I hate religious Xmas carols!

[Zhade]

(Christians, you might want to back away - while I'm not ragging on you in this thread, I am irritated with the overbearing nature of how your beliefs are broadcast everywhere at this time of year. Fair warning, this might not be your favorite thread.)

I know this is total Grinch mode, but I seriously get tired of religious carols at this time of year.

"Silent Night" - pure propaganda, and even if there WAS any evidence there was a Jesus (Josephus doesn't count, even biblical scholars consider it a forgery), his alleged birth wasn't in December!

"God and sinners reconciled" - bah! As if all humanity is flawed compared to some mythological ideal!

Don't get me wrong - I like the nonreligious carols. But this constant stream of "the story of Christmas rulez!" gets old.

I'll give you an example: I was in a Japanese marketplace (I'm assuming most here realize Christianity makes up a minuscule percentage of Japanese-held belief systems), and the local radio station announcer came over the p.a. with a bullshit v.o. ad about the "history" of "the Nativity Story" movie.

I don't go around reminding people that there's no evidence for the Christmas story actually being true, but MAN, I get tired of the intense pushiness of the Official Christmas Story in the U.S. during the holidays (which are shared by all, not just Christians).

I'm sure this will NOT be a popular thread, except maybe to turn me into a roasted chestnut, but I had to get that off my chest.

That said, season's greetings to all.

[lizziegrace]

1. Christmas Carols are religious songs

You'll find all of them in the Methodist hymnal and I'm sure all others. If you removed all the religious Christmas carols from the playlists, you'd have 5 or 6 songs. I don't believe that it's Christians who are cramming our beliefs down your throat. It's the how the holiday and music have evolved.

Please, by all means, write other music for this season. I'm sick of the same 25 songs played over and over since Thanksgiving. (And I'll be playing in Christmas Eve services at my church.)

[benny05]

2. I actually like them

But I'm not religious. and I've waited to play them in my house or listen to them in other places until tomorrow.

[hedgehog]

3. Me, I hate hearing religious carols trivialized by being played

in the grocery store, the K-mart, the mall etc. I don't mind Christmas trees everywhere, but don't treat my manger as a decoration by setting it up between Rudolph and the Grinch. Put it in church or on the family mantle where it belongs!

The best story I've heard this season - the South Carolina counties that are insisting on keeping their Blue laws closing stores on Sunday morning lest people skip morning services Dec 24 to finish up their Christmas shopping. If someone would rather shop than go to church, let them.

[cwydro]

4. I'm not very religious; I was

raised by an agnostic and an atheist. I'm still undecided. But I actually love the religious carols. My first girlfriend was a Catholic and I loved going to Christmas Mass. I guess the pagan in me just loves the ceremony and beauty of it. Go figure. I really like all Christmas music, well...not the really modern crap. But I just like the sound of some of the old carols.

[Lyric]

9. I agree with everything you said.

I too was raised in a non-religious household, and I love *some* of the religious carols. I attended a Midnight Mass with a Catholic family member once, and was awestruck at the ceremony and loveliness of it all.

I don't like all religious carols. I only like them when sung by a Choir, with a traditional music arrangement. I loathe and despise all the rock/pop/country artists who insist on putting out "Christmas Albums" every year---ick. Give me the Vienna Boy's Choir, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, or the Red Army Choir *any* day.

[cwydro]

12. Yep.

I guess I'm just a traditionalist in that way too. Though I will admit to a fondness for "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer". For some reason, that song always just cracks me up...

[ieoeja]

43. Ditto ob the choir!

And the rest, for that matter. I am a devout atheist, but I still love the whole Peace on Earth and []Love Thy Neighbor theme.

Sadly, I learned from a Christian friend today that she and hers do NOT believe in those themes. The exact quote as she explained her sister calling me an "ASSHOLE" for not being a Christian was, "it's not about our behavior that makes us a christian, it's who we believe in".

I found that terribly disappointing. I almost prefer those who call me evil and immoral. While they are way off base on what defines morality, at least they consider morality to be a goal of their religion. The above friends apparently consider morality unimportant altogether.

[tigereye]

21. Midnight Mass is beautiful

even though I am no longer a practicing Cathlolic, I still miss it. I love all the old carols, too.

