Why Christians don't want to talk about religious privilege

[Major Nikon]

The idea of social privilege is poorly understood and the term is frequently misused. Religious privilege is an excellent way to demonstrate how privilege manifests itself, because while a white person can never truly put themselves in the place of a person of color, a Christian can certainly decide not to be a Christian at any moment.

Case in point. I was at an automobile dealership last December and I noticed the saleswoman wore a Star of David around her neck. When we were done I wished her happy holidays and she appreciated the sentiment. I could have just as easily said "Happy Chanukah" although I probably would not because that might lead her to believe I was also Jewish. If she had been wearing a cross I might have just as well have said happy holidays, or I might have said merry Christmas. So let's say I noticed she was wearing a Star of David and I said merry Christmas to her. Does that make me an asshole? The answer is maybe it does. So how about if she was wearing no religious symbol at all and I said merry Christmas to her. Does that make me an asshole? The answer is maybe it does.

If you are insensitive to someone without realizing it, you aren't an asshole. If you are intentionally insensitive to someone, now you are guilty of blatant rudeness and there's a good chance you are an asshole. Certainly some people are proud of their assholery, but most people just don't like to entertain the possibility they might be an asshole. Entertaining that possibility is understandably uncomfortable to most as even most assholes don't think they are assholes.

Most people who aren't Christian will tell you it doesn't bother them if someone tells them merry Christmas. I certainly fall into that category. I realize people who do it have the best of intentions and I don't think they are all assholes. The thing is, more people today are starting to realize how privilege manifests itself and how the people who don't have it are constantly reminded throughout the course of their life that they don't have it and probably never will.

Many businesses are starting to realize this and are instructing their employees to avoid exercising privilege whenever it's practical. The reason is not so much because they want to be politically correct, but rather they understand if they are insensitive to their customers even if they aren't consciously offended they may feel subconsciously uncomfortable and those who feel uncomfortable are more likely to just go somewhere else. So the Hannitys of this world (who most decidedly is an asshole) reads this as "War on Christmas!". No, it's not a "War on Christmas". It's just businesses making sound business decisions because they don't want to lose customers for no good reason.

So now let's say you're a fan of Hannity and you buy into this obvious bullshit about a "War on Christmas", and you now intentionally decide to go around saying "merry Christmas" to everyone regardless of faith not really caring if it makes them uncomfortable or not because after all you have a "right" to exercise your "freedom" of religion. Yes, you do have freedom of religion. You also have the freedom to be an asshole and you've just graduated from being just unintentionally insensitive to being an asshole. There's a difference between having privilege and insisting you exercise that privilege whenever possible just because you can.

That's how privilege works and that's why people who have it should be aware of how it works, regardless of whether entertaining the notion of whether or not you're an asshole makes you feel uncomfortable.

[Ohiogal]

1. Very good piece

You are so right that there is a big difference between being unintentionally insensitive and intentionally insensitive.

Intentionally insensitive people are generally conservatives, (in my experience). Many of them do go around saying "Merry Christmas!" not because they really want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, but because they want to assert the fact that their beliefs should be dominant over all others and must constantly remind everyone of that fact.

It's only good business practice NOT to be insensitive to your paying customers, which is why sales clerks will say Happy Holidays to everyone. But do the Privileged Ones "get" this" ..... I think not.

Trouble is, the rock headed hard right wing nuts always have to cry about being the victim here.

[MineralMan]

2. It's not what you say. It's how you say it.

When someone wishes me a "Merry Christmas," or, more seasonally, a "Happy Easter," I hear their words and recognize their intent from they way they say it. If they're filled with holiday spirit, I'm happy to wish them the same. Since I'm non-religious, I tend to use the "Happy Holidays" form if I'm initiating the greeting. I mean it, too. I wish everyone a happy whatever they celebrate.

In other cases, some people hurl their greetings at you with a sneer or with a chip on their shoulder. For those people, I have no greeting at all in return. I've had people do that after hearing my cheerful "Happy Holidays" greeting. I am simply wishing them a happy time in whatever they are celebrating.

It's how you say it that matters, not the words you use, I think.

