This family in Indiana, USA decorated their house with the following in Christmas 2002:

147,027 lights, 169 strobe lights, 35,834 feet or 6.8 miles of extension cords all of this is hooked to 204 computer controlled circuits.

http://www.computerchristmaslights.com/

All in the name of Jesus, apparently.. this site should please all you bible-bashers.. now we know why the US doesn't want to accept any global warming protocols.. this family is using up half of the world's coal!

And let's not forget this Christmas that the oldest religion on this continent was the Aboriginal Dreamtime (for want of a better term to summarise the complex web of beliefs and customs of the Aborigines), and that the fastest growing religion is actually Buddhism.

How about this Christmas we consider the scourge of consumerism. Anyone here familiar with the Aboriginal story of Tidilik the frog, who drank all the water, refusing to let anyone else drink it?

Here's an interesting story:

In 1991 when the Federal Government vetoed mining at Coronation Hill, Northern Territory, the then Prime Minister, Mr Bob Hawke, justified the decision on the ground that to proceed would violate the sacred beliefs of the local Jawoyn aboriginal community. He argued that the earth's resources should not be mined because the Jawoyn are convinced that the spirit Bula is in the area and, if disturbed, would visit great sickness and upon them.

Responding to criticism of the decision, Mr Hawke said that "it was remarkable in a Christian society that Australians were contemptuous of other people's beliefs. It's an enormous presumption for us to say to about 300 people, you are irrational, fancy believing that Bula is there. I mean, where is our God? It was wrong to criticise the Jawoyn's belief that disturbing Bula would unleash destruction" (The Age, 18.6.91).

Mr Hawke did not actually give reasons for the decision, simply stating that Jawoyn religion should not be criticised because, like Christianity, "it is founded on a bundle of mysteries."

And here's some thoughts about Buddhists and what they think of Christmas:

http://www.aboutulverston.co.uk/celts/buddhistchristmas.htm

'Fröhliche Weihnachten' from snowy Germany..

Ev exaggerates so. Half the world's coal ,really.These are low voltage lights Ev and you would probably use more energy driving to work in a day than these lights would use in a week.Has it ever occured to you Ev that while many celebrate Christmas not many of us actually believe that Jesus was the son of any God.Religion is based on hope because there is no factual evidence.

Go blow your trumphet in some one else's ear since you just too predictable and boring,just like all the other lefties who suffer from this singularity of thought deprivation.The mono-tones of the left cannot cope with the complexities of our world and they continually seek simple idealistic solutions to a real world,they have yet to experience in their cocoon of academia.

ev: There is Christianity and there is man made religion which includes big church buildings, bells and smells and pretty frocks and hats for the preachers. Christmas belongs to religion.
I acknowledge the birth of Christ but do not observe christmas.
Trees, presents, lying santa, parties, booze, lights etc have little to do with Christianity. numbat

I'd like to continue on from Kay's lovely post.

Irfan is talking about the spirit of Christmas, regardless of your religious beliefs.

With this in mind I wish every contributor to OLO all the best the season has to offer.

""Blessed is he who speaks a kindness; thrice blessed is he who repeats it."
Arabian Proverb "

Peace and happiness to all.

Dianne

Nice piece Irfan.
happy holidays.

Arjay - 'Ev exaggerates so. Half the world's coal ,really.These are low voltage lights Ev and you would probably use more energy driving to work in a day than these lights would use in a week.'

Obviously this was meant to be a topical joke. 'Tis the season to be jolly, after all.. Anyway I don't own a car, they are expensive to run and maintain. If you don't consider the light display to be just a little absurd, then you must live in a very strange world indeed.

Arjay - 'Religion is based on hope because there is no factual evidence.'

There are many many Christians who believe that the Bible IS factual evidence. Same with many Muslims and their Qur'an.

Arjay - 'Go blow your trumphet in some one else's ear since you just too predictable and boring,..'

This think this is the first time I've even mentioned religion in my posts. Most of them have been about unsatisfactory policing. I suggest you read them - there's not too many.

Arjay - '..just like all the other lefties who suffer from this singularity of thought deprivation.

Congratulations you are the first person to have ever called me a 'leftie'.

Arjay - 'The mono-tones of the left cannot cope with the complexities of our world..'

I guess you have such a grasp of the complexities of our world that you have to divide everything into either 'left' or 'right'. As soon as you saw the words 'Aborigine' and 'Bob Hawke' you start shrieking 'leftie! leftie!' like a little girl when a cockroach runs across the floor. No better than those squealing 'racism!'.

Arjay - '..,they have yet to experience in their cocoon of academia.'

Arjay I have worked as the following: waiter, kitchenhand, farmhand, warehouse picker/packer, construction labourer, removalist, landscaper, landscape designer, taxi driver, Mission Beat volunteer, sign-writer, electronics salesman, postman, and recently teaching English to those who can't speak it.. Yes I should really break out of my cocoon of academia.. thanks for your advice..

Try to get some more fibre in your diet this Christmas..