I thought Christians would be more offended by the gross commercialization of Christ's birth, than by that same gross commercialization not giving credit where credit's due.

The Gap add I saw last night even listed 'Solstice'...

As soon as I saw that ad I thought 'the AFA is gonna have a fit about this.'

I'll be offended until they included Saturnalia.

Soymilk: I thought Christians would be more offended by the gross commercialization of Christ's birth, than by that same gross commercialization not giving credit where credit's due.

I already read the article, how about an original opinion?

Can we please go back to advertising that is just "here is what we have to sell you, we think you might like it, please give us your money"?

jaylectricity: Soymilk: I thought Christians would be more offended by the gross commercialization of Christ's birth, than by that same gross commercialization not giving credit where credit's due.

I already read the article, how about an original opinion?

You must be new here....

Andyr2120: jaylectricity: Soymilk: I thought Christians would be more offended by the gross commercialization of Christ's birth, than by that same gross commercialization not giving credit where credit's due.

I already read the article, how about an original opinion?

You must be new here....

Just bustin' balls.

The Mississippi-based American Family Assn. last week issued a fatwa jihad against Gap Inc.

Now it is correct.

I'm glad the article used "fatwa," since the AFA would be doing exactly the same things, only on different days, if North America had been settled by Muslins. They are home-grown hooples, the same brainless bozoes who exist in every country on earth, regardless of race, creed or religion.

/drat that "muslin" meme, I can't stop using it.

oldebayer: I'm glad the article used "fatwa," since the AFA would be doing exactly the same things, only on different days, if North America had been settled by Muslins. They are home-grown hooples, the same brainless bozoes who exist in every country on earth, regardless of race, creed or religion.


Indeed, drawing parallels among our respective fundies is the first step towards recognizing that it's a universal problem.

More proof that the right's rage is done with no reality necessary. They probably wrote the denunciation last year and just waited for the ad to be released.

Nogrhi: The Gap add I saw last night even listed 'Solstice'...

it must have been the one mentioned in tfa

The Mississippi-based American Family Assn. last week issued a fatwa against Gap Inc.

Pretty much says it all right there. Their spokesman's name is Buddy. I guess they didn't pay the extortion make a donation.

/X-tians ALWAYS get classy around Christmas

You know an organization is full of self-important farkstick douche bags when the word "Family" is anywhere in the organization's title.

Happy Holidays!

Were Don and Doris Fisher ever of the Christmas crowd, anyway?

So was the the word omitted? Or did you repeat the "the" to make up for it?

Note to Christians: not every US Citizen celebrates Christmas. Advertisers recognize this.

Nogrhi: The Gap add I saw last night even listed 'Solstice'...

And that's what the majority of us are objecting to. Christmas and the entire Holiday season is supposed to be about the birth of Christ - it's right there in the name - but instead it's being turned into this amalgam of Christ, Buddha, Muhammad, non-Deities, and God only knows what else. All that serves to distract from the fact that Christmas is about Christ and nothing else. Everything else is derivative of that.

Presents? As the Three Wise Men
Trees? To remind us of Christ's everliving spirit
Nativity scenes? Self-explanatory

Kudos to The Gap for finally realizing that real Americans want to hear the word Christmas, but I condemn them for wrapping our holiday up into those other fake holidays.

Gap has Old Navy and Banana Republic? Weren't those all competing stores the last time I was in a mall?

The blonde in that commercial gives me funny feeling in my pants.

bberg: Nogrhi: The Gap add I saw last night even listed 'Solstice'...

And that's what the majority of us are objecting to. Christmas and the entire Holiday season is supposed to be about the birth of Christ - it's right there in the name - but instead it's being turned into this amalgam of Christ, Buddha, Muhammad, non-Deities, and God only knows what else. All that serves to distract from the fact that Christmas is about Christ and nothing else. Everything else is derivative of that.

Presents? As the Three Wise Men
Trees? To remind us of Christ's everliving spirit
Nativity scenes? Self-explanatory

Kudos to The Gap for finally realizing that real Americans want to hear the word Christmas, but I condemn them for wrapping our holiday up into those other fake holidays.

.1/10

Should have excluded the bit about the tree for it to be believable.

I'm not a theologian but I think the Gospels are pretty clear that Jesus was no fan of merchants.

Is the writer of the article engaged in a competition where he's trying to say something more retarded than the AFA? Because, while I'd say that was a good attempt, that may be a losing endeavor.

Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus say anything against merchants in general, and I'm pretty sure even the craziest of the US christian splinter-factions don't either. He hated ursurers, sure, and he stated that the temple was no place for anything but worship... but he was all about the giving and receiving of gifts. Dude lived on charity for most of his life and encouraged giving all your spare stuff to the church or just other people in general.

