s attempt to accommodate the vocal minority.
Can’t say re the United States, where we gather that there is a “war on Christmas” in some quarters, but several Canadians have noticed that in Toronto “Merry Christmas!” is back in style.
At one hospital, for example, people said it conspicuously, and put up creches, menorahs for Hanukah, and general seasonal decor with abandon, and with not the slightest concern about “offending” anyone.
Because, the reality is, it’s not the hospital’s multicultural, multifaith staff and patients who are “offended” by others’ enjoyment of their holidays. No one is offended by Eid al-Fitr, Chinese New Year, or Diwali either. It’s the tiny minority of state nannies, social engineers, and pressure groups that specialize in taking offense, and make their living from it. And they are offended by us unwashed hordes generally. We say the wrong things, think the wrong things, eat the wrong things (!) …
Is it too much to hope that this is the year we all just told them that the train has arrived at their station in the middle of nowhere, and they can just get OFF?