The pagan winter festival part of Christmas is cool, and the celebration of hope (in whatever form people view it) is fine as well.

[Bridget Burke]

64. The Puritans hated Catholicism for its Pagan influences.

(Well, that's one of the reasons.) Many of us think those influences are some of the best things about The Church. (Lapsed Catholic here.)

Besides, irritating Puritans is fun!

[RoyGBiv]

5. I am not religious ...

Not in an "organized religion" sort of way in any case ...

But, _Away in a Manger_ sung by Elinor Donahue and Andy Griffith on TAGS's one and only Christmas special works me over. It's more the setting and story and what I know about the filming than the song, but whenever I hear it, I think of Barney as Santa and Ben Weaver as the "Scrooge" part. That whole episode is what Christmas is to me, and aside from the song, it's rather non-religious.

[Chiyo-chichi]

74. That's a good one.

I need to dig up my old videotape and watch that episode.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. For the most part, it isn't Christians pushing Christmas carols in stores

It's store owners--who may be Christian or some other religion or atheists--playing what conventional wisdom tells them will get the customers into a buying mood. That's all it is. If they thought that playing polkas or gangster rap or the would inspire shoppers to buy more, they'd play them over the Muzak system.

If one attends a traditional, liturgical church, late November and early December are not Christmas carol time. One sings Advent hymns and anthems and no Christmas carols until the Christmas Eve evening service. But unlike the department stores, one sings Christmas carols in church till January 6.

Influenced by the ubiquity of Christmas carols in shopping malls, uninformed church members ask to sing them in church in early December, but the clergy usually say no.

I don't understand how people can hear the same nine carols over and over in stores and on the radio (Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, The First Noel, Angels We Have Heard on High, Away in a Manger) and still beg to sing them in church, as if they haven't gotten enough of them.

Besides, I've really come to dislike Silent Night and Away in a Manger.

[Zhade]

15. Gangsta Polka might be THE holiday draw!

[Hardrada]

53. Psallite Unigenito, Es ist Ein Ros'Entsprungen, O Tannenbaum,

Personent Hodie, In Dulci Jubilo, Resonet in Laudibus, some of my favorite Christmas music as long as we bring up Tradition. I also like All My Heart This Night Rejoices and Wachet Auf, ruft uns die Stimme. (These from my Lutheran and Lutheran college background. We had great choirs, still do.)

[rug]

7. How do you feel about the National Anthem at ball games?

[Zhade]

24. Funny you should ask, as I work for DirecTV Sports!

I'm not a fan of the Anthem, but it's more opinion than "this is the story that you must believe is true even though there's no proof outside of this song that it happened".

[Swede]

8. Christmas carols fill me with nastalgia.

But I can see if you don't like them,how they can be a irritant.

[begin_within]

10. Then maybe you'll like some of these...

All are MP3 files, ranging in size from 564k to 2.4 Mb.

Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck 12 Days of Christmas

If Bette Davis sang Feliz Navidad

O Come All Ye Faithful (Slim Spincter)

Santa Wants Some Lovin'

Steve Martin and Paul Simon doing Silver Bells

The Restroom Door Said

Walkin' Round in Women's Underwear

What's It To Ya

White Christmas by the Jingle Cats

[ghostsofgiants]

11. I hate whiny people who complain about silly shit like this.

I am an atheist, so yes, I do believe that there are legitimate criticisms to be made, but the two things that piss me off more than anything about the whole debate are broad brush generalizations, and complaining over silly benign shit like this.

Besides, even if it is just a fictitious story, "Silent Night" is just telling that story. It's the believers who think it's true, not the song itself. Just take it with a grain of salt and relax, enjoy the holiday spirit. (I say spirit in a completely non-supernatural, non-religious sense, of course. Just had to be clear there. Can never be too careful around here sometimes.)

[Zhade]

16. You hate ME, or the complaining?

Little strong to hate me, I think, for not agreeing with your opinion.

[ghostsofgiants]

22. The complaining.

I was being (or at least attempting to be) somewhat ironic.

[Zhade]

23. Couldn't really be ironic, since I never said I hated people who liked carols.

But yeah, I was complaining. I wasn't exactly happy to post it, but to me it's not a "minor" thing.

