or are they hypocrits and exchange gifts in the
celebration of Christ ?
2007-09-17 03:58:42 · 21 answers · asked by Elaine814 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Christmas was a pagan holiday long before Christians coopted it, and it is now a cultural holiday for western culture, regardless of one's religious views.
the only hypocracy are the Christians who participate in pagan holidays while pretending it's theirs.
2007-09-17 04:05:37 · answer #1 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 23⤊ 3⤋
Jesus was one of the great thinkers of all time. A man who's philosophy should be honored and celebrated across the lands. I do celebrate Christmas as a time at the end of the year to exchange gifts with family and loved ones, as a time to reflect on a great mind and what he did for the world. If that makes me a hypocrite for recognizing the greatness of a man that I deny is the son of god then so be it. I have been called much much worse.
B
2007-09-17 11:08:29 · answer #2 · answered by Bacchus 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In actuality, the dates that you know as 'Christmas' have nothing to do with your JC's birth date.
The date was selected by the Emperor Constantine in Rome as being convenient for the populace and was a pagan celebration date - hence the holly and ivy and mistletoe and even the christmas tree.
As an atheist, I accept the holiday in late December as tradition but do not associate it with religion at all.
It must be very confusing being a christian who believes all that he (she?) is taught without question, profound thought, application of logic, education about religious history - or indeed ANY history other than what appears in the bible.
The word 'pity' surges into my mind.
2007-09-17 11:12:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I exchange gifts in celebration of togetherness and Yuletide.
Sorry. If you learn your history you will find that Christians are hypocrites at Christmas, they just 'borrowed' an older festival of the midwinter solstice and now celebrate it by consumerism, lying to their children about 'Santa' and hanging pagan symbols about the place.
Something tells me you aren't really interested in truth.
2007-09-17 11:11:43 · answer #4 · answered by Bajingo 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Err...so you think God told you to exchange gifts???? Really, I must have missed that in the Bible. Heck, I didn't see a thing about Christmas there at all. Could it be that you just adopted the Yule festival?
There is nothing hypocritical about getting with your family and exchanging gifts. We just don't use a sky faerie as an excuse.
2007-09-17 11:11:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
Exchanging gifts dates back to Roman times.
Now you know, I hope you do not perpetuate that pagan custom.
Christmas dinner is out too - that comes from the pagan midwinter feast.
No Christmas tree, that's pagan too.
No lights, those are Jewish Hindu and pagan based.
Also most serious theologians and historians know that celebrating Jesus' (alleged) birth in mid winter is totally unfounded and just plain wrong.
The puritans knew this a long time ago and actually banned Christmas, recognising it for the pagan festival that it is.
Before calling others hypcrits (sic) I would suggest that you actually go educate yourself about the religion you profess to believe in.
2007-09-17 11:12:10 · answer #6 · answered by Simon T 7 · 7⤊ 1⤋
I'm not a hypocrite for celebrating the cultural celebration of capitalism that takes place around the winter solstice. Some people call that Christmas, some call it Yule, and I know some people who celebrate Festivus. My family celebrates a holiday, and I participate because I love my family. I also celebrate Halloween...but I don't really believe that it's the night when ghosties and goblins run free.
2007-09-17 11:08:42 · answer #7 · answered by N 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
The Christians basically hijacked Pagan rituals such as the celebration of Yule and turned it into what you refer to as a celebration of Christ. I have absolutely no qualms with celebrating a stolen holiday.
2007-09-17 11:40:58 · answer #8 · answered by Rappel_Welch 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I celebrate Christmas because it makes my family happy. Its the only time of year everyone gets together at one time. I didn't celebrate if for a couple years and my family convinced me to just come over for dinner and no presents.
2007-09-17 11:25:25 · answer #9 · answered by mable3691214 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We celebrate the birth of Mithra, Horus, and Krishna, all deities born of a virgin on Dec. 25th. All predate the supposed virgin birth of Jesus.
Or we could be celebrating the Winter Solstice, a Pagan holiday that also predates Jesus.
Or we could just be enjoying the holiday time with our family and friends.
I am not an atheist and you are one of the reason why I believe Christianity is about hate.
I love to save questions like this to show my son. I want him to see examples of Christianity for himself.
2007-09-17 11:10:18 · answer #10 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 8⤊ 2⤋
No. We exchange gifts in the tradition of Santa Claus, north pole version.
BTW: great original question...I'm surprised nobody else has ever asked this!
2007-09-17 11:09:02 · answer #11 · answered by Love #me#, Hate #me# 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