Peace on Earth, goodwill to men

As a matter of clarification regarding my letter of Dec. 19, I neither stated nor implied that Christmas does not hold special significance for Christians. And rightfully it should — just as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other celebrations that take place this time of year have a special meaning for those who observe them.

The point I was trying to make (which appears to have eluded some) is that it is no coincidence that these celebrations cluster around the winter solstice when the gloom of winter begins to surrender to the “rebirth” of the sun. As I also noted, many of the current customs associated with Christmas (including the timing) were borrowed from pagan traditions to make early Christianity more palatable to the masses.

In his letter of Dec. 21, Mr. Knapp first agrees that I state the obvious when I acknowledge people with different beliefs can celebrate the season in different ways. He then changes his tune and accuses me of using flawed logic because of my “relativistic notion of tolerance.”

To restate the obvious, no particular religious sect has a monopoly on how this occasion for hope and renewed aspirations must be celebrated. No particular belief system can claim exclusive rights to this holiday season, the celebration of which has been observed by people with widely divergent worldviews since antiquity. Those who castigate others for their tolerance on this issue serve only to reveal their own prejudices.

Peace on Earth, good will to men.

JACK DeBAUN

Sandpoint