This year Christmas festivities were canceled in a British school because they interfered with Muslim Eid celebrations. “Christmas” itself was banned by the council of Oxford because it wasn’t “inclusive” enough. And the Oxford University Press has done both of those one better by eradicating a range of Christian-related words from their Junior Dictionary:
Oxford University Press has removed words like “aisle”, “bishop”, “chapel”, “empire” and “monarch” from its Junior Dictionary and replaced them with words like “blog”, “broadband” and “celebrity”. Dozens of words related to the countryside have also been culled. The publisher claims the changes have been made to reflect the fact that Britain is a modern, multicultural, multifaith society. But academics and head teachers said that the changes to the 10,000 word Junior Dictionary could mean that children lose touch with Britain’s heritage. “We have a certain Christian narrative which has given meaning to us over the last 2,000 years. To say it is all relative and replaceable is questionable,” said Professor Alan Smithers.
On the plus side this means that British Muslims won’t have to burn in hellfire for bumping into all that yucky Christianity:
[Choudary] shocked Christians and even those of his own faith by branding yuletide festivities as “the pathway to hellfire”… “Many take part in the festival celebrations by having Christmas turkey dinners. Decorating the house, purchasing Christmas trees or having Christmas turkey meals are completely prohibited by Allah… The very concept of Christmas contradicts and conflicts with the foundation of Islam. Every Muslim has a responsibility to protect his family from the misguidance of Christmas, because its observance will lead to hellfire. Protect your Paradise from being taken away – protect yourself and your family from Christmas.”
This is what’s so frustrating about political Islam. The total lack of creativity. You don’t ban Christmas. You exploit the guilt of frail British multiculturalists and transform it into a thinly veiled anti-Semitic hatefest. At least someone in the UK still has some vigor left.
Then again – I thought that Jesus was an honored prophet in Islam. Isn’t that supposed to be the basis for Muslim-Christian interreligious dialogue? Maybe Pope Benedict has a point about how interreligious dialogue is impossible. Although TIME says that he just defends Church doctrine because he’s a bitter old scrooge. So we’re probably OK.
References:
* School cancels Christmas nativity in favour of Muslim Eid celebrations [Telegraph]
* Christmas banned in Oxford by council-owned charity [Telegraph]
* Words associated with Christianity and British history taken out of children’s dictionary [Telegraph]
* Muslim lawyer Anjem Choudary brands Christmas ‘evil’ [Telegraph]
* A Traditional British Christmas [Solomonia]
* Pope Questions Interfaith Dialogue [NYT]
* Time’s Jeff Israely: The Pope is a ‘Scrooge’ For Defending Church Doctrine [News Busters]
Previously:
* We’re Going To Miss Westminster Abbey – Britain More Or Less Gives Up
* We’re Going To Miss Westminster Abbey – BBC Censoring Material About Islam (Plus: Surreal Legal And Cultural Surrender Across Britain)
* I’m Going To Miss Westminster Abbey – Thousands Of UK-Born Jihadists In Enclaves Across All Of Britain
