I realize this is going to come off snide and I don't intend it to but I am truly curious.And apologise ahead of time if it seem's like I'm being snide.But I am trying to understand this better..
Why do most Christian's think they have the right to claim Christmas when in fact its mainly a "Pagan" holiday?And why don't they give credit to the religion whose traditions they are following?
Is that not a hypocracy in and of itself?
Thanks
2007-12-23 04:12:30 · 14 answers · asked by Malia G 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
And I don't mean those Christian's that do NOT celebrate Christmas.I'm referring to those who claim it as though their religion is solely resposnible for the creation of the holiday...The one's who spout off constantly that "He is the reason for the season".
2007-12-23 04:14:36 · update #1
sorry I misspelled responsible ugggg
2007-12-23 04:15:54 · update #2
Great answers and very informative thanks you all:)
2007-12-23 05:20:43 · update #3
Well, most people don't pay much attention to the way the holiday really evolved. In truth although Christmas is now associated with Christian mythology, in reality it began in it's current time as a (rather clever) way to co-opt the pagan harvest festivals that happen around this time of year and make conversion to Christianity easier (it's always easier to convert people if you make it seem at first like they will have to change little about their lives). In actuality, even according to the bible, the birth of Christ did not even take place in the winter.
Most of the things we associate with Christmas (Santa, the tree, stockings by the fire, etc.) are recent additions, within the past couple of hundred years, and many of them (like our current conception of Santa) were added by commercial concerns in an attempt to sell more of their product. So I think it's a very cogent argument to those who bemoan the "commercialization" of Christmas that in actuality what's happening is a return to the roots of a holiday that had been inappropriately made religious.
Most of the people who will go out and yell about "putting the Christ back in Christmas" know none of these things and are simply succumbing to the knee-jerk reaction which is becoming more common these days of trying to force others who do not share their beliefs to do so.
2007-12-23 04:36:55 · answer #1 · answered by The Doc 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think many people bring a rigid and uninformed interpretation to the origins of Christmas!
We need first to understand two important concepts:
1. Mythology - A myth is a story where the surface story is never meant to be given a literal or historic interpretation, but rather leads us to a more metaphysical "truth".
2. Archetype - An archetype is a common point of understanding and identification for all people of all cultures through all time.
In Western Europe Winter is cold dark and miserable and nothing grows. Through history the response has been to light a fire and have a party. The darkness of mid Winter is an archetype reflecting the furthest point from the "hope" of Spring and Summer.
The Roman Emperor Constantine did indeed "hijack" the festival of Saturnalia (same idea as above) an impose a Christian story on the pagan theme.in order to help bring stability and cement his position and power.
So...Here is the irony:
The Christ story is indeed a myth. Is is not to be given literal or historical interpretation. Christ was never a real personage but an all important archetype reflecting hope and the return of light to a dark world.
Pagan festivities reflect the connection of humanity to the earth and the seasons. As an archetype the Christian story fits well over the pagan framework.
But PLEASE... Let's understand that the Christian story is indeed a myth that points back directly to the human desire to seek hope, rebirth and the coming of light and Spring.
Let's understand that all people are the same. When we understand myths and archetypes we can then cease to seek separation driven by religion or belief. It is just the same old "deep" story retold in differing surface stories.
Hope I kept this short and simple.
2007-12-23 04:18:35 · answer #2 · answered by AS 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's interesting you point that out. Just the other day I was passing through a town that shall remain nameless where the residents were predominantly Pagans. Sometime in the mid to late 80's they all started moving to a run down old backwater that was hard to get to so they could get set up their own community and traditions. Anyway, they decided to observe Yule by keeping the Pagan traditions but leaving out the Christian Traditions. You would never even be able to tell the difference. It was so weird being in a town that had the trees, the decorations, and the music but all of it devoid of Christianity.
I will ring your doorbell and run away!!!
2007-12-23 04:20:18 · answer #3 · answered by Satan Lord of Flames 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I kind of relate this to Kwanza. The Pagans had their solstice celebrations this time of year, and the Christians celebrated the birth of Christ. Because they lived in the same society, a lot of traditions and symbols were shared, and interchangeable. There is nothing wrong with a society aligning holidays in order to be closer to each other. Celebrating your holiday the same time as everyone else brings societal unity.
Christians didn't really "steal" Christmas, because "Christmas" IS their holiday. Just because it happens the same time as the pagan celebrations, doesn't mean it belongs to the pagans. That would be like saying Christians were stealing Hanukkah because it falls in the same time of year.
2007-12-23 04:18:52 · answer #4 · answered by SuperN 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Christmas was created by the Catholic church to celebrate the birth of Christ. They put it on Dec. 25 to try and put a stop to the wide spread celebration of pagan holidays.
2007-12-23 04:16:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's a lot of beliefs combined
some messages are sublime
Just enjoy the "Christmas Soup"
and be merry as part of the group
Don't be like the ones you are Judging
Or you'll have no time for "Christmas fudging"
and making merry with all your friends
Until the season has come to an end.
2007-12-23 04:17:54 · answer #6 · answered by sisterzeal 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I read an article yesterday on the "first" church to celebrate the 25th.
They built their churches next to the pagan sites, sometimes within feet, to "bring" the pagans around.
Good article. Wish I knew how to link
2007-12-23 04:21:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
You should look up Saturnalia celbrated throughout the Roman empire 2000 years ago.
2007-12-23 04:17:16 · answer #8 · answered by Stainless Steel Rat 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Everyone needs to hear a cashier wish them a Merry Christmas, but there is only ONE way to celebrate it.
Yes, it's hypocrisy.
2007-12-23 04:18:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Even more funny is that in the Bible it tells them to not make holidays such as Christmas.
2007-12-23 04:15:57 · answer #10 · answered by Jett 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