No mention of Festivus, so fark the bunch of them.

bberg: Nogrhi: The Gap add I saw last night even listed 'Solstice'...

And that's what the majority of us are objecting to. Christmas and the entire Holiday season is supposed to be about the birth of Christ - it's right there in the name - but instead it's being turned into this amalgam of Christ, Buddha, Muhammad, non-Deities, and God only knows what else. All that serves to distract from the fact that Christmas is about Christ and nothing else. Everything else is derivative of that.

Presents? As the Three Wise Men
Trees? To remind us of Christ's everliving spirit
Nativity scenes? Self-explanatory

Kudos to The Gap for finally realizing that real Americans want to hear the word Christmas, but I condemn them for wrapping our holiday up into those other fake holidays.

To disrespect Christmas after santa died for our presents!

For Shame, Gap....for shame!



/presents!

Jim_Callahan: I'm not a theologian but I think the Gospels are pretty clear that Jesus was no fan of merchants.

Is the writer of the article engaged in a competition where he's trying to say something more retarded than the AFA? Because, while I'd say that was a good attempt, that may be a losing endeavor.

Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus say anything against merchants in general, and I'm pretty sure even the craziest of the US christian splinter-factions don't either. He hated ursurers, sure, and he stated that the temple was no place for anything but worship... but he was all about the giving and receiving of gifts. Dude lived on charity for most of his life and encouraged giving all your spare stuff to the church or just other people in general.

Matthew 21:12
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves

I wonder what you call people who sell and buy things? In a general manner of speaking...

Elzar: Jim_Callahan: I'm not a theologian but I think the Gospels are pretty clear that Jesus was no fan of merchants.

Is the writer of the article engaged in a competition where he's trying to say something more retarded than the AFA? Because, while I'd say that was a good attempt, that may be a losing endeavor.

Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus say anything against merchants in general, and I'm pretty sure even the craziest of the US christian splinter-factions don't either. He hated ursurers, sure, and he stated that the temple was no place for anything but worship... but he was all about the giving and receiving of gifts. Dude lived on charity for most of his life and encouraged giving all your spare stuff to the church or just other people in general.

Matthew 21:12
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves

I wonder what you call people who sell and buy things? In a general manner of speaking...

Now, I pray in a different pantheon, but I understood that passage to mean that commerce within a place of worship is crass, and Jesus personally found it so offensive he went "apeshiat"
Which is good for those guys, because Jesus was a pussy. Half the Norse pantheon would've killed everyone there and then destroyed the city.

Megain: Nogrhi: The Gap add I saw last night even listed 'Solstice'...

it must have been the one mentioned in tfa

I heard that too, and I smiled just a tiny bit because on the one hand it shows that secular people and holidays are gaining recognition, and on the other hand it's not that big of a farking deal whether or not The Gap acknowledges my beliefs.

The Mississippi-based...

...and you lost me.

Anybody with skills up for 'shopping a Santa hat on the 'This is an outrage!' guy?

We told Mr. Dobson we watched the commercial!

Nogrhi: The Gap add I saw last night even listed 'Solstice'...

It's the only part of the holiday season to which I pay attention - after all, it's the only actual event that occurs during the damn holiday.

impaler: .1/10

Should have excluded the bit about the tree for it to be believable.

Not necessarily. I've seen a lot of interesting rationalizations for the pagan symbolism in "Christian" holidays over the years.

Soymilk: I thought Christians would be more offended by the gross commercialization of Christ's birth, than by that same gross commercialization not giving credit where credit's due.

The Christian Taliban (Chrisaliban?) have changed over the years. No longer are most of them worried about commercialization which, ironically enough leads to more marginalization of their day of celebration, but of not being the sole group marketed to. Not only that, but learning they are no longer the only group being marketed to is now a protest worthy offense. I expect we'll see a "Timothy McVeigh" type nut-job pulling a truck bomb up to some corporate headquarters in a decade or two to punish them for not putting Christmas in their ad. After which, the Chrisaliban will "denounce" the atrocity but proceed to make a hero out of the loser.

After all:

bberg: Nogrhi: The Gap add I saw last night even listed 'Solstice'...

And that's what the majority of us are objecting to. Christmas and the entire Holiday season is supposed to be about the birth of Christ - it's right there in the name - but instead it's being turned into this amalgam of Christ, Buddha, Muhammad, non-Deities, and God only knows what else. All that serves to distract from the fact that Christmas is about Christ and nothing else. Everything else is derivative of that.

Hilarious. Christians diligently wipe out the religions that originated the holiday, steal it and work its rituals into their catechism, then complain that someone else may be stealing it from them?

