Seems everyone celebrates CHRISTmas, and never considers the source..Whats up with that ?
2006-10-19 02:27:52 · 25 answers · asked by heresyhunter@sbcglobal.net 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good point. People don't like acknowledging God because that means responsibility for their actions. And in case you're curious to hear an argument for Jesus being born on Christmas, check out the link below.
And as for it being an ex-pagan holiday, please, give me a break. Just because nature worshipers used to regard that day as sacred doesn't mean that Christ couldn't have chosen that day to be born. Nor does it automatically make it an evil day.
2006-10-19 02:33:50 · answer #1 · answered by irishharpist 4 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Well, you've got some good answers here, but just as a round-up:
The origin of the "Christmas" holiday was the pagan Winter Solstice. Please, don't worry at all that this was usurped by the early Christians when they were busy telling religions that had pre-existed them by millennia that they were evil and wrong. It's not like pagans generally hold a grudge.
The life-story of the man identified as "Jesus" in the popular translations of the New Testament is now thought to be a composite of the lives of two entirely different men who livede about thirty years apart, which makes it tricky to know exactly which one we're celebrating, although the one born in a stable probably claims supremacy, given the nature of the celebration. The one who was born "in a stable" wasn't actually born in a stable, but a cave on the road to Bethlehem. And all this is now thought most likely to have taken place at some time in what we now think of July or August. So the claim that he's anything to do with the December celebration gets a little more disingenuous.
And finally, we live in an age of blatant, horrifying concern with material things, rather than an age of spiritual enlightenment. The Great God of our age is not Yahweh, not Christ, not even Allah. The Great God of our age is Retail, and this time of the year is one of the god's Holy Days, when sacrifice and tribute are offered up to him on the pain of disappointing children taught to believe they deserve and should have the very latest of his plastic, electronic and brightly coloured gifts.
It's not funny, it's not pretty, and it sure as hell isn't illuminating, but Retail-worship is probably the fastest-growing religion on the planet, so why not let it have at least one annual festival dedicated to it - if pagans can afford to be accommodating when their solstice is overlayed with a Christian festival, surely Christians can afford to be equally magnanimous with the new religion that is overwriting that festival? Doesn't stop your god being just as real to you, or mine to me, and gives us a chance to enjoy or suffer our families, and be thankful for all there is that's good in our lives. But the fact is this holiday no longer belongs to either of us.
2006-10-19 10:18:27 · answer #2 · answered by mdfalco71 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What, you mean the incorporation of the pagan Winter Solstice celebration, in order to make it easier to convert ancient pagans to Christianity?
Yeah, some people have considered the source, including some Christian scholars who are at least able to admit that it's a co-opted holiday and not the real date of the birth of their Savior.
2006-10-19 09:53:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
We always celebrate Jesus' Birthday (Christmas), and we do it by giving to other people to commemorate our Savior's birth. My husband and I don't give each other presents at that time because we are giving to others. Our children receive presents but it is nothing like their birthday.
I hate the fact that now it is politically incorrect to say " Merry Christmas" , it has to be "Happy Holidays", when the reason for that holiday is Christmas!
2006-10-19 11:02:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The source is Saturnia, a pagan celebration of the winter equinox. So, why do you Christians practice it again? Biblically, Yshua ben Ysef was born during the spring or early summer.
2006-10-19 09:33:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
sure ill be celibrating christmas although i dont do it because of the source ( which is a pagan one )
as i have a different belief system
but it is a wonderful time to give to others and show our love for them
why not
2006-10-19 09:44:44 · answer #6 · answered by Peace 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas was convienently 'borrowed' from the pagans. It's amazing how it lands right next to Yule.
Xmas isn't a big holiday at my house.. I send presents to my brother's for my nieces, my husband and I will exchange gifts the night before as per his British family custom, we rarely put up a tree or other decorations and I usually make a small dinner and watch football. So basically, it's like any other Sunday.
2006-10-19 09:38:01 · answer #7 · answered by genaddt 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I haven't celebrated Christmas for a long time now.If I want to give to someone I do it anytime I have the urge.
2006-10-19 09:47:52 · answer #8 · answered by jackiedj8952 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know my family and I do celebrate CHRISTmas and we have always had a nativity scene under our CHRISTmas tree, for as long as I can remember. I know the reason for the season, others I can say......well, they are just celebrating to see who gets what for that special day. Some are just in it to out do others, more like a competion. I sometimes wonder what happened to make people like that. I do wish we could go back to more traditional times and remember that its was on that day that Christ was born and he is the reason for the season.
2006-10-19 09:39:06 · answer #9 · answered by joy m 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It's just like every other "Christian holiday". Commercialism has moved in and taken over. Nonbelievers don't have their own holidays to celebrate so they have to use everyone elses. To all the people who say it's derived from a pagen holiday, So what it's all about what's in your heart. I choose to focus on the miraculous birth of Jesus. Just like some people choose to focus on their greed.
2006-10-19 09:46:28 · answer #10 · answered by kjslove1994 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The whole christmas thing is really for kids.My children"s faces light up when they see all the gifts and fancy decorations.Seeing them so happy means more to me than anything else in this world,but to most right thinking adults it"s just another pagan holiday.
2006-10-19 09:35:25 · answer #11 · answered by porkupuss 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