AFA (American Family Association) is calling for a limited two-month boycott of Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic, the three stores owned by San Francisco-based Gap Inc., over the company’s censorship of the word "Christmas."
The boycott is part of our ongoing campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to put Christ back in Christmas. The boycott runs from November 1 through Christmas Day.
For years, Gap has refused to use the word Christmas in its television commercials, newspaper ads and in-store promotions, despite tens of thousands of consumer requests to recognize Christmas and in spite of repeated requests from AFA to do the same.
The commercial that has apparently pushed these religious terrorists over the edge, and inspired them to take the Gap hostage, is this one.
You know I kind of like it. It seems like a harmless call for people of ALL faiths to enjoy the holiday season and spend a little money at the Gap. But they dared to put Christmas in the same category as Kwanzaa, Hannukah, and the Winter Solstice celebration, and to many Christians that is heresy.
The goal of the boycott is twofold, to define Christmas as a Christian holiday, and to elevate it above the other "pagan" holidays. Remember Christians do not join you, YOU join them.
Of course anybody with an inquisitive nature, and the power of Google at their finger tips, can find out relatively quickly that Christmas is NOT originally a Christian holiday at all. In fact the celebration predates Christianity by thousands of years, and many times throughout history Christians have been forbidden to celebrate it. Even today there are some who are repulsed by the very idea. (Christmas is a thoroughly pagan holiday -- in its origin, in its trappings, and in all its traditions.)
So here is my question. If Christians really want this holiday to be embraced as solely a Christian celebration, then shouldn't they do their best to emulate the teachings of Jesus? I mean if the goal is to persuade people that the birth of this great man is worth celebrating, then should his followers not be living examples of that greatness?
Instead of trying to force people, through boycotts and condemnation, to accept your argument. Why not simply stop arguing and open you arms in an invitation to show them how you celebrate the holiday?
The very idea of demanding that people submit to your will seems very un-Christ-like to me. Is it possible that the reason Christianity is losing influence in this country is because of these ham handed techniques? Is that why factions led by Sarah Palin and her followers have resorted to forming armies to force people to bend to their will? Don't believe me? Then take a moment to read this.
Ms. Palin has had long associations with religious leaders who practice a particularly assertive and urgent brand of Pentecostalism known as “spiritual warfare.” Its adherents believe that demonic forces can colonize specific geographic areas and individuals, and that “spiritual warriors” must “battle” them to assert God’s control, using prayer and evangelism. The movement’s fixation on demons, its aggressiveness and its leaders’ claims to exalted spiritual authority have troubled even some Pentecostal Christians.
From my experience with the Gospels I am hard pressed to believe that the Jesus described within its pages would embrace the idea of "spiritual warriors".
Didn't Jesus in Matthew 26:52 say "Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword"? Does his philosophy sound like the one embraced by these people who claim to follow him today?
If religions want to stay relevant in this changing world they need to stop building walls to separate them from the world, and instead build roads that lead to the open exchange of ideas. Attempts to dominate the world should be the purview of mad men and megalomaniacs, not religious leaders and spiritual advisers.
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If she starts in on the WAR Against Christmas crap, I really will hurl.
ReplyDeleteI will be spending a some of my -mas $ at one of these stores this season. I've never been to Old Navy or Banana Republic, but I used to go to the GAP several years ago. I'm going to make it a point to let the store person know I've spent money there in response to the AFA's boycott.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that most of the comments at the liked article are clearly *against* this boycott. The real Christians there seem to understand the issue more clearly and more reasonably than the AFA.
ReplyDeleteI am a Christian, and I think this is ridiculous. So do most Christians I know. The AFA does not speak for the vast majority of us. Contrary to the above comments, we are not insistent that everyone "join us". While I understand there is the perception that everyone is being pressured to become Christian, I think many are over-sensitive in this area because Christianity has achieved a kind of high cultural and commercial profile in this country. I think any overt efforts at converting people have been grossly overstated, and it's because of idiotic campaigns like this one from the AFA. We do not insist that everyone care as much about our holiday as we do. And most of us are interested in mutual respect and tolerance. I get so sick of these obnoxious people starting false controversies. It's bullshit, and it has nothing to do with Christianity. If they are worried about the over-commercialization of the holiday, then it is up to them to remind their members about the true meaning of it. There is nothing compelling them to make this an issue for EVERYONE. Except probably politics, and Sarah Palin is down with that, dontcha know.