Presents? As the Three Wise Men

Really? Hey, did you know that the Bible doesn't actually say anything about "three wise men," there, chucklehead? It does mention that some folks showed up with gifts - no info as to where they came from, how they got there, and so on. Matthew 2:11 mentions three gifts. Other Eastern religions mention that up to twelve of these guys showed up. The Bible isn't even definitive as to when they showed up - in the relevant sections of Matthew, the mention was of a "young child," not a newborn infant. (We're not even sure of that, thanks to the shoddy English translation of a shoddy Greek translation of an old Hebrew document.)

There are three wise men because you chuckleheads couldn't justify more for the Nativity scene - three gifts, three guys. Feh.

Trees? To remind us of Christ's everliving spirit

Really? Hey, did you know that cutting down trees around the solstice occurred long before Christianity showed up? Check out Yule. Hell, the "Christmas tree" has nothing to do with Christ himself, at least not when it was pulled into the religion. The inclusion of a tree as part of the celebration has been credited to everyone from St. Boniface in 722 (to protest against and prevent human sacrifice) to Martin Luther in about 1500 (because he liked the idea of having a pretty fir tree in the house - only later was it lit in Christ's honor.)

In short, most Christians have no idea how it came about, never mind what it's for - they do it because that's what they've been told to do.

Nativity scenes? Self-explanatory

Really? Hey, did you know it was "invented" less than 800 years ago? It's credited to St. Francis of Assisi, and it was a live pantomime performance - he got the idea from friggin' Egypt. It didn't take off until around the 17th century, when the Germans figured out folks would buy the statues, kitchy little figurines, and other sundry crap. What was once a live pantomime of one of the most important, if not the most important, events in the Christian religion has turned into a tawdry display of inanimate crap.

The best part, of course, is that it's idolatrous crap - it's amazing how many folks actually treat a Nativity erection as a religious icon, even the stylized little kitsch erected in the homes of Christians.

Kudos to The Gap for finally realizing that real Americans want to hear the word Christmas, but I condemn them for wrapping our holiday up into those other fake holidays.

Man, I hope this is a troll post - if it's trolling, it's not bad (7/10.) If it's not a troll post, then I pity that Christianity is stuck with you.

I thought only dirty Libs used their boycott power. I was wrong.

AFA naughty or nice Christmas list 2009
afa page (new window)

check out the comments please.

bberg: Nogrhi: The Gap add I saw last night even listed 'Solstice'...

And that's what the majority of us are objecting to. Christmas and the entire Holiday season is supposed to be about the birth of Christ - it's right there in the name - but instead it's being turned into this amalgam of Christ, Buddha, Muhammad, non-Deities, and God only knows what else. All that serves to distract from the fact that Christmas is about Christ and nothing else. Everything else is derivative of that.

Presents? As the Three Wise Men
Trees? To remind us of Christ's everliving spirit
Nativity scenes? Self-explanatory

Kudos to The Gap for finally realizing that real Americans want to hear the word Christmas, but I condemn them for wrapping our holiday up into those other fake holidays.

EXCEPT Jesus Christ was born on April 17th. ALSO- Christmas was actually a ROMAN Holiday called Saturnalia that the Christians appeasing pagans turned to Christmas to convert them. AND---Christmas was so still considered a pagan holiday that it was banned in America till the 1800's. SO actually Christmas has NOTHING to do with Christ.

As a Christian and a Catholic, I ask a sincere question: What the fark is wrong with these people?

I couldn't give a flyin' fark what people celebrate -- that is their business. Whatever makes them happy is OK-fine by me.

However, if I were a seller of items, I would want to be sure not to offend the sensibilities of those who may buy my goods. I would -- and I know this is radical -- tailor my seasonal greetings and good wishes to the audience I am seeking to bring into my establishment. For example, it would be ixnay the orkpay if I wanted to bring Orthodox Jewish and/or Muslim people into my butcher shop. Likewise, I think it would be unwise to focus on how great a gift a dreidel would be in the heart of the Christian Bible Belt.

So, I think The Gap has tried to make the best out of a no-win situation. They have mentioned all of the major seasonal celebrations -- except Festivus and whatever atheists or agnostics celebrate -- to try to "cover the bases".

So, why should the AFA give a fat turd about it? They mentioned Christmas. Do they think that talking only about Christmas will somehow convert non-Christians? Do they believe that non-Christians will watch the ad and realize the sham that is their own particular faith or lack thereof? Do they think that anyone with two brain cells to rub together will honestly give a rat's ass whether a particular television or print add says Christmas or not? Really, they are offended that an ad fails to mention Christmas -- how do they think those of the Jewish faith feel when only Christmas and not Channukah is mentioned?

