I read with interest Dr Garth Rattary's column suggesting that we put back Christ into Christmas, but there are a couple of things I do not really agree with although I do know he meant well.

First, if Christ is not in your heart, where you put a nativity scene would not matter one bit and also there are a lot of folks in Jamaica who believe that Jesus was not born in December.

He rightly stated that it is a pagan holiday. The Jewish year is shorter than our 12 month calendar and Jesus' parents were on their way to pay taxes so it was obviously earlier in the year.

Maintain separation

If anyone would like to put nativity scenes in their homes or on their property it is quite OK, but when it comes to the public property and the schools paid for by taxpayers, you would be using the funds of people who do not want to celebrate it as Christ's birthday. It is still a pagan holiday.

I am a Christian, but we have to be careful to maintain the separation of church and state. One small step will lead to another then you may soon find the state imposing its ideas on the church.

I grew up in a home where we were taught to have worship, read our bibles, to pray before we went to bed, pray when we got out of bed and before our meals. My grandparents were not rich but none of our 12 children went to jail.

Jesus has to be in the family to have a Christian society. No amount of nativity scenes or Christmas carols in December will create a better society.

I am, etc.,

J. ELAINE MCDONALD

Jmcdo62658@optonline.net