Jews, Muslims Defend “Christian” Christmas

December 15, 2005

Source: Beliefnet

Wire Service: RNS

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/180/story_18045_1.html

On December 15, 2005 Religion News Service reported, "The movement defending Christmas as a Christian holiday has attracted some unlikely allies: religiously observant Jews and Muslims. Their support bucks the assumption that religious minorities prefer a neutral approach to the season, desiring 'Happy Holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas' at retail checkout lines or 'Frosty the Snowman' over 'O Holy Night' at public school concerts... Islamic support for Christmas stems in part from religious doctrine. While observant Muslims can follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad in respecting Jewish and Christian holidays, they say they have little motivation to value Santa-based winter holiday celebrations. When it comes to Christmas, 'the more religious it is, the more acceptable it is to Muslims,' said Ahmed Bedier, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Central Florida office... At a Thursday (Dec. 1) Washington news conference, a small group of Jewish leaders spoke in defense of public Christmas celebrations, framing the issue as a struggle between a Bible-believing culture and the dark, potentially anti-Semitic, forces of secularism."