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SteelerEmpire 12-20-2010 03:09 PM
Question to Christians ?
 
Its Christmas time again. The season for giving and celebration. Everyone buys, buys, and buys gifts and presents for their children and loved ones. The kids get to write to Santa Claus and perhaps go and take a picture with him at the local mall. Early Christmas morning everyone opens their gifts, family's visits each other, has a feast and get's drunk and passes out. Then prep for the New Years Eve party next week. Kool...
But if I'm not mistaken, is not Christmas the celebration of Jesus's birthday ? I know that I have not seen one (1) celebration that honored Jesus's birthday in the form of a birthday party just for him ? Of course I'm not a Christian (but Jewish), so therefore I may have missed something ? Any explanation of why there is'ent any birthday parties / celebrations for Jesus ?

MasterOfPuppets 12-20-2010 04:45 PM
Re: Question to Christians ?
 
Christmas' pagan origins

Few people realize that the origins of a form of Christmas was pagan & celebrated in Europe long before anyone there had heard of Jesus Christ.





Quote:
No one knows what day Jesus Christ was born on. From the biblical description, most historians believe that his birth probably occurred in September, approximately six months after Passover. One thing they agree on is that it is very unlikely that Jesus was born in December, since the bible records shepherds tending their sheep in the fields on that night. This is quite unlikely to have happened during a cold Judean winter. So why do we celebrate Christ’s birthday as Christmas, on December the 25th?

The answer lies in the pagan origins of Christmas. 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. Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, being born, and was observed on the shortest day of the year. As the Sun God grew and matured, the days became longer and warmer. It was customary to light a candle to encourage Mithras, and the sun, to reappear next year.

Huge Yule logs were burned in honor of the sun. The word Yule itself means “wheel,” the wheel being a pagan symbol for the sun. 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 worshipping 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.

Christmas (Christ-Mass) as we know it today, most historians agree, began in Germany, though Catholics and Lutherans still disagree about which church celebrated it first. The earliest record of an evergreen being decorated in a Christian celebration was in 1521 in the Alsace region of Germany. A prominent Lutheran minister of the day cried blasphemy: “Better that they should look to the true tree of life, Christ.”

The controversy continues even today in some fundamentalist sects.
http://www.essortment.com/all/christmaspagan_rece.htm

ricardisimo 12-20-2010 05:00 PM
Re: Question to Christians ?
 
Christ is a big fan of consumer capitalism. I thought everyone knew that. Just spend five minutes watching the 700 Club, or TBN, and you'll see the light.

MasterOfPuppets 12-20-2010 05:40 PM
Re: Question to Christians ?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ricardisimo (Post 882941)
Christ is a big fan of consumer capitalism. I thought everyone knew that. Just spend five minutes watching the 700 Club, or TBN, and you'll see the light.
not true... you have to send a donation to see the light....:popcorn:

floodcitygirl 12-20-2010 06:02 PM
Re: Question to Christians ?
 
Some churches do have "birthday party" celebrations during the Christmas season. Others that I know don't do that, but include various things within their services to honor the birth of Christ.

To me, the particular date really doesn't matter. I still believe that setting a time aside to reflect and be grateful for the gift of Christ coming to earth in human form is an act of worship and honoring to God. As far as all of the other trappings that come with Christmas, I think family traditions are awesome. Personally I think God doesn't really give a flip about trees, lights, gifts, etc, one way or the other. People always seem to find ways to fight about such things that ultimately don't matter.

Whodis 12-20-2010 06:27 PM
Re: Question to Christians ?
 
[YOUTUBE]U5yKfmjwIbg[/YOUTUBE]

vasteeler 12-20-2010 06:31 PM
Re: Question to Christians ?
 
christmas these says is for santa not jesus

urgle burgle 12-24-2010 10:14 AM
Re: Question to Christians ?
 
when i was a kid, i used to make a birthday card for the Big Guy.

caplovestroyp43 12-25-2010 12:42 AM
Re: Question to Christians ?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by floodcitygirl (Post 882988)
Some churches do have "birthday party" celebrations during the Christmas season. Others that I know don't do that, but include various things within their services to honor the birth of Christ.

To me, the particular date really doesn't matter. I still believe that setting a time aside to reflect and be grateful for the gift of Christ coming to earth in human form is an act of worship and honoring to God. As far as all of the other trappings that come with Christmas, I think family traditions are awesome. Personally I think God doesn't really give a flip about trees, lights, gifts, etc, one way or the other. People always seem to find ways to fight about such things that ultimately don't matter.
Right On!! My mom seems to think Christ was born in the Spring. Guess we'll never know but I'm glad we have a day to recognize God's most Wonderful Gift to mankind.

therocksteeler 12-26-2010 06:17 PM
Re: Question to Christians ?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by floodcitygirl (Post 882988)
Some churches do have "birthday party" celebrations during the Christmas season. Others that I know don't do that, but include various things within their services to honor the birth of Christ.

To me, the particular date really doesn't matter. I still believe that setting a time aside to reflect and be grateful for the gift of Christ coming to earth in human form is an act of worship and honoring to God. As far as all of the other trappings that come with Christmas, I think family traditions are awesome. Personally I think God doesn't really give a flip about trees, lights, gifts, etc, one way or the other. People always seem to find ways to fight about such things that ultimately don't matter.


:iagree:

I like ....... well put!


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