ReplyDeleteGryphen, you are taking their bait, and they are delighted. This is not real. Don't pay any attention to it. If everyone would just ignore them, this would go away and they would move on to their next tale of victimization. Whatever works.
ReplyDeleteWavelength, I doubt these stores are quaking in their boots.
ReplyDelete"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." Luke 2:8
ReplyDeleteIf there are any shepherds around Bethlehem sleeping outdoors at night, then maybe the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is being held at the right time of year. Personally, I just want a holiday because this is a cold, dark part of the year. The violent "Christians" don't bring light or joy.
Gryphen, you could add "Eid Kabir" to your list of holidays at this time. May there be peace and joy. grammy
So typical. The insecurity is staggering. And what better way to celebrate the holiday season than to be pissy and feel victimized?! Surely this is what Jesus intended, the airing of the grievances (maybe they should celebrate Festivus instead?) These are obviously the same people stomping around stores, snapping at checkout clerks and fellow customers. Joy to the world, huh?!
ReplyDeleteGolly gosh darn-it-all geez-oh crow...you pretend Christians need to relax. Bill O'Reilly already saved Christmas last year!
ReplyDeleteThis "us against the world" mentality is what is so completely sick and wrong about these fanatics and the way they interpret their faith. My minister just this morning was first, talking about how for Christians this should be the season of Advent, the waiting for the birth of Jesus. So, the AFA has lost me right there with their complaints about being disrespected. It's not even Christmas yet, you idiots! And second, he was talking about the Apocalypse scriptures (strange they came up on the lectionary calendar), and how they had much more to do with the breaking down of this us vs. them way of thinking, of organizing society, etc. That the upheaval Jesus was talking about is primarily inside our hearts and minds, not out in the world between peoples and countries. These crazies are so freaking simplistic, like the world is just a video game. But I can tell you, the Christians who are busy being Christian don't have time to stir up this kind of trouble. They are just doing what they know they should be doing, without fanfare or publicity or political power, day by day.
ReplyDeleteIt always surprises me, how they don't realize they're presenting Christianity as the religion that can't survive without being propped up.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I think many mainstream Christians don't realize the pressure they put on nonChristians in this country. I'm tired of being asked if I enjoyed my Easter or Christmas. And I'm tired of wellmeaning Christians hoping I enjoy their holiday, which is what they're saying with their mindless "Merry Christmas." Uh, it's NOT MY HOLIDAY. Why would I celebrate it?
Ivyfree
Two can play this game. We can just make sure our money goes to the stores they object to. And boycott the stores that have dominionist associations. Leah Burton and Alex are working on compiling a list of businesses that are owned or associated with these people and even some that are nothing but front groups. I don't have the list with me, but off the top of my head I know of Home Depot, Walmart, Chick-fil-a, and Curves. Maybe we can get Leah to post a list of the stores most likely to attract holiday shoppers.
ReplyDeleteAnd anon @ 3:24 - you are not correct. This is very real and ignoring them for the past 30 years has proven disasterous. These people have infiltrated our government and military. Their numbers are growing, and their beliefs are more and more bizarre with each passing year. If you don't believe me, read "The Family" by Jeff Sharlet, "Republican Gomorrah" by Max Blumenthal, and "With God on Our Side" by Mikey Weinstein.
This "war on Christmas" campaign is nothing new, it's brought up every year around this time because these people are so insecure and inanely misguided in their attempt at playing the victim, they can't see the forrest from the trees.
ReplyDeleteThe Last Supper was a passover meal, and Jesus was Jewish, so why don't "Christians" celebrate the Jewish holidays as well? That would make more sense.
In our house, we celebrate the secular (gift giving) holiday on the 25 th, and we celebrate three kings day in early January as a religious holidsy. But we don't tell others what to do.
We grew up with people of all faiths and backgrounds. And growing up, my parents taught me to respect people for who they are, not for who or how they choose to worship.
The whole "prayer warriors" dominionist doctrine is basically based in VooDoo, but they're too blind to see that. Blind faith is a dangerous thing.
Speaking of Christmas....
ReplyDeleteSince Todd stayed home and got the roof all fixed over Thanksgiving weekend, what project do you suppose he will be assigned--and be off completing come December 25?
What would Jesus do? It wouldn't be what AFA suggests. Help in a food kitchen, donate warm clothes you don't need, befriend a stranger... helping those who need it. AFA wouldn't know the true meaning of Christmas if it bit them on the butt.
