Christmas is Not "Tasteful" at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
I am an 13-year employee of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The Medical Center is a first rate hospital and research facility, and I have enjoyed working there in the Davis Research Institute. Although the administration prides itself for its diversity, and theoretically tolerates individual religious and ethnic expression, it now seems that at least one form religious expression is no longer "tasteful."
A recent e-mail from the senior vice president specified the guidelines for holiday decorations. According to the e-mail, holiday decorations must be "balanced", "safe" and "tasteful". In describing what was and was not tasteful, the following instruction was given:
Tasteful seasonal decorations or wishes are appropriate (e.g. "Seasons Greetings", "Happy Holidays", "Happy New Year", "Happy Hanukkah"). Specific religious symbols or decorations (e.g., nativity scenes) should be confined to private offices, cubicles, or patient rooms. The Chaplaincy will also be placing holiday decorations in public areas.1
According to the instructions, "Happy Hanukkah" is described as being tasteful, while Christian nativity scenes are not. So much for tolerance! I replied to the research institute along with Jeanne Flores and her assistant with the following short e-mail:
As a member of the not “tasteful” religion for which there seems to be no tolerance at Cedars-Sinai, I found the following e-mail to be extremely offensive. Since when is “Happy Hanukkah” tasteful, whereas Merry --------- (oops! can’t mention that “C” word) is not? Maybe I am working at the wrong place, since the “J” guy (or me?) does not seem to be welcome here.
I received a number of replies from others in the research institute, all except one of which were positive. I have yet to receive a reply from Jeanne Flores or her assistant. However, I encourage you to wish her a Merry Christmas by sending her an e-mail through our form. Please be nice!
References 
From: Mink, Michael L., SPHR
Sent: Thursday, December 08,
2005 9:54 AM
Subject: Holiday Decorations -
on behalf of Jeanne Flores, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and
Organization Development
Many of you have requested guidelines for decorating the workplace during the holidays. We certainly want to encourage all of us to celebrate during this special time. Decorations in the workplace are welcome as long as they are "tasteful", "balanced" and "safe".
Balanced: We would suggest that in public, patient or non-patient areas, if any decorations are used, make sure that multiple religious traditions are represented.
Safe: Please keep in mind that many types of decorations may be in conflict with fire safety codes. Nothing may be hung from ceiling tiles or sprinkler heads, doors may not be wrapped in paper, no real trees or plants with lights, and corridors may not be blocked with large displays, etc. Employees may need to remind visitors of our safety policies especially relative to live trees, plants, and items requiring electrical power and remind them we wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.
Tasteful: In keeping with the healing environment we strive to achieve for our patients.
Area-specific guidelines:
General Public and Patient Care Areas (Lobbies, hallways, treatment areas, diagnostic areas, inpatient units, and centrally booked conference rooms such as Harvey Morse, Educational Conference Center, etc.)
Tasteful seasonal decorations or wishes are appropriate (e.g. "Seasons Greetings", "Happy Holidays", "Happy New Year", "Happy Hanukkah"). Specific religious symbols or decorations (e.g., nativity scenes) should be confined to private offices, cubicles, or patient rooms. The Chaplaincy will also be placing holiday decorations in public areas.
Reflections
We are what we think.
- 03/19/2019 12:00 PM
A Memorial to Christian Theologian Desmond Ford
One of my favorite contemporary Christian theologians, Dr. Desmond Ford (1929–2019), died recently. He was an Australian evangelical theologian with deep roots in the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) theological tradition. He was educated at both Michigan State and Manchester Universities, where he earned dual doctorates in New Testament studies. At Manchester, he studied under the eminent New Testament scholar F. F. Bruce.…
() - 03/12/2019 11:00 AM
Apologia Sophia: “Apologetics Wisdom” 3—Preparation
Are you prepared for apologetic engagement? In part 3 (of six) in this series, I’ll offer three practical suggestions to help prepare you for potentially life-changing interactions with nonbelievers. As noted in parts 1 and 2, the term Apologia Sophia (Gk: ἀπολογία σοφία) transliterates the Greek word endings and roughly translates to “apologetics wisdom.” These three points will help provide you with such wisdom, whether you’re a…
() - 03/05/2019 01:00 PM
Apologia Sophia: “Apologetics Wisdom” 2—Christian Foundations
In part 1 of this series, we noted that Apologia Sophia (Gk: ἀπολογία σοφία) transliterates the Greek word endings and roughly translates to “apologetics wisdom.” In this second (of six) installment, I hope to offer more apologetics wisdom for our noble task. Here are three points that apply equally to both professional and lay Christian apologists. These points relate to connecting apologetics to Christian foundations.…
() - 02/26/2019 01:00 PM
Apologia Sophia: “Apologetics Wisdom” 1—Attitude
Apologia sophia (Gk: ἀπολογία σοφία) transliterates the Greek word endings and roughly translates to “apologetics wisdom.” Since I am an adjunct professor for Biola University’s MA program in apologetics, I teach and interact with many students who are preparing for a career in apologetics or are studying to deepen their knowledge and sharpen their skills in the field. Thus, as a teacher and a full-time…
() - 02/19/2019 01:00 PM
A Memorial to Christian Thinker Michael Green
One of my favorite contemporary Christian thinkers, Dr. Edward Michael Bankes Green, more commonly known as “Michael Green,” (1930–2019), died recently. He was a British evangelical theologian, apologist, evangelist, and Anglican priest. He was educated at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities and had a long, distinguished career and ministry. Green served in various ecclesiastical and educational posts through the years, including as…
() - 02/12/2019 01:00 PM
Scientific Discovery & God: Human Exceptionalism, Part 4
Some people think the advance of science continues to remove any reason for believing in God, but in reality scientific discovery over the last century has opened up vistas of knowledge that are best explained by the worldview of theism over atheistic naturalism. In the three previous parts of this series (see here, here, and here), I explained that what secular scientists thought they would discover…
() - 02/05/2019 01:00 PM
Scientific Discovery and God: Planet Earth, Part 3
In the first two parts of this series (see here and here) I discussed how secular scientists, given their naturalistic worldview, expected to discover that we live in an eternal—and therefore uncaused—universe, as well as in an ordinary solar system. Yet on both scores scientists were surprised by what scientific advances revealed. In both cases, the great contrast for scientists who hold a purely…
() - 01/29/2019 01:00 PM
3 Ways to Be a Gracious Christian Sports Fan
I have enjoyed playing and watching sports most of my life. Now that I’m sixty years old I sometimes think back to my time playing baseball and basketball, with fondness for the camaraderie, teamwork, discipline, and competition these sports engendered. I often think about the particular people I played with and against on the courts and fields of competition. In some ways…
() - 01/22/2019 01:00 PM
Scientific Discovery & God: The Solar System, Part 2
In part 1 of this series, I discussed how scientific evidence demonstrates that the universe had a beginning and that such a notion best comports with the expectations of theism over atheistic naturalism. Yet that conspicuous beginning took secular scientists by complete surprise. In this article I will briefly discuss what the expectations of secular scientists concerning our solar system were, and what science has revealed.…
() - 01/15/2019 04:00 PM
Scientific Discovery and God: The Universe, Part 1
How did the universe come into being? The last century has revealed a stark contrast between what secular scientists expected to find regarding the big “origins” questions and what scientific research actually uncovered. In part 1 of this series, I’ll discuss how this contrast played out concerning the origin of the universe. In future installments I’ll consider, in turn, the origins…
()
http://godandscience.org/doctrine/christmas.html
Last Modified December 22, 2005
Top of Page 
Back