Religious leaders say yes; others disagree
television analyst from NBC recently railed against the role of religion in Christmas. A home owner is told to take down a religious holiday sign.
It seems like we are seeing similar stories every year where people are told they can't wear religion on their sleeve when it comes to the holidays. Houston Lutheran Bishop Mike Rinehart tells KTRH that's a shame.
“I don’t think a Christmas tree establishes a state religion. But if we’re a melting pot, let’s embrace a variety of symbols,” Rinehart told KTRH.
On the opposite side is David Silverman, president of American Atheists, who says the problem isn't religion, it's the government.
“They made a mistake when they made Christmas a national holiday,” Silverman explained. “They forced people who are Jews and Muslims and Atheists to observe it.”
Rinehart says that Silverman and his supporters are wrong, that religion is what Christmas is all about.
“If you amputate all of the religious symbols, then there’s not much left but commercialism,” Rinehart said.
Silverman says it's not a war on Christmas. He says he is fighting for equality, especially for those that don't celebrate the holiday.
“We’re not having a War on Christmas. We’re having a battle for equality of the season,” Silverman said.
