I was going to post this as a reply in the "other thread", but decided, in the spirit of the season, not to pollute that thread with my ramblings. So I start a new thread... Do you mean the rebirth of the Sun? Don't get me wrong, you know me better than that. I just get tired of the platitudes. There is nothing about the Christmas season which has to do with Christ. Not even the season itself. By all research and calculations, Jesus was born in late spring or early summer. One should remember Christ all year long. If you want to pick a special day to remember Him, use Easter, when He accomplished His purpose, not His birth when He accomplished nothing. When we celebrate Columbus Day we celebrate the day he arrived in the New World, not the day he left Spain. As far as Christmas; the trees, the tinsel, caroling, gift exchange, the whole nine yards was co-opted from pagan traditions and were practiced long before Christ was born in Bethlehem. Not a single "Christmas" tradition has anything to do with Jesus Christ, His purpose, or His message. So, exactly what is the reason for the season? The reason is to give families an excuse to return home and spend time with each other. It's to watch the eyes of children light up with they see the gifts under the tree Christmas morning. To take a minute or two to look around and see that, in spite of everything, you have actually built a good life for yourself and your loved ones.
Had the same thought, but had a change of heart before pushing the "Submit Reply" button. But did not have the nads to start a new thread. To your topic, I take the time at the end of one year and the beginning of another, and look at my life and how good I have it and the needs of others to try and make the new year as good or better than this one.
I celebrate Christ's B-day on Christmas along with everything else you posted Clif. I know some don't believe and I don't force my belief's on them. I think Christmas has become more about money and presents for alot of people. IMO that probably sads Christ. As far as choosing a summer date to celebrate the birth of christ..... well I didn't pick the date to celebrate it, it was picked a long time ago. lol
Even though Jesus may have been born in the Summer (if it can ever really be found out) his birth is very significant as, had he NOT been born, there would be no Easter for Him to do what he came to do. So we celebrate as the Christmas season. Jesus was a "gift" from God. He was the BEST gift which is why His birth is celebrated this time of year. What better gift to reflect on, in regard to eternal life, while we give material gifts away to others? Oh yes. It has been commercialized to the hilt, we can all attest to that. But what I cannot understand is why some people want to take Christmas and twist it into almost "nothingness". It has been for A LONG TIME, Christmas. Nothing was wrong with it years and years ago. In fact, it was the most joyous time of year. EVERYONE said Merry Christmas. (Except maybe scrooges). I would give amost anything to go back in time and see the Christmases of long ago. The spirit, the feeling, the closeness, the meaning......And I know that there are alot of different "holidays" that people say fall around the Christmas season. I don't see anyone trying to scrutinize them. Gosh, what's next? Are we going to rip apart Valentine's day cause it has to do with "LOVE"? Or St. Patrick's day because of buttons people where that say "Kiss me, I'm Irish"? And no, those are not religious holidays or even federal ones. But the point I'm trying to make is that Christmas is Christmas, always has been and always will be. It is the time of year that is set aside to celebrate the birth of Christ, regardless of the real birthdate. Which can never REALLY be identified. But if it could and was a proven fact, beyond the shadow of a doubt, I'm SURE we'd have a celebration then too!!!!
Y'all completely missed the point. The point was not that we are celebrating the wrong day, it's the fact that we're trying to push the celebration of His birth on to an existing pagan holiday and then complain because people try to combine the two.
Well, I always thought that it was Him first and the rest pushed itself in on His birthday celebration. Atleast that was how I see it. I love all the festivities but I never forget that the meaning was for Him and His birthday celebration. I guess I will be a minority here?
Sorry to be the one to inform you, but the whole Yule season and celebration was a pagan festival that goes back thousands of years before Jesus' birth. Later it was incorporated into a Roman holiday called "Saturnalia", still celebrated hundreds of years before Jesus' birth. It was during the Christian take over of Rome in which Saturnalia was replaced by what we now call Christmas. The reason why is because Saturnalia was such a popular holiday (it was Christmas, after all) that the Emporer could not simply remove it from the calendar, as he was doing with all the other pagan events as Christianity was taking over. No, he simply decreed that Saturnalia was to be renamed "Christ's mass" and instead of celebrating the Sun's rebirth, they would be celebrating the birth of the Son of God. All the festivals and all the traditions are from Yule and Saturnalia: the burning log, the decorated tree, the singing of carols (or wasseling as it used to be called), even the exchange of presents. Nothing was added when Christmas came to be celebrated, except for the Nativity. So, as you can see, it wasn't the pagan stuff trying to take over Christmas, it's actually the other way around.
oh....I guess so, Clif. But there is nothing more sentimental or touching than to see a little child say or sing happy birthday to Jesus on Christmas morning. Maybe all those other things you mentioned about the history of Christmas are true, But I think God had other plans and that is why it is what it is today in regards to Jesus. In fact, I NEVER heard of "saturnalia" until about a year ago. No disresepct, but it sounds like the name of a plant.
Unfortunately you are not the only one, a video of the view was floating around the web a week or so ago that showed one of the host insisting Christmas predated everything else and her co hosts scrambling to cover up her mistake.
Be that as it may, that is not "the reason for the season", as the jingoists would suggest. So you are suggesting that God knew that people would want to celebrate His Son's birth by wrapping up a pine tree with tinsle and light bulbs, so he caused people to have Yule celebrations for thousands of years until one day Jesus was born and was able to take over the holiday? Why do the words "No disrespect" seem to always be followed by some sort of disrespectful comment? The fact that you had never heard about it is odd at the least, since it is part of the history of Christmas. It's like saying you've heard of Columbus, but never heard of the Nina, Pinta, or Santa Maria. Look, I'm not saying that celebrating the birth of Jesus is bad. Feel free to celebrate it whenever and however you want. All I'm saying is that it is not "The Reason for the Season". The "season" was here long before Jesus was born, and all the stuff you do to celebrate it has it's roots in many different celebrations which had nothing to do with Jesus' birth.
It wasn't "Christmas" that Sherri Shepard said came before everything, it was Christ. Which is technically correct, since Christ is God and God came before everything else.
You also believe that "it was Him first and the rest pushed itself in on His birthday celebration"? I'm flat out amazed at the number of those who are unaware of the history of what they celebrate year after year.
Sorry, but there are no opinions where facts and truth are concerned. If I say the Earth revolves about the Sun, that's not an opinion.
I did not realize you had proof that Christ is God. Actually I did not realize you had proof there is a god. Please lay your facts out.
What you may or may not realize is irrespective of the facts at hand. Certainly. In the beginning there was God. You, personally, may not use the name "God". Most people who think they are atheists prefer to use the name "Universe". In any event, the two are the same thing and their definitions are interchangable.