ReplyDeleteCO Almost Native
I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't lump all Christians in with the Evangelical AFA. I'm an Episcopal, and just about as far away from that crew as is possible. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have found there are quite a few people who are extraordinarily defensive about Christianity, and it doesn't seem necessary. To me this speaks to a real insecurity, not the other way around. If someone mistakenly wished me well for another faith's holiday, I don't think I'd take it so personally. People make mistakes. I do realize it may become tiresome to be surrounded by the symbols and customs of a faith which is not one's own. If people are making assumptions and being insensitive, I would say it is unlikely meant maliciously, but instead just plain ignorant. I live in a major metropolitan area, so perhaps assumptions about Christianity aren't as common here. I am not one who needs to be convinced about the rising power of these particular fundamentalist Christians. On the other hand, I do think making the logical leap that they are close to taking over our country and the world verges on paranoia. Demographically speaking, from a 55,000 subject 2008 ARIS survey done in the United States, out of the 76% who identified as being Christian, only .9% identified as being Evangelical/Born Again. Some of the other fundamentalist Christian denominations were similarly small. Make of it what you will, but the evangelicals are nowhere near total government and societal infiltration. They just happen to be the noisiest group with the greatest political ambition. I am sorry if the predominance of mainstream, moderate Christianity in the US is a source of concern, however. There's probably not much to be done about that, especially as our Spanish-heritage fellow citizens continue to enrich our population, many of whom are Catholic. Beyond these issues, I think it is a mistake to exclusively obsess about Sarah Palin's supposed ideological agenda because of personal discomfort with her religious affiliation. We don't want her in power because she is unqualified, and a liar. Her fanatical beliefs are simply an example of a mentality which is completely out of balance and unfit for wise and representative leadership. She could be a fundamentalist member of another religion and I would be equally opposed to her.
ReplyDeleteThen there are the Jehovah's Witnesses that don't celebrate Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving, because they are all "PAGAN HOLIDAYS!" Birthdays are off limits, too, BTW.
ReplyDeleteAs the comments point out, the right wing does not represent Christianity in its totality. I wish the press would stop giving them so much coverage. How about covering those who are tending the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked etc. That is what Christianity is supposed to be about. The right wing is a throw back to the worst of the past.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that making mercenary, secular corporations push Christmas only cheapens Christmas. Is it a religious holiday or is it a marketing tool? A real Christian would know the answer to that and that what Gap or other companies say is insignificant.
ReplyDeleteIMHO, it is really naive to think that God ONLY spoke to Christians. Look at the similarity of most religions in so many ways. Wonderful people come from all religions and so do bad people. I believe that if a religion or group of zealots from a religion advocate hate, violence, or shunning, it is a false religion.
ReplyDeleteAs long as a person is trying to follow Jesus's most important rule, above all else love one another, he or she will be fine. Too bad more people don't follow that. ARE YOU LISTENING, SARAH ET AL? Being kind to others is what is important.
ReplyDeleteI am a Christian, and I think this whole thing is beyond stupid.
ReplyDeleteThat said, why is their boycott only for
two months? If the issue is that bleeping important, then shouldn't the AFA's members want nothing to do with these stores all year round?
This is a great commercial for supporting diversity.
ReplyDeleteGosh, shouldn't *real* AFA Christians be planning to celebrate the holiday without all of that crass commercialism and money-changing, anyway? Kind of how Jesus would have liked it? Or do they seriously think Jesus would have Gap clothes, a 60" plasma television in a living room full of fancy furniture, and an expensive SUV in the driveway?
ReplyDeleteThey're apparently missing the point of their own holiday anyway, so who gives a damn what they think?
Thanks for the hint, AFA, I'll be sure to spend some of my Generic Winter Holiday money at Gap and Old Navy! Any business which offers a counterpoint to the narrow-minded, pious, hyper-Christian evangelical right is okay by me!!
All they will accomplish is to bring attention to the fact that "Chrstmas" has nothing to do with "Christ".It has much to do with the Roman Holiday of Saturnalia.
ReplyDeleteThe AFA are a bunch of holier-than-thou imbecilic buffoons who believe in devils and goblins under every bed. They are superstitious morons who think that without their help, God is helpless to fend off the demonic forces which ravage our world. This elevates them to a position of supreme importance within the Kingdom. Funny, I never got the memo that announced that promotion. I would have at least expected a stone tablet engraved by the hand of God or even a burning bush.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, Palin's church in Wasilla had some sort of Christian Ninja ceremony in which they gave out Samurai swords to the young males and mini vacs, Malibu Barbies, or Easy Bake Ovens to the young ladies.