These people have way too much time on their hands and far too little sense in their heads. STFU and GBTS(hopping).

Boycotting something for only two months seems like a pretty lazy fatwa.

Wow, and not even thanks giving yet. It feels like the "War on Christmas" whining starts earlier every year.

Corvus: Wow, and not even thanks giving yet. It feels like the "War on Christmas" whining starts earlier every year.


"How long does it take for you Christians to shop?"
-- Lewis Black

makjr33: As a Christian and a Catholic, I ask a sincere question: What the fark is wrong with these people?

A) You're a political group, lets call them "Republicans".

B) You want a lot of people to vote for crap that actually makes things worse for them.

C) You can't say "Hey vote for the rich getting everything while you get shafted. People without money will never get a chance to make something from your life because they won't afford to go to college, and too busy working and not getting paid much, while companies gamble away everyone's money in high risk investments ".

D) SO instead tell everyone "The LIBERALS are trying to radically change how you live!!!!" to scare the people into voting for them.

Corvus: makjr33: As a Christian and a Catholic, I ask a sincere question: What the fark is wrong with these people?

A) You're a political group, lets call them "Republicans".

B) You want a lot of people to vote for crap that actually makes things worse for them.

C) You can't say "Hey vote for the rich getting everything while you get shafted. People without money will never get a chance to make something from your life because they won't afford to go to college, and too busy working and not getting paid much, while companies gamble away everyone's money in high risk investments ".

D) SO instead tell everyone "The LIBERALS are trying to radically change how you live!!!!" to scare the people into voting for them.

See Corvus this is why you start out strong but end up being written off to looney bin world. DID you actually read that whole post? Did it go in one ear and out the other? FOR THE FIRST TIME a Catholic Christian is saying hey can't we all just get along.. And I am relieved. But then you go and turn it into some political crap outta NO WHERE.

THIS is why I hate religion.

Cup_O_Jo: Corvus: makjr33: As a Christian and a Catholic, I ask a sincere question: What the fark is wrong with these people?

A) You're a political group, lets call them "Republicans".

B) You want a lot of people to vote for crap that actually makes things worse for them.

C) You can't say "Hey vote for the rich getting everything while you get shafted. People without money will never get a chance to make something from your life because they won't afford to go to college, and too busy working and not getting paid much, while companies gamble away everyone's money in high risk investments ".

D) SO instead tell everyone "The LIBERALS are trying to radically change how you live!!!!" to scare the people into voting for them.

See Corvus this is why you start out strong but end up being written off to looney bin world. DID you actually read that whole post? Did it go in one ear and out the other? FOR THE FIRST TIME a Catholic Christian is saying hey can't we all just get along.. And I am relieved. But then you go and turn it into some political crap outta NO WHERE.


Well, I think you are both right -- I honestly do not understand why anyone would care whether "Christmas" is mentioned in an ad or not. AND, I think that the only explanation is that some discrete group is attempting to create a false issue out of it, and it seems to me -- and I do not mean to cast aspersions -- that certain right-wing groups and media outlets continually use this issue for political gain.

And, really, can't we all just get along?

inglixthemad: Soymilk: I thought Christians would be more offended by the gross commercialization of Christ's birth, than by that same gross commercialization not giving credit where credit's due.

The Christian Taliban (Chrisaliban?) have changed over the years. No longer are most of them worried about commercialization which, ironically enough leads to more marginalization of their day of celebration, but of not being the sole group marketed to. Not only that, but learning they are no longer the only group being marketed to is now a protest worthy offense. I expect we'll see a "Timothy McVeigh" type nut-job pulling a truck bomb up to some corporate headquarters in a decade or two to punish them for not putting Christmas in their ad. After which, the Chrisaliban will "denounce" the atrocity but proceed to make a hero out of the loser.

After all:

You know who else spent a large portion of his life oppressing Christians?

Cup_O_Jo

EXCEPT Jesus Christ was born on April 17th. ALSO- Christmas was actually a ROMAN Holiday called Saturnalia that the Christians appeasing pagans turned to Christmas to convert them. AND---Christmas was so still considered a pagan holiday that it was banned in America till the 1800's. SO actually Christmas has NOTHING to do with Christ.


OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!

You need to publish this groundbreaking research NOW!!!


:-|

ProdigalSigh: Gap has Old Navy and Banana Republic? Weren't those all competing stores the last time I was in a mall?

They have different markets. Gap is marketed to middle-class families. Banana Republic is marketed to hipsters. Old Navy is marketed to the lower-middle class and poor.

But they've been owned by the same company for as long as I'm aware, maybe from their inceptions.