Well, seems like most people know that Christmas was originally a pagan holiday that the Roman Catholic church took and simply changed the names to Mary, Jesus, and etc to help convert the pagans. Thru the years it's become based off of Yule, Saturnalia, and Sol Invictus.
So if we all know that it's roots are pagan and that the origin of the holiday is not in Christ but simply about Him then wouldn't it be a dead work? Why would the Lord honor our actions if this is a man made tradition?
2006-12-28 01:58:48 · 11 answers · asked by Jasmine 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Luvwinz...I asked the question this way based off how people usually answer Christmas questions. That's all.
2006-12-28 02:21:28 · update #1
Kenny...can you tell me where you're getting your info. All my research shows it was originally pagan based. This is even based off old writings by Catholics way back when
2006-12-28 02:32:22 · update #2
perhaps he honours the people that don't know any better. As for those who do know....I'm not sure? I often pondered that myself.
2006-12-28 02:26:13 · answer #1 · answered by babya 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand where you got the idea that the Roman Catholic Church change anything to the names Mary and Jesus. But your other thoughts about the pagan holiday not being honored by God or Jesus are true.
2006-12-28 02:24:32 · answer #2 · answered by wannaknow 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The roots of the Christian Christmas are not pagan. Yes, it's true that the date (12/25) was the date of the Winter Solstice and acient god celebration. The Nativity event (we now call it Christmas after the traditional celebration of Christ's Mass) likely occurred sometime during the summer or fall. When looking for a date to universally celebrate and recognize the day, the Christian emperor Constantine selected 12/25 in hopes of converting non-Christians to Christianity.
For those who see Christmas as a secular day, then yes, the roots are pagan. You give gifts, eat and drink. For Christians, however, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. His birth began a chain of events that would ultimately lead to our eternal salvation. We recognize the beauty, glory and awesomeness of His birth! That we exchange gifts and have a big dinner should be secondary to Christians.
In terms of dead works, nothing done in the Lord's name is a dead work. Adoration is not a deed or work...it's just that...adoration of the Lord. As for works, we praise God in song and dance as commanded in the bible. He honors that. We give to those in need as he commanded biblically. He finds favor in that. We love one another and share His good news as commanded. He honors that. Works done for our own glory are dead works, however anything done in His name and for good of His Kingdom is honored.
2006-12-28 02:45:52 · answer #3 · answered by Apple21 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You foloow the false teachers blindly as do many people
what a shame
Christmas did NOT have pagan beginnings. Although we don not know the exact day of Jesus' birth, this time of year was chosed to give an alternative to paganism worship.
People can make those forever, it still doesn't make the true
2006-12-28 02:23:41 · answer #4 · answered by kenny p 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't recall anything in the Bible saying that we shouldn't worship our Lord and Savior by adopting a holiday and making it our own. If our own reasons are genuine, what does the origin matter? We're still celebrating Jesus - that's the point to us.
"Honor our actions?" It sounds like you view God in less relational terms than most Chrisitans do.
2006-12-28 02:08:51 · answer #5 · answered by luvwinz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how some celebrate Christmas but I do put up a tree not because I worship it either, but because it is pretty. I don't buy gifts and I dont sing Happy Birthday to Jesus when I dont know when his Birthday is. Plus people want to put Jesus back in the manger each year and thats so wrong. Jesus is in heaven with God.
2006-12-28 02:11:52 · answer #6 · answered by iwant_u2_wantme2000 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ah but you see the failure in reasoning is that when a Christian celebrates Christmas (the Feast of the Nativity) in the Orthodox manner, it does become about Jesus. One short Christmas service with candles does not do it justice. Christmas celebrates the glorious mystery of Christ's incarnation by way of retelling the sacred stories surrounding his incarnation. In the four weeks of Advent, we prepare for engaging that mystery by purifying ourselves and reminding ourselves that Jesus is coming. Finally, as Christmas approaches we wait in vigil from sunset on Christmas eve and return for the Midnight Mass at which we are faced with the glorious mystery of Christ's incarnation.
The Christian liturgical calendar is a beautiful cycle which brings us through the story of Jesus' life and ministry as well as through a yearly cycle of contemplation of the various mysteries. You could call it a product of Christian syncretism.
Syncretism is the assimilation of surrounding beliefs and/or practices into another religion. Recall that early Christians would also celebrate Jewish holidays such as Rosh Chodesh (beginning of the Lunar Month), Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (day of Atonement). As the Christian sect expanded into the Roman empire, so too did it assimilate Roman traditions. In fact, the story of Jesus' birth as we know it today is uncannily similar to the story of the birth of the God of Bread and Wine Dionysus.
With regard to the Tree and the Presents, those were never an original part of the Christmas celebration. In fact, originally presents were given either at the feast of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) on Dec. 6, or throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas from Dec. 25 until Jan. 6 (The Epiphany of our Lord). The tree is also of pagan tradition, and was never part of the Christmas celebrations.
Finally to deal with the theological question, God honors the intentions of our hearts and not only the physical actions of our body. All of the thousands of prayers and songs we sing are worthless in our relationship with God if we mean nothing by it. Prayer without intent is as good as wasted time. In fact, prayer without intent is tantamount to heresy. Christmas may have been a syncretized feast, however, now it is so woven into our culture as Christians, that it is an essential part of the wonderful tapestry which is the Church, the Body of Christ.
So, if your intent is to glorify God and to celebrate and engage the mystery of the Incarnation at the Holy Nativity, then the feast of the Nativity is only about Christ and God will honor your intent.
Peace be With You
The Orthodox Anglican Buddhist Catholic
2006-12-28 02:17:49 · answer #7 · answered by OrthoAng 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it true the tree and over spending on gifts and Santa Claus id not what Christmas is all about.alot of this stuff is pagan in my opinion but the true meaning of Christmas is suppose to be pointed towards jesus's birth.not all these other things.
2006-12-28 02:11:38 · answer #8 · answered by country girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Lord doesn't honor our actions. We worship the Lord.
2006-12-28 02:08:28 · answer #9 · answered by jinenglish68 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of the spirit of family and compassion of the season?
Love and peace for 200 Alex ;)
2006-12-28 02:08:41 · answer #10 · answered by Heh? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