When christ was born did the wise men proclaim"Let us kill a tree and stick it in our living rooms?"

Question

What on earth makes Christians think the tree has ANYTHING to do with their religion? That's like saying a rabbit ran through galilee crying out "Jesus has arisen! Hide the eggs!" How DARE they keep posting nonsense on here about how athiests and "nonbelievers" don't have the right to have a christmas tree and gifts, when they have no claim on those old pagan customs?

Answer 1

It'd still be Christmas without the tree. There's a significant secular holiday that coincides with the religious celebration of Christmas. It's part commercial, part Germanic tradition (which is 1,000 years removed from the pagan roots), etc.

Actually the old Christian tradition was more austere - fasting until midnight, going to Mass, then eating a simple dinner and taking a day of rest and feasting on Christmas alone. Presents came later, originally on the feast of the Magi, which later became the Epiphany. Children left their shoes out (in some cultures) and the "wise men" would give gifts of candy and money.

I think it's great if atheists and non-Christians want to have another excuse to get together with loved ones. That's fine. Shame on someone who says "you can't celebrate!" Last I checked anyway, most churches had an open door policy - come in and learn and sing, or just sit and enjoy the sense of community. Anyway, sorry to hear you've had a rough experience.

And yeah, I've always thought on Easter, "Rabbits don't lay eggs!"

Answer 2

you are right, a xmas tree has nothing to do with the birth of Christ. the star on top of the tree does and the angel, but not the tree. the star does becuz it represents the star that led the shepherds to the cattle shed where Jesus was born. the angel does becuz it represents the angel that came to mary and joseph to announce that mary would give birth to a son and he is to be called Jesus. athiests can put a tree in their living room if they want. if they don't want to put an angel or a star they do have snowmen and santa claus' tree toppers.
>by the way, the rabbit saying, 'Jesus has arisen! Hide the eggs!' cracked me up. thanx.

Answer 3

The custom of bringing a tree indoors in the winter was a German tradition long before it was associated with Chirstmas. The idea was, since everyone had been cooped up inside a closed house without much bathing for a while, to bring in an evergreen tree to freshen the air.

Answer 4

Historically, the custom of decorating Christmas Tree can only be traced as far back as the 16th century, and there are various legends concerning its origin. Some think that Martin Luther introduced the Christmas tree. It is said that while coming home one dark winter's night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree.

However, there is general scholarly consensus that the Christmas tree originated in Germany. The earliest record of an evergreen tree being used and decorated (but without lights) for Christmas dates 1521 in the German region of Alsace. It was probably derived from the so-called "paradise tree" that symbolized the Garden of Eden portrayed in German mystery plays in the 16th century.

As far as we know, the first Christmas trees did not have lights; the first mention of lights (candles) on a Christmas tree is in the 17th century; these trees were decorated with paper roses, apples, Communion wafers, gold, foil, sweets, and dolls. The Christmas Tree slowly grew in popularity and use from the mid-seventeenth century onward. However, it was not until the beginning of the 19th century that the use of the Christmas tree grew considerably.

Answer 5

Endora! How did you know!
Yes, this is what they did, and they shopped untill their credit cards were max'ed out also.
Now, really, you know this better than I do.
When the faith was spreading from nation to nation, the followers of Jesus, (GOD) found common ground, and symbols that made understanding the concepts easier for others.
We are fisherman of souls, so we use the fish. We know Jesus died on the cross - so use use crosses. Other symbols came as explaining concepts at different locals were needed.
Being 2006, we now have saved every symbol and there are quite a few, aren't there. (2000 years worth) From snowy things to hot desert things, swampy things, island/oceany things. We have so much for people to use to focus on GOD that now people are questioning each value as a tool for focus.
To your second theme of one religion telling others not to use their symbols - you are right, trees,eggs, whatever does not render then worthless if nonbelievers use them, it means the religious have more work to do on their souls as they are lacking in compassion, and are too selfish. Gifts and symbols are for everyone, as GOD has his plan that no human will ever understand. Merry Winter Solstice, and Christmas to you for pointing this out.

Answer 6

I have never heard anyone say that someone had no right to a Christmas tree. I know I've never said that. I'm sorry if you believe all Christians are like that.

The significance of the evergreen tree is that Jesus is God, who is and was and always will be. He was alive in the beginning, He is alive today, and He will live forever. The tree is green year-round. It also symbolizes Jesus' purpose: to die on the cross to save us from our sins.

However, the tree is not the center of the holiday. It's really not even important. Christians need to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas! God bless.

Answer 7

Do not misunderstand Christians. No authentic Christian would think that way. Anybody is free to use whatever tree for whatever reason as long as due respect is given to the environment. Christ himself would even want as many persons as possible to participate in commemorating his birth. Moreso, there was no single Christian when Christ was born; not until after Crist's salvific death and ressurection! We all were drawn by his grace, you can also consider opening up to the same grace and things would be clearer to you.

Answer 8

The evergreen tree does not die in the Wintertime or lie dormant. It is green and living and growing all the time like the Catholic. The winter time represents death so the Catholic never dies. Other trees during winter lose their leaves and becomes just a skeleton (sort of)

Answer 9

PROMISED LAND PEOPLE CAPTIVE TO BABYLON AND WAYS NOT DONE BY THEM

Jer.10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

Rev.18:1-6; This is proof that 706 years after Babylon to Revelations, and KJV Bible 1611 published to 1620 is on soil never before organized as an Empire onto my life in 1942 [ 2548 years after Babylon Empire #3 ]; my dad explained to me that people stuff and kid stuff had nothing to do with God and Christ stuff, but evidence does show that the spirit of Babylon is alive and well and well liked by the majority of world wide population.
If it is wrong for believers, them that do it will get as mad as those that do not do it, as they would at God or Christ if they said it is wrong.

WILL THIS PRACTICE BE HERE WHEN JESUS TAKES OVER AS KING OF UNIVERSE?

Answer 10

Calm down and have pity on those poor brainwashed christians, thinking they have invented something new, unique and something them only have the right to. I mean, you really can't blame them for being brainwashed into delusions of grandeur by a bunch of black-clad old balding men, who try their hardest every sunday to hide the true pagan origins of their beliefs and habbits.
Sit back with a pot of pop corn, read and laugh and pity them. And then turn of the computer and put up a Yule tree and light a fire and meditate.
Blessed be.