Christmas is not and was not "Xmas." It was also, happy or not, not "Holidays." It wasn't your birthday, or your child's, or mine; it was Christ's birthday. Those who do not celebrate Christmas because they follow another religion or are unbelievers, ought to respect and tolerate Christians.
A silly Facebook friend who is an atheist sent an unwelcome message: "for those who believe this nonsense and mumbo jumbo, I hope you have a happy Christmas." Did that come from the heart?
I'll bet the same silly person would never dream of posting a similar message to Muslims on their holy days; or to Jews or Hindus or Buddhists on theirs. And rightly so.
People who have no religion have no idea of the strength, the comfort and the power that belief can bring. In a troubled and uncertain world, believers are fortunate because they have a power higher than themselves to help make them better, kinder, gentler and more generous.
On Christmas Day, the hundreds of people who took communion at our church in Johannesburg mirrored the many millions doing so throughout the world. We do not regard ourselves as perfect; many of us need religion more than others do because we are conscious of our own shortcomings and imperfections. Christians live in hope of becoming better people.
Exactly the same applies to the adherents of all the other religions. They too are entitled to respect. But when religion becomes intolerant, disrespects others' beliefs and lifestyle choices or feels superior, it goes off the rails.