To me, it's akin to being told over and over that the story of Jack and the Beanstalk is so very important this time of year. Annoying in its repetitiveness, frustrating in its pushing of a story as fact that has never been proven to be true.

And yeah, I know it pisses people off, and that sucks.

[ghostsofgiants]

27. It'd be ironic in that I tend to decry people who say "I hate Christians" or whatever

I realize that's not what you said. It was more a joke on my pesonality than anything else. Whatever. Shitty joke on my behalf. Not really important.

But personally, I think it's silly to get up in arms over something that's intended to make people feel good. Like I said, I'm an atheist. I don't believe in the nativity story either. But I really don't see why it's worth getting up in arms over.

But oh well, at least you reminded me of this episode of Clone High, so SOME good came out of it all, haha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVrJcpLXHuY (Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df95EKCreME (Part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFDpFrb-Z44 (Part 3)

[JVS]

13. meh, change the channel

[Zhade]

17. Yeah, because I can do that in a grocery store.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

14. Yeah, those get irritating.

OMG--we're all doomed to hell! Just a friendly reminder from your loving evangelical nutwing musicians!

[kwassa]

18. Most Western art was religious art for centuries

I guess there is a lot of art you can't look at or listen to, if you dislike religious messages. Most of these tell stories that have some universal qualities, however.

I usually respond more to melodies and harmonies, anyways. Some carols are just achingly beautiful songs. Most of the ones I like are the very old ones, of course. I respond to hymns the same way; it is rarely the lyric that moves me, but the melodies and arrangments. They have better bass parts, too.

Most modern pop Christmas songs are both bad and wildly overplayed.

[Zhade]

25. I can appreciate the artistry, if not the art itself.

And of course, not ALL art was religious throughout history; that's just untrue.

[Hardrada]

57. Some modern "classical" ones suck too.

[Bridget Burke]

65. A Jewish friend visited Rome & had a great time.

But she was disappointed that the Vatican Musuem was full of Christian art! I haven't been there, but I could have told her that....

[Mad_Dem_X]

72. Totally agree

I absolutely love to hear "Silent Night," "O Holy Night," and "We Three Kings," among other old carols. The modern ones are mostly dreck.

[Kali]

19. they sorta remind me of saying the pledge in kindergarten

It was just rhythmic noise - who knows the lyrics?

[Ariana Celeste]

20. Remember Jesus while you buy, buy, BUY!

[Courtesy Flush]

60. WWSD?

[bigwillq]

26. NEWS FLASH!

Christmas is a religious holiday. Whether you believe in the Christmas story, Jesus' birth, etc..etc.etc.. (I don't go to church so I am not offended by this thread)

but the reason, whether it's true or not, that there is a Christmas has to do to one religions beliefs.

So it's natural that Christmas songs are about religion.

[ghostsofgiants]

28. Go back to the North Pole, hippie!

[bigwillq]

29. LOL!

I can't yet. I have presents to deliver!

Do you get my point though? Christmas IS a religious holiday.

The OP says they like the non-religious songs but then goes on to say how silent night is propaganda!!!!

The non-religious songs are all propaganda. And all these decorations.....how tacky!

I can see religious decorations because that's really what the holiday is suppose to be about, depending on your beliefs.
But all these people that decorate the whole house, barn, shack, car........puhleeze!

Everything else about it has become so commercialized.

[ghostsofgiants]

30. Oh, I absolutely agree with you.

[Zhade]

33. Um, duh? But it's not the only religious holiday at this time of year.

If anything, that Christian carols overshadow every other religion's celebration is MORE offensive to me than the carols themselves.

[bigwillq]

35. So turn off your radio.

What do you want from me?



or go write a song about other religions that relate to t his holiday season.

[Mad_Dem_X]

73. Yep.

That's what it comes down to, like it or not.

[Redstone]

31. So just ignore it, for Christ's sake (pun intended). I'm about the least religious person you'll

ever meet, and I don't get worked up about this subject.

Who cares? I'd rather bitch about something WORTH bitching about.

Redstone

[Zhade]

34. I didn't realize I wasn't allowed to have my own feelings and thoughts.

I'll be sure to check in with you next time I feel like complaining about something, to get your permission.

