Why does it matter?
You sound like a JW, and you KNOW what everybody thinks of those...
2007-04-03 11:49:14
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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The real reason Christians celebrate Christmas is not celebrating Jesus' birthday. We aren't celebrating his BIRTH even, not really. What we are celebrating is the incarnation of God as one of us. In other words, we are celebrating that our God loved (and still loves) us so much that God was willing to take on flesh and become a human. The way in which this was done was the birth of a baby, Jesus. It's a pretty story, something easy for children to understand, and it makes adults feel all warm and mushy. But the point isn't that this is a birthday; the point is we are remembering, acknowledging, and celebrating God's love for us.
The date isn't important - it was simply easier to usurp local customs that celebrated the returning sun after the winter solstice and the triumph of the "Sun God" over Darkness. Change "sun" to "Son" and you see what we end up with.
2007-04-03 11:59:50
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answer #2
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answered by Church Music Girl 6
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I really don't think of things you listed matter much. And I don't think Jesus cares if his birthday is on Dec. 25 or the 4th of July. People, in general, didn't celebrate birthdays back then either. We celebrate it in his honor, to honor him, to honor what he did for us. There are really only three important Christian holidays, Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas, to me. And, so we do celebrate his life, and his death and the resurrection. Because we are Christians, ( of and for the Christ ) ( Followers of the Christ )
2007-04-03 11:59:38
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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While growing up we celebrated Christmas, not because that is 'the day' Christ was born. It was to focus on celebrating teh birth of our Lord and Savior.
But, now that I have my own place; I stopped celebrating Christmas and began observing Chanukkah.
Since, getting back to our (Christians) roots in Judaism. I have discovered that 'religion' will not save you, a 'relationship' with Yahweh (God) and Yeshua (Christ Jesus) will.
2007-04-03 11:58:16
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answer #4
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answered by whathappentothisnation 3
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Go back & study ancient church history. "Back in the day" when the Apostles were still alive, they all practiced Judaism, but believed in Jesus.
Even Jesus Himself practiced Judaism! Every holiday He practiced is in what you call the Old Testament.
A man known as Constantine changed all the structure of ancient churches to what it is today; making it illegal to practice Judaism or celebrate Scriptural Feasts.
Go read it for yourself. Look up the Council of Nicea, or anything pertaining to Constantine.
An EXCELLENT book to read on this is "The Messianic Church Arising" by Robert D. Heidler.
2007-04-03 11:53:59
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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History pionts to the fact that the tax census, which brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlemhem, was during the winter months. We're not celebrating his birthday in the literal sense. Instead we're celebrating the miracle of God acutally coming to earth in human form. Christmas is about how God loved us so much that he came from heaven to earth to offer us the gift of salvation. During this time we're supposed to reflect on the miracle of his birth and the love of his act. Unfortunately, Christmas has become a time of pretty lights, gifts, food, and parades. So it's no wonder you asked about celebrating it.
2007-04-03 11:52:48
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answer #6
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answered by YoungScholar 2
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We don't celebrate it as a "birthday" but rather as an event of salvation. God became incarnate for our sake, assumed human condition in everything except sin: some reason for celebration isn't it? The date is conventional, but that doesn't mean one shouldn't remember it and rejoice!
2007-04-03 11:52:13
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answer #7
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answered by Cristian Mocanu 5
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The "birthday" of jesus was determined 300 years after his death, for political reasons. Those who believe that he really was born on December 25 are mere idolators who don't even know what sin they are committing. What a joke. I feel sorry for them.
2007-04-03 12:04:43
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answer #8
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answered by Fred 7
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something i read a while back said givin the point of which the star was at Christ's birth he was born in late summer. anyways Christmas today is a commercial holiday that has lost any meaning and personally I think it is just a christian rip-off of Yule
2007-04-03 11:51:00
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answer #9
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answered by Cat 2
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Maybe we should have no holidays. Independence Day and Labor Day are also not in the Bible. I think i will continue to celebrate all of the holidays i always have. Me listening to you is also not in the Bible.
2007-04-03 11:50:42
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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Christianity borrowed its central myths and ceremonies from other ancient religions. The ancient world was rife with tales of virgin births, miracle-working saviors, tripartite gods, gods taking human form, gods arising from the dead, heavens and hells, and days of judgment. In addition to the myths, many of the ceremonies of ancient religions also match those of that syncretic latecomer, Christianity.
To cite but one example (there are many others), consider Mithraism, a Persian religion predating Christianity by centuries. Mithra, the savior of the Mithraic religion and a god who took human form, was born of a virgin; he belonged to the holy trinity and was a link between heaven and Earth; and he ascended into heaven after his death. His followers believed in heaven and hell, looked forward to a day of judgment, and referred to Mithra as "the Light of the World." They also practiced baptism (for purification purposes) and ritual cannibalism—the eating of bread and the drinking of wine to symbolize the eating and drinking of the god’s body and blood.
Given all this, Mithra’s birthday should come as no surprise: December 25th; this event was, of course, celebrated by Mithra’s followers at midnight.
Mithraism is but the most striking example of the appearance of these myths and ceremonies prior to the advent of Christianity. They appear—in more scattered form—in many other pre-Christian religions.
2007-04-03 11:53:41
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answer #11
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answered by Audrey Grace 2
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