“Happy Holidays!” “Merry Christmas!” “Season’s Greetings!” Do those words sound innocent to you? Don’t be misled- these may be fighting words for some during this holiday season. December and January are full of religious festivals across the world. In our diverse society, the person you meet on the street may not be celebrating like you do. OMG! Yes, pun intended. What do we say to greet one another without starting a riot?
One of my duties when I led the Chaplain’s Department at a large hospital was the creation of a monthly religious calendar. The calendar listed and described the faith observances of 12 major religious groups. I sent it to the Department Directors of this 3,000-employee healthcare system. The intention was to make leaders aware of the wonderful faith heritages among their employees and patients.
Across America now we find a diversity of religious affiliations. Protestants number about 150 million, unaffliated and no faith 76 million, Catholics 66 million, Jews 7 million, Mormons 6 million, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists each 4 million, and all other faiths 10 million. In other words, one-third of Americans don’t believe in observing “Merry Christmas.” When you walk the streets of your community, you will encounter people who carry a holiday spirit with many different names.
No one betrays their faith by respecting the faith of their neighbor. Looking beyond our own beliefs to extend words of love and grace offers a beautiful act of love and solidarity. Here are some ideas….
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