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I don't see how it's any more of a made up or commercialized holiday than any of the rest of them. Is it because people feel obligated to give a gift?

I hate Secret Santa.

I don't like the idea that, at the time of year that people are already stretching their budgets, time and creativity to get gifts for loved ones, they are asked to spend MORE time, money and creativity to get gifts for acquaintences or even strangers.

When my kids were young, they were expected to get gifts for classmates. Our family had NO money, and were sometimes the recipients of community programs that buy gifts and dinners for poor families, and there was NO way we could afford to participate. That was really embarrassing for my kids, and for me when I was expected to participate in some of these.

Often several groups, such as work, clubs, teams etc would be running these things and at ten or twenty bucks a pop, for several family members, the tab could easily run into a hundred bucks or more expectation from one family.

On top of that there are people who don't even celebrate Christmas because of religious affiliation or lack there of.

I'm not trying to be Scrooge, just trying to be practical. Secret Santa never added to the fun of the holidays for me, it was something I dreaded that felt like an extra burden when I least needed one.

How do you feel about Secret Santa? Does it make your holiday more fun?

People often put a cross, marker, and artificial flowers along the highway at the site of a fatal accident, to honor and remember those lost in the tragedy. Today I passed such a marker, but it was for a horse killed in an accident, There was a cross on it, and I wondered how Christians would react to that.

I am a long time member of the pagan community, but each year get a bit puzzled by so called "Yule" observances, that look, feel and smell a whole lot like Christmas (and even fall on the same date) I know that pagans often say that Christians ripped off their holidays, and that many Christmas traditions began in pagan faiths, but what about when it goes the other way?

I mean, on one forum I belong to, someone is trying to guilt us into participating in secret santa for pagan kids!

So, it is OK for us to "borrow" Christmas when it suits us, but get all snippy that they borrowed our holidays first. Or is it Ok for pagans to have their pagan things and also whatever other holidays float their boat?

I can't feel guilty about not buying a kid a gift for a holiday they supposedly don't observe from a religion neither they nor I practice.

What do you think?

There is so much pressure and expense at the holidays, I hate when I and my children are expected to take part in "Secret Santa" gift exchanges at work, school, sports teams, clubs, etc. I don't see the point in everyone adding more stress and spending more money to buy a silly gift for someone they don't even know well. I always get stupid gifts I can't use, and I find the entire charade pointless.

With the economy the way it is I urge people to think twice before they suggest another "Secret Santa" for their church, scout group, etc. I really feel it's gotten entirely out of control.

I hear many people say that the "in love" feelings and sexual desire fizzle out in a few years, as a matter of course. I'm married almost 25 years and I haven't found that to be the case, and I was wondering what the norm is.

do people expect to not feel "in love" and feel lusty for one another after a few years?

But they also tell me that Satan and his demons were angels that had been in the presence of God and still chose to go their own way...so, if it is possible to choose against God even when one sees his glory, why does he not show more of it (enough to make a convincing case for himself) with more people?

Some people really could use a double shot of divine love in their lives.

Many religions seemed to be based on hidden 'truths' revealed to a specific person or culture, rather on things that are self evident to all. And much of theology seems to be excuses made by humans for the erratic behavior or lack of action on the part of their deities.

I tend to feel the more explaining a group has to do for why their deity doesn't show themselves or use their power, the less credibility they have.

Is it reasonable of me to expect ultimate truth to be self evident rather than needing a lot of people and mind bending to explain itself?

I know there are lots of things in the Universe we can't see or sense with our normal senses, are these hidden supernatural truths just an extension of these?

My family wants to add a kitten to our lives. We have two dogs and are homing our son's young cat for a year. We own our own home, our youngest child is 16, all our pets are neutered/spayed and up to date on health care and vaccinations, but I keep having "issues" with Humane Societies, shelters, rescues, etc!

One accidentally adopted our kitten to someone else after we had waited two weeks for it, another turned us down because one of our dogs is a chow mix (it is NOT an aggressive dog), another because we lived in a different county.

I would like to support the local shelters and rescues, but am getting worn out.

We have a record as responsible pet owners, and these shelters claim these pets need to be saved, rescued, rehomed...but the way they are treating us is making us think "pet shop"..

Do you think we are automatically a "bad risk" because we have a dog that may have some chow in his backround? We adopted him from a shelter 5 years ago, and his parentage is uncertain.

And in your tradition or personally, what is the meaning of this holiday for you?

so why do Catholics keep telling me my religion is entirely false and nothing but lies?

Today on the radio I heard a man tell of how a hardened criminal came to his faith, and he provided that as proof of his religion, since it had a transforming effect on that man's life.

My faith, pantheism, didn't just transform my life, it saved it! And I am sure many other pagans have inspiring conversion stories as well.

If that is what passes as proof of validity...it may help some others here to read about them.

This can be a big thing or a little even personal thing, but which part of your practice has grown very dear to you, and why?

Do you consider a religious belief or practice more authentic and valid if it is old? Does standing the test of time matter? Do you create your own practices to suit your needs?

I thought it might be fun to know how we include our faiths/or lack thereof, in our lives.

How does it fit into the economy of grace? Are blessings received for doing so? It is done in order to please God?

I think most Christians would agree that Christ gave much to the world through the way he lived and what he taught about God and the kingdom of God, and also through salvation which was accomplished through his death. Does one have greater importance than the other?

for the past several years I have watched Christians get very upset that some businesses display "Happy Holiday" signs and have their employees use that as a greeting to customers, rather than Merry Christmas.

Personally, I don't think "Merry" is a greeting that implies any faith or religious respect to Christmas, it is a secular greeting. Why not "holy" or "Blessed" Christmas instead? Merry Christmas sounds very santa and reindeers to me, it does not bring the image of the nativity to mind.

Do Christians feel that "Merry Christmas" sufficiently honors the significance of the holiday?