The first thing they teach you in a college communications class is that the meaning of something is how it is interpreted, not necessarily how you meant it.

IMO, Merry Christmas and Good-bye are silly to argue about. While they have religious roots, their usage is so common as to lose the religious meaning.

>You changed your message. You said that this greeting was used in socialist countries and that this is an indication it's not religious. I am asking you to tell me which countries did you mean and why it's an indication.
>
>E.g. do you mean that if something is used in socialist countries it automatically disqualifies the religious context?