So much for that inconvenient Matthew 26:52. It is so much cooler to be a Samurai wielding Ninja than to turn the other cheek. THAT Jesus is such a pussy. We know that what he REALLY wanted to do was open up a big ol' can o' whoop-ass on Satan!
If the press can glom onto terrorists as their overly simplistic representatives for all of Islam, then they can make these asshats from the AFA the poster children for Christianity. After all, fair is fair.
Anonymous@3:26 I agree - they aren't quaking in their boots.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous@6:32 While the number of dominionist / evangelicals may be a small percentage, they do have a game plan that is promoted within those churches. Sometimes referred to as "stealth" or "below the radar", they provide assistance to members to run for local school boards, city council, county council and legislative position. By concealing or otherwise blurring their religious affiliations they are able to have successful campaigns in these local elections. (Electorate apathy contributes to this, as well.) If the elected board or council is small, it doesn't take long for a majority to coalesce.
Their end-game is control of politics in order to bring about a theocracy (of their own definition) in the US. This is what they see as their destiny.
Too scary for me.
Did you know that in the 1650's when Cromwell was Protectorate of England and the Puritans had too much influence, Parliament sent soldiers round to London kitchens on Christmas Day to take the food out of people's ovens...the Puritans didn't want anyone to celebrate; they thought it should be a solemn holiday...and God forbid that anyone should be allowed to celebrate it the way they wanted!
ReplyDeleteMaybe they should be called something besides "Christians"...like the Solstice Scrooge League or somesuch...
"Winter Solstice? Just another excuse to dance around a bonfire...Bah! Humbug!"
We are not simply a "Christian" nation. The majority of our founding fathers were Deists. America embraces its diversity of people,each of whom have the right and freedom to worship or not worship as they choose. At least that's what I thought. Something about a democracy, not a theocracy--and not some religious zealots forcing their beliefs on others.
ReplyDeleteTo Kathryn @ 6:20 PM. Ditto and thanks for bringing it up. I'm an Episcopalian, too, and while some of our parishes have split off to follow a more "conservative" form of religion, I'd stay home before I got involved in THAT.
ReplyDeleteAnd, Gryphen, I believe Matthew also said, in verse 7:12: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." In today's lexicon, "Treat others as you want to be treated."
This is something the evangelicals forget -- along with many OTHER things that are certainly not Christ-like.
WaveLength, I know about their plan to put stealth candidates in place. What I am saying is that they may have a plan, but that doesn't mean they have truly been successful at it in any real or significant way - so far. If they had been, and if they represented the universal will of their party, the GOP wouldn't be in the disarray it is in right now. George W Bush was their first effort in this direction, and that failed miserably. I am sure there are candidates and elected officials at lower levels, I know about the prayer groups in DC and all the rest. Sarah Palin might represent a game-changing moment, which is why her extreme beliefs must be exposed for what they are so she is not successful at any bid for office. If she were to succeed it would embolden them. If her affiliations can be investigated and examined, and if the general public can be made aware of this small movement, that's progress and protection. We must try to educate the American people, but we can't sound hysterical. It isn't helpful when we exaggerate the extent of the threat.
ReplyDeletemommom, that is just offensive and uninformed, though you are by no means the only commenter who has shown such ignorance. I am a Christian, and I can assure you Christmas has a deep and profound meaning to Christians. Maybe you know Christians, or were raised in a Christian household and so your experiences are making you say prejudicial things, I don't know. But, I can promise you our holiday is not pagan, it is not an exercise in commercialism, and it is not just because the days are longer and we need a festival to lighten our spirits. This site needs to be careful that it doesn't start encouraging Christianity-bashing, just because of the obvious bias of the blog-author. That is definitely losing focus and running the risk of calling into question the motives of those who hate Palin. Don't hate her FOR her religion, just recognize that her particular sect is an extremist one and therefore dangerous. The greater point is that she is untrustworthy and incompetent.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely true, luckyjean. More to the point, the Puritans had LAWS, not just Church laws but governmental laws, backed by fines and imprisonment, for 'celebrating' Christmas in America. Christmas was a time for fasting and prayer, not revelry.
ReplyDeleteAnd I wonder just how many Christians out there know that the Pilgrims considered marriage to be a CIVIL not a RELIGIOUS issue. They specifically required that the ministers not be 'burdened by' (their phrase, not mine) performing marriage rites in the Church, as it was a 'civil institution'.
