Many of these people don't even know the meaning of Christmas, yet abuse it just to get presents and have a good time with family and friends. It is probably the only day of the year where they are truly "Christian". It seems that the most non-religious Christians benefite from such holidays the most...
I've noticed that people of other religions do not abuse their holidays (as much) and at least have a decent understanding of the holiday and don't only pretend to be that religion on holidays.
2007-06-22 11:54:10 · 13 answers · asked by Omer 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
summer time Mom:
No, I gave you a thumbs up, because your answer was honest and worded nicely :) Besides, I feel the same pain with the Media and how it sways the people of America to think in only their way.
2007-06-22 15:32:33 · update #1
Christmas is a great holiday without all the superstitious nonsense added on. I'm an atheist, but that is my favorite holiday. There's not much about the holiday that's inherently religious. Christians, themselves, borrowed most of the traditions from solstice celebrations.
Other than the holiday's name and a made up date for the birth of their main storybook character, it is a secular holiday.
2007-06-22 11:59:53 · answer #1 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Actually, Christmas is considered to be a false holiday by some. The holiday originated through witchcraft, people had orgies and threw immoralistic parties. The church overtook this holiday and turned it into a Christian holiday. That is why Jehovahs witnesses don't celebrate it. Just because someone says they are a christian doesn't mean they live a christian lifestyle. I would tell everyone not to judge, the whole purpose is to become as close to GOD as you can no matter what your religion. It is always better to encourage faith rather than discourage it no matter what. : )
2007-06-22 19:05:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, Christians are not truly Christian on Christmas, because it's a pagan holiday. I'm sure this is not the first time you've heard/known that, so why do you keep dogging people for celebrating a holiday they don't believe in, when it's a false holiday for you? Are you pagan?
In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.
In Rome, the Winter Solstice was celebrated many years before the birth of Christ. The Romans called their winter holiday Saturnalia, honoring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. In January, they observed the Kalends of January, which represented the triumph of life over death. This whole season was called Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. The festival season was marked by much merrymaking. It is in ancient Rome that the tradition of the Mummers was born. The Mummers were groups of costumed singers and dancers who traveled from house to house entertaining their neighbors. From this, the Christmas tradition of caroling was born.
In northern Europe, many other traditions that we now consider part of Christian worship were begun long before the participants had ever heard of Christ. The pagans of northern Europe celebrated the their own winter solstice, known as Yule.
Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual. Hollyberries were thought to be a food of the gods.
The tree is the one symbol that unites almost all the northern European winter solstices. Live evergreen trees were often brought into homes during the harsh winters as a reminder to inhabitants that soon their crops would grow again. Evergreen boughs were sometimes carried as totems of good luck and were often present at weddings, representing fertility. The Druids used the tree as a religious symbol, holding their sacred ceremonies while surrounding and worshiping huge trees.
In 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25. There is little doubt that he was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans (who remained a majority at that time) to convert to Christianity. The new religion went down a bit easier, knowing that their feasts would not be taken away from them.
Do I need to go on or do you get the point?
All you simple-minded Christians should learn a bit of history before you start another nauseating "the war on christmas!!!" thing this year. Please.
2007-06-22 19:01:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
because these holidays have been so materialized, and by no one else except christians. and yes i'm sure many if not a lot of christians take their religious holidays seriously, but its become more of a ignorant reason to buy and receive gifts. i actually found survey given to children AND adults ranging from 10 years of age to 40 about christian religious holidays, sadly, out of the 4,000 people who took that survey more than 1/3 were clueless!
2007-06-22 19:01:41 · answer #4 · answered by crystalclear72000 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christmas has turned commercial. Atheists celebrate it, not as a time to remember Jesus, but as a present giving/getting time. So do many Christians. It is all just a part of whether you make faith a Sunday thing or a life thing.
2007-06-22 19:04:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know it gives us Christians a bad name , but remember that are are also lots of us that do remember the true reason of the season
I think it got so out of control because of the media & how everyone thinks that they can make eachother happy w/ materialistic gifts, yet they miss the BEST gift of all Jesus & everlasting life
( yes, I know I will get some thumbs down on this answer , but to each their own & I have a right to believe just like others who choose not to )
take care
2007-06-22 19:03:09 · answer #6 · answered by start 6-22-06 summer time Mom 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Evidently, you don't know the real meaning of christmas either. Do you not know where all of your "religious" holidays come from??? Did you not know that it is impossible for christ to have been born anywhere NEAR december according to your own bible??
Christmas, easter, valentine's day, thanksgiving. They were all pagan first, stolen by christianity to incorporate the beliefs of the common people into the faith and thus convert them. Before you start going off about how christians arent' religious but celebrate christmas you need to learn the origins of your so-called "religious" holidays.
2007-06-22 19:02:59 · answer #7 · answered by lupinesidhe 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Christmas has become commercialized and materialized by companies, and americans. I think they are just buying into that, as you said. It has become more about buying presents and food, than time with family and worship. Some would prefer it that way, I'm sure. I guess it's an example of how traditions change over time.
2007-06-22 18:58:35 · answer #8 · answered by M S 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well it seems you answered your own question: they want the presents! But I know tons of people of other religions who also celebrate Christmas, at least the tree and presents part. Quite silly really.
2007-06-22 18:59:52 · answer #9 · answered by sylvie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the are celebrating the birthday of Mithra. Or the winter solstice.
I love it when you people go after each other.
2007-06-22 19:06:22 · answer #10 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