[Redstone]

38. Hey, you post an opinion, you gotta expect to get opinions in response.

Including opinions which may vary from yours. Lots of different people here on DU.

You don't want that, don't post. It's pretty simple.

Redstone

[Zhade]

39. Oh, I know to expect opinion, even controlling ones.

I can still react with due annoyance.

[Redstone]

41. "Even controlling ones." Ooohkay. Let's play the "controlling" card.

I'm done with this.

Redstone

[Left Is Write]

49. Redstone's posted opinion was a suggestion, not "controlling."

[Manifestor_of_Light]

32. do this for amusement...

Sing "God Rest Ye Merry gentlemen" and any other Xmas songs that fit, to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun". It's fun!!! We do that at our Thanksgiving Dinner at our Unitarian fellowship.

[SPKrazy]

36. Not A Big Fan Either

this year especially!

Christmas carols are tradition, but it's one tradition that is somewhat intrusive on other's beliefs or non beliefs.

Sorry Zhade!

[StrongbadTehAwesome]

37. Really? I kinda wish I felt that way, actually.

I'm an agnostic atheist now, but grew up Lutheran, and to me it's just a matter of musical talent. Lyrics aside, the beauty of "O Holy Night" just blows "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" out of the water. And nearly all other non-religious songs are the same, IMO.

So now, I sing them in their original language. Silent Night in German, O Holy Night in French, etc. The words are still religious, but it doesn't squick my brain.

[Redstone]

42. Stille Nacht, Heiliges Nacht,

Alles schlaft, einsam wacht...

Redstone

[Hardrada]

54. Nur das traute hochheilige Paar

Holder Knabe mit lockigem Haar
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

(sung, if I could, in the tenor voice of my youth).

Froehliche Weihnachtzeit!

[JVS]

58. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland,

Der Jungfrauen Kind erkannt,
Daß sich wunder' alle Welt,
Gott solch Geburt ihm bestellt.

[Hardrada]

61. I love that one too. I think that is one Martin Luther reworked

from a medieval hymn.

Und ein gutes neues Jahr!

[neebob]

40. I hate all Christmas songs!

Pass the arsenic sauce, please.

[Zavulon]

70. I do, too.

No exceptions. And when the time machine is invented, I go back and beat all of the people responsible for "The Little Drummer Boy" to a pulp.

[nini]

44. oops... I read cards instead of carols..

zzzzzzzzzzzzz






I like religious carols because it reminds me of midnight mass as a kid. While I understand your point on some levels, Christmas is supposed to be about Christ's birth so I'd imagine it would be tough to eliminate all references to religion from them.

[Richardo]

45. HAHAHAHA HAHAHA HAHAHAHA HAHAHAHA

"I hate all the patriotic songs on the Fourth of July!"
"I hate all the love songs on Valentine's Day!"
"I hate all the Halloween songs on Halloween!"

You're too much. I'll look for this post on O'Reilly tonight.

[Hardrada]

55. Halloween Carols are my favorite!!

[Richardo]

66. "Monster Mash" ad infinitum

[Mojambo]

46. I don't mind them occasionally, but Americans get drenched in this shit

I'm with you, FUCK Christmas Carols.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

47. I like "We Three Kings."

I don't know what it is, maybe it's that 3/8 time signature.

It just sounds great and that chorus is so open for improvization that you never hear the same song twive.

[Hardrada]

56. We Three Kings of Orion Tar

Smoking on a rubber cigar!

Another old favorite is the one that includes Round John Virgin.

[Arugula Latte]

48. I agree.

Enough of this crap! If it were kept to a few days before X-mas, that's one thing. We are immersed in the imagery and songs (no matter how annoying) high holiday of the BabyJesusCult from before Halloween. There's no escape.

(Now, may I also say that I think "O Holy Night" and "We Three Kings" and "Wenceslas" have nice melodies. There. I admitted it. I try to admire the melody and separate out the religious imagery contained therein, which is nearly impossible.)

[Left Is Write]

50. "BabyJesusCult"?

Yes, I think stores and radios play Christmas songs too early, generally. I wish retailers and the airwaves would keep Christmas to December and not earlier.

