Our biggest client is headquartered in Houston. At the beginning of each day, someone goes on the PA to lead the company in prayer. One of my bosses (who is Jewish) talked to them about this - my boss told then he had no problem with an ecumenical prayer, but since their prayers explicitly mentioned Jesus they were non-inclusive to those who weren't Christian. The response that he got was to the effect that "America is 98% Christian, so if the prayer is not inclusive to those 2% who aren't, that's just too bad."

All y'all know that Big!Boss is a fundie. Our company is less than 20 people, 2 of whom are Jewish (that would be >10%). Yet every year at the company Christmas dinner, Big!Boss gives a speech about the company not *really* belonging to him but instead belonging to God, and then he -- every year, without fail -- makes some reference to "being Christians," stumbles over his words, tries to recover by saying something like "all of us who believe in you, Lord," (because, theoretically, Jews and Christians believe in the same God the Father, if not Jesus the son) (and anyway, I don't even know that it's necessarily true that all of the employees actually believe in God or any god). Every year.

Of course, he's also the one who tried to strong-arm the Jewish employees into seeing that gory Passion of the Christ movie with the dude with the weird last name. Big!Boss has no shame. And is damned lucky nobody is feeling litigious.

I just went to peek at the puppy cam, for old times sake, and they are showing pre-recorded video, with at least 4 puppies.

I've never heard my dad say that Catholics aren't Christians. I guess he feels that they stray from... the word of God in the Bible, or something.

My parents' church believes in a literal interpretation of the Bible (Lutheran church, Missouri Synod) but I wouldn't consider the church to be fundamentalist.

"I'm not Christian, and I celebrate Christmas, therefore Christmas (except for the Jesusy parts) isn't Christian, therefore there's no reason for you to not celebrate Christmas."

Oy. Dude must not be comfortable with himself or his traditions, then. One can celebrate/co-opt Christmas in one's own secular/agnostic/pagan way, but there's really no denying that Christmas is at root a Christian holiday, Jesus-y parts and all.

Anyhoodle.

HMOG, new tenant across from me had an extremely noisy group of friends over at 2 a.m. last night stomping, banging doors, and having a near-yelling conversation in the hall 5 feet outside my bedroom.

When I was telling them to get the fuck out of the building, apparently the expression on my face was enough to make the last guy down the stairs flinch and run.

ION, I think "Anyhoodle" would be a good name for a poodle.

but there's really no denying that Christmas is at root a Christian holiday, Jesus-y parts and all.

Except for the parts (tree, lights, yule log) that were co-opted from pagans.

I'm not religious at all and I'm raising my kids with Christmas. But I'd be hard pressed to assume that anyone should do the same if their beliefs don't jive with christmas stuff.

Except for the parts (tree, lights) that were co-opted from pagans.

Which I know. There's a lot about Easter that's co-opted from pagans, too. I'm just saying (as a firm agnostic) that Christmas has always felt like a Christian holiday in the larger American context, even though my non-religious family celebrates it.

I've never heard my dad say that Catholics aren't Christians. I guess he feels that they stray from... the word of God in the Bible, or something.

The Catholic bible has more books in it than the Protestant bible does -- that's one point of contention.

Then there's the tricky bit about the difference between what Catholic doctrine says versus what Protestant doctrine says about what actually happens when the communion host is consecrated by the priest. Catholics believe in transubstantiation, which means that it literally becomes the body of Christ, no shit, something that freaks out every Catholic schoolkid making their First Communion. Except the Bart Simpson-esque ones, I'm sure. Protestants believe in (I think I have the correct term) consubstantation, which is a little more metaphysical in that it means that Christ's *presence* is somehow a part of the communion host, without it actually *becoming* the body of Christ.

(At this point, I'm sure at least 4 Buffistas who know WAY more about theology are going to rip apart my explanation point by point, but at least I gave it a shot.)

Then there's the whole bit where Catholics do worship Mary and other saints, which Protestants generally don't. I've heard it called "idol worship" by nasty Protestants.

Well, if I'm going to write a letter to Santa, I'd probably write something like, Dear Santa, when I grow up, can I look like Christina Hendricks?

Pretty please?

Love,

Me.

Good God, but that woman is gorgeous.