Christians and Christmas

[Egg]

In short:

Christmas is a pagan holiday co-opted by Christians.

Didn't the Romans just make Jesus' birth date coincide with the winter solstice/Natalis Invicti? Same as his conception coincidently landed on or close to the Vernal Equinox?

Not just do the dates match, so do the themes; Vernal equinox was the time of fertility rites and Natalis Invicti means birth on the unconquered one.

Easter started long before christianity. Eostre, the mother goddess of the Saxons. Easter was originally a celebration of spring and is an apt symbolism for the rebirth/resurrection of jesus.
really, the christians stole it and made it their own.

You might want to check out Cj's discussion in this thread.

 

[Tumblehome]

Fox Noise seems quite exercised by this. O'Really, Ingraham et al berate the move towards commercialism every night.

Dare we assume then that Christmas advertising is not allowed on their shows?

 

[Whiplash]

I'm betting Bill has some special Christmas "don't be a pinhead" Santa Hats and stuff on his website.

 

[mikeyx]

I'm not a Christian, but I can say that Jesus's birthday was not traditionally an important Christian holiday.

Easter is the big Christian holiday. Christmas was a season of revelry around the solstice, which got co-opted by the Christians, so if they complain that the "meaning" of Christmas gets lost in the other stuff, that rings hollow.

that and the fact all that santa stuff rings of a more Nordic (pagan) origin, kinda falls into finnish/viking folklorey stuff

 

[Egg]

that and the fact all that santa stuff rings of a more Nordic (pagan) origin, kinda falls into finnish/viking folklorey stuff

Santa is Viking? What makes you think that?

 

[kurious_kathy]

So being a Christian myself [at least officially "on paper"], what is your stance about all the commercial background of Christmas and the meaning of it?

In other words: While I see a lot of American Christians complaining about things like Gays, Abortion etc, I didn't sense a big controversy about the commercial aspect of Jesus's birth yet.

So what's wrong with you Christian people, are you more concerned about abortions, gays and socialism than the fact that Christmas day turned into a "Buy our stuff and **** that guy's birthday"-fest? :"p

Hi Oliver, First of all' what do you mean by you are a Christian officially on paper? This makes no sense to me.

Second of all, I just enjoy sharing Christ with others, not only at Christmas time but all throughout the year. The gifts are just an extra little expression of love towards family and friends (and even some needy families or children) at this special time of year. Some years I love to give a lot because God has given me much to share with others, and other years it may just be some baked goodies and cards, either way everyone usually enjoys the extra gifts at Christmas time.

And yes I agree the stores have captalized a bit too much on it, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't enjoy it; I myself feel Christmas is a special time for all who believe in Christ. I enjoy all of it, the carols, the decorations, the visiting friends and family, and especially reaching out to needy families, along with the special church messages of the birth of Christ this special time of year.

 

[Hux]

Shouldn't you have given those gifts to the meek, the poor and the needy rather than to your relatives? Wouldn't that have been a true Christian expression?

 

[Lord Emsworth]

Hi Oliver, First of all' what do you mean by you are a Christian officially on paper? This makes no sense to me.

The same thing holds true for me. I am officially a member of the EKD (and if you must know, I am Lutheran), without believing in any God or supernatural stuff. It may make more sense once you know that at the time I became a member of the church - probably when I was baptized - I couldn't even talk , and that I just haven't bothered to leave the church since then (and I have little inclination to do so).

 

[Meadmaker]

Hi Oliver, First of all' what do you mean by you are a Christian officially on paper? This makes no sense to me.

I can't speak for Oliver, but there are plenty of atheists and agnostics who are members of churches and in some cases active participants who attend and participate regularly. They like all the trappings of church, and the community of the congregation, but they think all that God stuff is just unimportant.

I'm a Jew officially on paper, meaning I'm an active member of the synagogue, but I don't believe in God, and I am confident there are many like me in the congregation. Of course, it's a bit easier to do that with Judaism than Christianity. "Faith" isn't so central to Jewish belief, so a non-believer wouldn't feel quite as much discomfort with all those proclamations of faith. The fact that most of them are in a language we can't actually speak or understand might help with that, too.