However, I like Christmas music, I celebrate Christmas, I consider myself a Christian, but I don't subscribe to anything remotely resembling a "BabyJesusCult."

[youthere]

51. I'm a Xtian , not offended, and SICK of them too...

well, not all of them..I'm sick of every advent service the SAME songs are sung all the time. We went to my kids sunday School Xmas program last night and it was basically the same flippin' songs they sing every flippin' year. Big Flippin' YAWWWWN.
And quite honestly, after having three kids, I can attest that "Silent Night" is a load of shit..there is no such thing with a newborn.LOL

[johnnie]

52. "Peace on Earth, Good will toward man"

Pfffftt!! What a load of fucking bullshit that one is!

[Tony_Illinois]

59. WTF?

I don't understand your core issue. You hate the songs--I get it. Why do you hate Jesus?

[Rhythm]

62. i'm sicker of that "Little Drummer Boy" crap than i am of the truly religious carols...

I'm agnostic on my most faithful days, but the songs that get on my nerves the most this time of year are things like that blasted 'Drummer Boy' song, or the 500 versions of 'Silver Bells' that I hear every day, no matter what station I seem to be on.

Oh well... at least I've been spared "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" thusfar...
*fingers crossed*

[benny05]

63. I like funny ones too

I guess you don't like the Mackinzie Bros version of the "12 Days of Xmas" either...?

[Bridget Burke]

67. Pa Rum Pa Pa PUM! (thanks for the ear-worm!)

Here's a truly beloved classic:

Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash., an' Kalamazoo!
Nora's freezin' on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!

More verses here: www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_188.html

[Hardrada]

71. O Light a candle for wonderful Walt Kelly

I loved Pogo in high school but no one else "got it" about that comic strip. Memories!

[Bridget Burke]

68. Guess that's your Cross to Bear....

(Heh heh.)

Christmas Music is definitely overused in stores. But this Lapsed Catholic likes the religious carols. Especially if they're in Latin!

[Kerrytravelers]

69. Although I come from a Christian background, I can understand how you might feel.

Personally, I grow tired of seeing Christmas stuff in stores from October through December. Soon, I fear that "Christmas in July" won't just be an old summer camp tradition. I prefer my holidays separate, meaning, for me personally, Halloween in October, Thanksgiving in November and Christmas in December.

And, personally, I object to the cheapening of faith. Now, I know that's not your issue, but it's mine. T-shirts that say "Got Jesus" and this movement to make Jesus "cool" and "hip" is sickening. It's this attempt to be cute and coy while attempting to take over the world for Christ that offends me to my core. I no more want my religion push down your throat than I would want you to take away my right to my faith. When looking at the two, I think this shoddy attempt at domination is a bit worse than playing traditional Christmas carols in stores, but that's just me.

I would pick my battles. There are some pretty dark and terrifying things being done by these fundy fruitcakes and by the likes of mean-spirited liars like bill o'liely than playing carols in public.

[WCGreen]

75. I love the religious songs because they were composed with passion...

It gives them a special zing that the secular one don't...

And the religious song bring memories of past holidays and good times...

I am not religious and know that the whole Idea of Christmas was developed to co-opt pagan holidays centered around the winter solstice...

So what....

Just enjoy the music, basque in the good tidings, and let your yule log burn brightly....

[deepthought42]

76. The non-stop Xmas music is too much

And working in a mall this time of year I can't do much about it. Try to block it out, but it still annoying. Talk about over-saturation! I used to love Xmas music, but I've gotten so tired of hearing it ad nauseum...it's lost all meaning. If they played an Xmas song every now and then, you know, mix some seasonal music into the normal, boring, pop music they already play in the mall, I wouldn't mind at all. And the Xmas albums pop artists put out these days...:vomit:

The only Xmas music I can stand these days is South Park...lol

[windlight]

77. the whole time i was reading this thread

I had the ear bug:

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
YULEtide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight

------------------------------

And of course my Fav:

------------------------------
So this is Christmas
What have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

So this is Christmas
Hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
A happy new year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

-------------------------------

In any case, I'd rather hear those then the silent night and away in the manger... i guess this time of year reminds me of how non religious the family was 11 months out of the year and then this...