If I don't practice a pagan holiday like "Christmas & Easter" in Utah, How will I be embraced? (spring break, houses)

[birdbrainedfriend]

Just curious about moving to Utah and not being LDS. I am Christian, however, I don't dishonor God by following pagan practices. Will my children be picked on at school for not participating in school activities that involve pagan related worship?

[kaytidid]

School activities are not religious anymore. They have a holiday party at Christmas time, but God isn't brought into it at all. The have Spring break, but Easter isn't really brought into the picture and there is nothing in the school about Easter. Actually, coming from the east, I was quite shocked that Easter isn't as big of a deal here in Utah as it was there. Everyone (employer wise) it seemed gave off Good Friday or Easter monday...not so much here, for either of them. I don't think anyone would notice if you worshiped them or not. I know I wouldn't.

[stycotl]

honestly, i don't think too many people would care even if they knew. our kids might get a string of 20-questions once in a while, but i don't think it would be commonplace. i can't guarantee that they won't have kids staring at them as if they were aliens, though, because kids are kids, and some of them have stupid parents.

[lolagranola]

I was totally surprised at how big Halloween is in UT. Previous to moving here, I noticed a lot of people not participating in Halloween, especially if they were "Christians"... and I see as many people decorate their houses for it as they do for Christmas and do whole family costumes, get really into it.

[Reech]

I would be careful when using the word Pagan. Even if you are not using it in an offensive way many people will take offense to it. There is no exact definition of Pagen and it can be used in many different ways.

[stycotl]

yeah, halloween is a pretty popular holiday. i think most people like the idea of dressing up, and bags of candy make it an even tastier (pun, however lame it might be, intended) prospect.

that said, i knew people when i was growing up that didn't celebrate halloween. no biggie here. just make sure that your kids are hanging around decent friends, instead of uptight, self-righteous ones. well, try as much as a parent can, anyway...

[stycotl]

Originally Posted by Reech

I would be careful when using the word Pagan. Even if you are not using it in an offensive way many people will take offense to it. There is no exact definition of Pagen and it can be used in many different ways.

good point. it has become kind of a curse word among christians these days, and that is sad; i personally know quite a few pagans that are awesome, upstandinf citizens. in fact, i don't know any pagans that i thought were socially irresponsible or anything. i suppose that there were a few in high school that were immature, but come one, i was a 14-18 year old with the mentality and maturity level of a toddler, so who am i to judge?

aaron out.

[Reech]

I celebrate Christmas and Easter and I do not consider myself a pagan. So pagan is a misunderstood word that can mean many things. Thats all.

[frogandtoad]

Yes, there's an implication there (a not so subtle one) that if you celebrate any of those holidays you aren't a real Christian. If the OP hadn't meant to offend, s/he could just have said how would "christians" who don't celebrate xmas, easter, and halloween be treated. Instead she said that those who do celebrate them "dishonor God."

I think the issue with living anywhere is people won't like you if you go in telling a bunch of people who consider themselves Christian that they aren't Christian or that they dishonor God. That will make it difficult to make friends, especially if you've shared this view w/your kids and they are spouting it in a self-righteous way in school.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by birdbrainedfriend

Just curious about moving to Utah and not being LDS. I am Christian, however, I don't dishonor God by following pagan practices. Will my children be picked on at school for not participating in school activities that involve pagan related worship?

Well, if you go around telling people who celebrate Easter and Christmas that they "dishonor God," you may not be awfully well accepted. I don't think that Utahns who are involved in "pagan related worship" will be any harder on you than Californians, Floridians or New Yorkers who are involved in "pagan related worship," though. And just so that you know, there is a decent sized JW community here, so you won't have to be totally surrounded by the wicked of the world.