[Mariana]

4. Those people who scowl and snarl "Merry Christmas!"

most likely really feel persecuted when someone says "Happy Holidays" to them.

You know what's funny? I was reading some old Providence newspapers, following a story about one of my ancestors. Part of the story took place in December 1895. You know what I saw? The word "holiday" was all over the place. More often than not, events were referred to as "holiday party" and ads read "holiday sale" and so on. When Christmas in particular was mentioned in a headline or an ad, it was almost always abbreviated Xmas, which many Christians nowadays do not like.

[MineralMan]

5. That whole "Happy Holidays" hate is recently constructed

and ugly. Some people are just plain offended that anyone is not a Christian. And those who are offended like that are not very damned good Christians, themselves.

[Major Nikon]

6. There isn't a war on Christmas, but there is a war on secularism

The war on secularism is much more insidious as it paves the way to theocracy.

[MineralMan]

7. Yes, and on all religions that aren't Christianity, too.

Theocracy is a real, present risk for the United States. Christians who do not want it should take notice and start fighting against Christians who do want it. I've seen no evidence that indicates a willingness to do that, though.

It's frightening, really. Christian bigotry and lust for power is on the ascendant right now. Alarm is warranted.

[Mariana]

8. I think a lot more Christians want it than let on.

Oh, most of them don't want the US to resemble the Republic of Gilead (although some certainly do), but an awful lot of them are just fine with having the government promote religious ideas, fund religious groups, and enact laws that enforce their particular religious practices on the infidels.

[MineralMan]

11. I'm not sure about that, but I'm sure

That plenty would not object to that in any serious way. That's even more frightening to me, really.

[Mariana]

14. Not only wouldn't they object

They would viciously attack the people who did object. Look what happens whenever someone brings suit to make a public school or a municipal government abide by the law.

The story that really makes my blood run cold is the Christians' reaction to Jessica Ahlquist's suit in Rhode Island. I know she's far from the first student to receive credible death threats from Christians, and to be attacked publicly by Christian community and religious leader. But who would have expected it to happen in New England? And right here on DU, we have a Christian who mocks people like Ms. Ahlquist.

[ms liberty]

3. Really well said. K&R. n/t

[guillaumeb]

9. The word privilege is much overused in my opinion.

Males, whites, Christians, college educated, Muslims, Jews, atheists, and many other categories all have privilege to one degree or another.

In a matriarchal society, women have privilege.
In a patriarchal society, men have privilege.
In an officially atheist society, atheists have privilege.
In a Christian society, Christians have privilege.
In a Marxist society, Marxists have privilege.

That different societies privilege different groups is an aspect of human existence.

[Major Nikon]

10. Your beside the point opinion is noted

However, it does provide evidence of the point of the OP

[MineralMan]

12. It is also poorly recognized by those who have it.

Ironically enough...

[guillaumeb]

13. Do you recognize yours?

[MineralMan]

17. I do. And I check my privileges frequently.

I've posted a number of times about my unearned privileges.

[trotsky]

20. #Whataboutism n/t

[struggle4progress]

15. Almost everybody in the US celebrates Christmas, regardless of religious

affiliation or non-affiliation

From a secular pov, it's an almost universal holiday here

I expect some of the Puritans, who wanted to ban it, are turning over in their narrow graves

[Mariana]

16. Christmas is a secular holiday.

A national holiday is a holiday for everyone in the nation, regardless of religious affiliation. I believe Christmas is also a state holiday in every state. There are a few Christians who resent the fact that non-Christians celebrate Christmas, but they don't seem terribly interested in changing its status so it is no longer recognized by the government.

[MineralMan]

18. Yes, it is, and it's the day we worship Santa Claus

and getting free stuff. Who does not love the jolly, rotund Christmas elf and getting presents?

[Major Nikon]

19. One thing by itself is no big deal

Cumulatively all of it adds up. It's the constant reminder you're on the outside looking in. That's the way privilege works and that's why those who have it often can't or won't understand what it's like not to have it.

[Lordquinton]

21. From a Christian perspective it is

From a non-christian perspective, it's a reminder that your holiday isn't. Part of privilege is that you can't speak for those who don't have it.

You can't speak from a secular point of view if you're theistic, that's inherent in privilege.