To do otherwise, would be considered 'papist'; i.e., Catholic.
So much for the sanctity of marriage and the notion that it was 'invented' by God.
As a Christian, if you are looking for Christ or Christmas in a store window, you are headed in the wrong direction. I'm sorry, but a store window or an ad campaign is NOT THE CHURCH!!
Nor is the front lawn in front of the Town Hall.
PS As far as local politics go, it is up to communities to be vigilant against "stealth candidates". It wouldn't seem too difficult to find out if a candidate comes from one of these churches, quite honestly. If local politics are becoming more conservative, then progressives and moderates need to fight back.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gryphen for a great blog post. Some one on FB yesterday was talking about Dominionist's and also linked to youtube the "The Handmaid's tale" !
ReplyDeletePretty scary stuff, although written in 1985, the movie version 2001 seems to capture the very extremeist, church+state that these people seem to be pushing for.
I can't link to it, just go to youtube and search for it. Its in 10 segments.
Palin and those people who have religious beliefs like her are the false prophets the Bible warns about.
ReplyDeleteThey misinterpret everything so that they can warp it into their special brand of Faux Christianity.
And if they have read the Bible closely enough, they would also know that there won't be just one Anti-Christ that brings an end to the world. No. There are and will always be anti-Christs, those who take the Bible and the Word of God and twist it to shape what they want.
These people ARE the anti-Christs.
Jesus even told the Apostles to go off and pray alone.
He healed the sick. (without charging). He refused ant kind of service for payment. All that Jesus asked for was to pretty much, pay it forward.
Jesus taught people to turn the other cheek. (Palin's book? Not so much)
I could go on and on with examples. These people who scream Christian as loud as they can, are the furthest things from Christians.
They really do sicken me.
Well said, Gasman.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading your comments as well as Gryphen's posts.
Margaret Atwood discusses "the Handmaid's tale"
ReplyDelete3:29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMrz_ivl8jo&feature=PlayList&p=C5E709C612DDB7CB&index=0&playnext=1
Not sure why posts are getting re-sequenced here, I guess that's up to the discretion of the moderator. I think it is important not to equate Sarah Palin with all of Christianity. Someone makes the correct point that this is like equating zealot clerics with Islam or Judaism. It isn't accurate, fair or productive. People need to separate their own personal issues about Christianity from Sarah Palin's story. I suspect that the palpable hostility towards Christianity expressed by some here has to do with a sense of being judged or excluded by the religion, perhaps for things like sexual orientation. This is sad, for there are many, many churches which take great pains to honor Christ's teachings and embrace all of God's children, all of humanity. If there are those who do not have access to such churches, certainly one can look online to the mainstream denominations and find the progressive branches of the faith. These churches are practicing true Christianity.
ReplyDeleteThis is out of Australia and New Zealand, but it has many resources which speak to modern Christianity as practiced by progressive liberals. There are many of us, and we are the counter-balance to the insanity of the fundamentalists. http://www.progressivechristianwitness.org/pcw.cfm?p=7
ReplyDeleteMargaret Atwood is kind of creepy herself, to be honest. I wouldn't get too carried away about this book.
ReplyDeleteAs a grownup, I have always had a problem with the commercialization of Christmas. It is too easy to forget the 'reason for the season'. The AFA seems to want the season to be commercialized 'only for Christmas' (not other holidays). This is just plain weird and contradictory to me. Their Christianity is very different from mine.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post!
ReplyDeleteIn late September 2008, Glazier released a prophecy which seemed to suggest that John McCain would win the presidency but then be killed in a tragic act of terrorism which would leave Sarah Palin, during a period of national mourning, "standing alone and she was mantled with the American flag... stepping into an office she was mantled for."
ReplyDeleteHoly Shit.
Sarah probably did believe that God was going to off McCain so she could be POTUS.
On the other hand we now know she is trully certifiably insane and very very dangerous.
In response to the person who posted "civil" marriages versus church marriages. From my religious studies, John and Mary were not "married" until Jesus was almost two years of age, when they were able to make the long trek to Jerusalem to "legalize" their marriage (civic). Apparently prior to that, they were "living together" in a marriage of the heart.
ReplyDeleteThank dog I'm a dyslexic atheist.
ReplyDeleteIn Fido I praise lettuce.
cherrio, Gryph!
-ske in atx