A blatant re-post: Taking Christ out of Christmas?

Question

I've read that term a couple of times here today, as criticism for using the abbreviation "XMas." Here is the origin of this usage:

http://www.cresourcei.org/symbols/xmasor...

It reads, in part:

"Abbreviations used as Christian symbols have a long history in the church. The letters of the word "Christ" in Greek, the language in which the New Testament was written, or various titles for Jesus early became symbols of Christ and Christianity. For example, the first two letters of the word Christ (cristoV, or as it would be written in older manuscripts, CRISTOS) are the Greek letters chi (c or C) and rho (r or R)...a symbol that by the fourth century became part of the official standard of the emperor Constantine....by the fifteenth century Xmas emerged as a widely used symbol for Christmas....there is no grand scheme to dilute Christianity by promoting the use of Xmas..."

I'm aware this is not a question and will be deleted, but I thought it was worth sharing.

: )

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Sad.

I'm not bashing Christmas, or Christianity here, friends. I am trying to make you see that *CHRISTIANS* came up with that abbreviation, not secular humanists.

Information that will make you less ignorant *is* worth sharing.

Answer 1

Yeah, that's what I was trying to say in that other question. It's just an abbreviation, not some huge conspiracy to take Christ out of everything and turn the country into some evil secular nation.

The other guy who brought this up said that people are trying to make this an "ungodly" nation. What I want to know is: If a nation where 80% of people call themselves Christian is ungodly, then what's a "godly" nation?

Answer 2

They did not take anything out, from something that was not there from the start

M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopædia says: “The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of N[ew] T[estament] origin. The day of Christ’s birth cannot be ascertained from the N[ew] T[estament], or, indeed, from any other source.”—(New York, 1871), Vol. II, p. 276.

The Encyclopedia Americana states: “During the Saturnalia . . . feasting prevailed, and gifts were exchanged.” (1977, Vol. 24, p. 299) In many instances that represents the spirit of Christmas giving—an exchanging of gifts. The spirit reflected in such gift giving does not bring real happiness, because it violates Christian principles such as those found at Matthew 6:3, 4 and 2 Corinthians 9:7. Surely a Christian can give gifts to others as an expression of love at other times during the year, doing so as often as he wants to.

Depending on where they live, children are told that gifts are brought by Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, Père Noël, Knecht Ruprecht, the Magi, the elf Jultomten (or Julenissen), or a witch known as La Befana. (The World Book Encyclopedia, 1984, Vol. 3, p. 414) Of course, none of these stories are actually true. Does the telling of such stories build in children a respect for truth, and does such a practice honor Jesus Christ, who taught that God must be worshiped with truth?—John 4:23, 24.

Answer 3

You know, I am a Christian. I believe in Christ and I believe that he was born in a miraculous way. I am also wondering how many more years this nation will be allowed to celebrate Christmas as a national holiday. It certainly shows a preference for one person's God over another.

In the meantime. Thank the USA for allowing me to celebrate Christ's birth. Those people who are tuned into the history of the holiday and why the Catholic church changed the date, good for you for being wonderful historians.

When you read some of the postings on Yahoo Q&A it is obvious that some people want to take the Christ out of America. Those snobby people who believe everything they made up is right and Christianity is wrong and won't let you challenge them on it because when it comes right down to it, their intelligence is low and their resolve stinks.

Answer 4

Christmas is originaly pagon, consider these quotes from the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 edition, under “Christmas”: “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church…the first evidence of the feast is from Egypt.” Further, “Pagan customs centering around the January calends gravitated to Christmas.” Under “Natal Day,” Origen, an early Catholic writer, admitted.

The earliest reference to Christmas being marked on Dec. 25 comes from the second century after Jesus’ birth. It is considered likely the first Christmas celebrations were in reaction to the Roman Saturnalia, a harvest festival that marked the winter solstice—the return of the sun—and honored Saturn, the god of sowing. Saturnalia was a rowdy time, much opposed by the more austere leaders among the still-minority Christian sect.

Answer 5

What you are saying is correct but people that use that,don't know it .They usually do it out of disrespect.
Happy Xmas!
The "Symbol" IXOYE,means Jesus Christ God's Son Savior.Those are the first letters in Greek.X of course for Christ

Answer 6

Christmas or X-mas, either way ,it doesn't matter. It is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. It is irrelevant wether He was actually born that day or not. Everyday should be a celebration of the birth of our Lord.
And I totally agree with you. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Answer 7

why do people have to give gifts on christmas, and do nice things on christmas for people of less fortune.

Why does it take CHRISTMAS for people to do this??
It should be done 365 days a year. Not just 1 day of the year.

A year should be called "Christmas"...then all the christians might help out the rest of the world.

Answer 8

"seasons greetings" is a better example

I remmember one time Hallmark sold Xmas ornaments from after the 4rth of July, but the very few actualy nativity Chrsimas ornaments were sold out leavign only Barbie and Star Trek ornomannts and the like to pick form... they shoulda took the hint noticing the sell out of the nativity ones

The nativity movie coming out sounds interesting

Answer 9

another note to think about, is the cross was not what most think of, but at the time that Christ was crucified, the Romans used a X shaped cross instead of the the one that is traditionally seen.

Answer 10

Take Christ out of christmas, because he never belonged there in the first place. Unless God and Santa are one and the same.