Is Christmas Really Christmas... Without Christ?

Question

Given the recent way of putting Christians down... the upsurge of people bent on removing Christ from Christmas celebrations... all the media hype about our schools outlawing the Christian message.

About banning the age old Nativity play that most people over forty took part in, being banned because of mixed races... where do you stand on this issue?

This is not a religious question... it's a general one.. to get the feel of 'real' change, inside today's UK society... as opposed to those who jump on the bandwaggon of the media's say so, that Christian's are being driven out.

Are you for Christ this Christmas?

Or are we really the Godless and Christian bashing society, we are being geared into believing?

I don't mind what your views are... so please, no abusive postings about believers from the sceptics... and no bible quotes of scripture, from Christians.

It's my own small survey as a Christian, so you'll know exactly where I stand;-)

Curiouser and curiouser??

Answer 1

I know that it originated from a pagan festival and that Jesus wasn't really born on 25th December but do you know what... that doesn't even come into my thinking when I think about Christmas. So what if we gatecrashed and hijacked a pagan festival? As good a date as any ;-)

If you took away the tree, presents, the mad spending, drink, the over-eating, reindeer, tinsel, turkey and anything else like that I could still celebrate Christmas and have a fantastic day because I love Jesus and celebrate him every day anway.

If you were to take Jesus out of Christmas then I probrably wouldn't bother with it because it would be back to its original roots of being a pagan festival. For me the idea of Christmas without Jesus is inconceivable and if I had a choice, I would take my children to see a nativity any day than take them to santa's grotto.

(by the way, I've already taken my kids to see santa this year and they've been in 3 different nativities already!)

Answer 2

1) I think that nativity scenes are okay in public places.
2) They are not anything to do with Separation of Church and State.
3) Those that oppose such things know little about the Inquisitions and the Dark Ages, and the Anglican Church, or chose to ignore the reasons that our forefathers in the USA had for bringing it up.
4) There won't be a Christmas as we know it in heaven.
5) Christmas is another part of the confusion that the world has to get over, being a poor witness to the world.
6) Just about everything that Constantine did concerning Saturnalia and the Official state church was a curse on the world.
7) When I see my family at Christmastime, most of which are in the dark, they are dead spiritually, but observe the ritual of Christmas joyfully. There is no love of God in them. Christmas is one of those things that make them 'fake' being spiritual.

So all the Christian 'hype' of keeping Christ in Christmas is another form of confusion perpetrated originally by the devil; even the elect are fooled.

Other than that, it can be fun! / :

It's a silly thing that Satan has confused many into. The flesh is weak.

I'll be glad when I am no longer subject to Christmas in that I am surrounded by it's idolatry, and I am inundated by it's wastefulness. (Christmas Trees for $194.00, giving to eachother instead of to Jesus; being His supposed birthday, and it isn't).

My spirit is so willing to do away with it. My flesh does what it does, and I hate my flesh for it. And I'm glad of it! ( ;

Answer 3

Speaking as a pagan who knows that Christmas was really Yule, the Winter Solstice and the Feast of Mithras, I have absolutely no objections to it being called Christmas. In fact I abhore those who would wipe out 2000 years of tradition just to call it some kind of Winter Festival. Christmas is a part of this countrys tradition and so be treated as such. Intergration is right but not at the expense of killing off our own traditions.

btw, Xmas is not an insult to Christians X is the Greek way of Christ and it was the churches that brought into the language.

Answer 4

I am a Christian and proudly acknowledge Christ at Christmas and throughout the year, but Christmas started out as a secular holiday focused on children. For years the Protestant church didn't celebrate Christmas. It didn't become a "Christian" holiday until after Santa was invented and until people of the church wanted to bring Christ into the holiday in the late 1800s.

Answer 5

I am a born-again, "spirit filled" Christian from many generations of Christians.....and I don't even buy presents for Christmas or go to parties to celebrate. All I do is go to the Christmas Service at the church where I fellowship each week. I believe that God didn't give us the specific date of Jesus birth because He knew what a mess we would make of it. But who knows. maybe a couple of people each year will get the message of God's love shown in Jesus Christ and find out how great is our God. So, let the celebrations continue....

Answer 6

The biblical accounts point to the autumn of the year as the most likely time of Jesus' birth based on the details and the conception and the birth of John the Baptist. Since Johns conception took place near the end of June adding nine months brings us to the end of March as the most likely time for John's birth. Adding another six months ( the difference in ages between John and Jesus) brings us to the end of September was the time of Jesus' birth

This amazingly late date. Christmas was not observed in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, until about 300 years after Christ Death. It's orgins cannot be traced back to either the teachings or practices of the earliest Christains.

Answer 7

As you know, Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ. First mentioned in 336AD, as being 25th.Dec. to oppose the old Roman celebration of 'the birth of the Sun of righteousness'. In Syria, in the 4th. century, it was connected with the Nativity. It is celebrated in Western Christianity with three Masses.-Midnight, dawn, and on the day. has always been celebrated by joy and merrymaking like the old pagan festivals. Prince Albert (Queen Victoria's husband introduced the Christmas tree, and Charles Dickens had influence on the popularity of Christmas. As the old saying goes, 'If you dont use it, you loose it'

Answer 8

I say let the media and the secular as well as religious wags rant! No one can steal Christ out of Christmas as long as people hold him in their hearts!
To me keeping Christ in Christmas is NOT some ploy of the Devil, and damned sure no reason to bring up old stuff from the dust bins of past wolrd history.
More Personally worded: I also say for the purposes of this question: Who gives a damn about its ancient history. It is today's people, faith, and attitudes that matter. Anyone wanting to bring up the past, or warp things around to an odd view are, well odd. I think for this question, the contemporary, wider view is in order. Now for my tuppence:
There is no reason in my opinion to think having a Christmas tree, having good food with family and friends, giving and recieving prezzies and children getting prezzies from Father Christmas is wrong. I think the kinder, lighter attitudes of many this time of the year is directly related to all the ways of celebrating.
Yes, I am a Christian too (CofE) so not quite the bible thumping types seen here occasionally. I certainly think I am for Christ this Christmas!
Charles "That Cheeky Lad"
A Wicked Happy Christmas to everyone!
Peace and prosperity to all!
P.S To Claire and others: I think most if not all of us go through times, if not decades of doubt. If you read any of C.S. Lewis' theology books--like The Problem with Pain, The Screwtape Letters (the best one to start with) and Surprized by Joy, it will help you not necessarily return to your old faith but define a faith that can carry you though the years--in spite of all. That and just dump our prayer book for a mo, and talk to God out of your own mind and feelings. Tell him all, and ask him to give you the right answers.
"This public advert was sponsored by 'That Cheeky Lad' who has also had doubts, but also understands reconciliation and restoration."

Answer 9

You say merry Christmas and a happy new year. But now more are into Happy Holidays...presents, food, Santa Claus.

Seriously, it's the bday of Jesus and who's getting the presents, we are...if we spend one hour in church and thank God for having a roof, food, family and gifts then that would be his present times a billion.

When you hear CHRISTMAS, what comes to your head...the most practical is PRESENTS!!! not Jesus...it's true, right? I go to mass every Christmas and It's very special and a majority thinks the presents are the only things special...please give blessing to others and that's the best gift to give

merry CHRISTmas!!!

Answer 10

I'm in my forties and religion has never entered any Christmas celebrations that I can remember. In the UK it is a purely secular festival with some informal lip service given to Christianity for the sake of tradition.