Christmas

Discussion in 'Religion Archives' started by Kizlevru, Nov 1, 2002.

  1. Kizlevru Guest

    Merry Xmas Everyone
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 2, 2002
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. Thor "Pfft, Rebel scum!" Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,326
    To be perfectly honest, I only celebrate Christmas for my family. They celebrate it so I just go along with it.
    Anyway, isn't the TRUE meaning of Christmas supposed to be about spending time with family and thinking about others?
    Not about the birth of a man who may or may not have been our savior
     
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. Adam §Þ@ç€ MØnk€¥ Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,415
    It's an excuse to:
    - Do nice things for people.
    - Have a party.

    What is hypocritical about it?
     
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. grazzhoppa yawwn Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,277
    Christmas has strayed from what it was originally meant for. It's more about what they mentioned above, the religious aspect of it has been washed away by commercialism and Santa Claus.

    To the public, Christmas is all about gifts and being jolly.
    To someone Christmas might be all about the baby Jesus and celebrating him.

    Anyone know if Christian third world countries take Christmas seriously or is it still commercialised there?
     
  8. Adam §Þ@ç€ MØnk€¥ Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,415
    Two more clues:

    1) It's not, actually. The christians ripped it off from other religions/cultures.

    2) I don't give a damn. It's an excuse for people to get nice things for each other and have a party.
     
  9. bbcboy Recovering christian Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,104
    If it wasn't for the operation I'd go jewish.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  10. Thor "Pfft, Rebel scum!" Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,326
    Its just one of those days that friends and family gather around and have some fun
    Hardly anyone takes the original meaning of it seriously anymore
    People don't see it as a religious holiday nowadays
     
  11. Bachus Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,271
    Christmas = 2 days off = more bar time
     
  12. Thor "Pfft, Rebel scum!" Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,326
    Hey don't quote me incorrectly, I didn't put 'Christmas is'.
    I think you may have misunderstood what I said

    Lots of people here in the UK. As we've gona over already, people see it as a time to come together and spent time with one another. And also to have the biggest turkey ever

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  13. Raithere plagued by infinities Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,348
    Most of them, actually. Christmas falls close to the Winter Solstice, which is on December 21st. Of course, the ancients didn't always calculate this with perfect accuracy. But most cultures had(have) some sort of Solstice celebration.

    Here's a good link with some particulars:
    http://www.religioustolerance.org/winter_solstice.htm

    It's also interesting to note that Easter falls close the Spring (or Vernal) Equinox and that All Saints Day falls close to the Autumnal Equinox. I believe the RC Church also has a holiday near the Summer Equinox but I don't recall what it is.

    ~Raithere
     
  14. fadingCaptain are you a robot? Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,762
    I celebrate christmas because it is fun. Holidays are fun. I like the goodwill and gift giving. I like spending time with my family.

    Do you think that just because I don't believe Jesus was our saviour, I should be a scrooge? Christmas means so much more than a 2000 year old birthday.

    Let me ask you this: Do you believe in witches and devils and evil spirits? Do you still participate in halloween activities? Think about it.
     
  15. Thor "Pfft, Rebel scum!" Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,326
    I don't party or celebrate, I just meet up with family
    And:
    A - I don't enjoy it
    B - I do it for my family

    I care not for presents and I don't care if I don't get anything. I just try to keep my family happy. I think thats a good enough reason

    I don't believe that Jesus was a savior (and I'm not Jewish either). Thats what I mean.
    Also the actual date of Jesus's birth is extremely sketchy. I recall reading about Jesus not being born 2002 years ago in RE, it was just a little nearer (by a few years)
     
  16. postoak Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    281
    A little farther -- Jesus is believed to have been born in 4 B.C.
     
  17. Thor "Pfft, Rebel scum!" Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,326
    My bad, thanks for the correction

    I'll have to dig up those old school books
     
  18. (Q) Encephaloid Martini Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    20,855
    Why do atheists celebrate Christmas?

    What is your definition of celebrating Christmas ?
     
  19. (Q) Encephaloid Martini Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    20,855
    I'll rephrase the question:

    How do you celebrate Christmas ? What exactly do you do to celebrate the birth of Jesus ? What does it involve ? Who does it involve ? How do you spend your time during this event ?
     
  20. *stRgrL* Kicks ass Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,495
    I hate Christmas. Always have and always will.
     
  21. shinobi Junior Member Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    153
    Christmas is a holiday which, because it brings together Christian, Pagan and secular traditions is a great way for people to get together regardless of their faith. As an athiest I enjoy the opportunity to get together with my Christian family and friends and I am not aware that any of them regard this as hypocritical.
     
  22. (Q) Encephaloid Martini Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    20,855
    You simply cannot make blanket statements like, "Hypocrites or what... The answers so far are hilarious... If you did know why, then you'd be a hypocrite too...it only makes you sound stupid," without first defining the criteria. In other words, you cannot make comparisons when you offer nothing to compare.

    I suspect you are now backed into a corner because you cannot answer my questions with honest answers. I suspect it is you who may be the hypocrite.
     
  23. Adam §Þ@ç€ MØnk€¥ Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,415
    Kixlevru

    Follow the bouncing ball...

    1) Christianity "borrowed" all the early stories from other religions and cultures. The story of Noah's Ark, for example, was a much more complex and interesting Akkadian story long before the christians mutilated it.

    2) Christianity absorbed many older customs which people celebrated all the time anyway, such as big Winter solstice parties, because it could not effectively crush such traditions.

    3) The entire story of the god sending his son/self to Earth in human form to take on our sins and die for us was literally stolen wholesale from Mithraism. That other religion, worship of Mithra/Mithras/Mitra/Mitras, was quite big around the north and east Mediterranean until about 400ad.

    4) These days, christmas is indeed celebrated by christians. But the time of year is also still celebrated as simply the Winter solstice by many. Yes, christians celebrate an occasion based on stolen and mutilated stories now. But saying it is purely a christian occasion would be like saying Arnold Schwarzeneggar's new movie Musashi is purely an American story.
     

Share This Page