Does Christmas have anything to do with Christ?

[apophenia]

I believe I was using a common figure of speech, that I believe is usually well understood by even the least educated of people.
Please consider definition (3b) of the merriam-webster dictionary for the word "standing".

standing - continuing in existence
Standing - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

I'll take that lying down too. Despite not even being at the level of the least educated. In fact, I'll forgive you, for you know not what I meant.

 

[Sonofason]

I believe I was using a common figure of speech, that I believe is usually well understood by even the least educated of people.
Please consider definition (3b) of the merriam-webster dictionary for the word "standing".

standing - continuing in existence
Standing - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

And apparently, I still don't.

 

[apophenia]

And apparently, I still don't.

pun. the humorous use of a word or phrase so as to emphasize or suggest its different meanings or applications, or the use of words that are alike or nearly alike in sound but different in meaning; a play on words. the word or phrase used in this way.
I eschew spelling out jokes which are only one or two short sentences, however I will deconstruct this one for you. Us low-educated folk need to help each other !

OK. Coffins. Lying down. Until 'Judgement Day'. A la the muslim idea that the dead will rise on Judgement Day. Eww. I hope they have some deodorant, and maybe a little make-up.

" I prefer to take it lying down" . A Crowleyan reference to 'cakes of light'. And that when in such a state that one is experiencing 'judgement', it is likely that you will be supine. Ha ha ?

All in all (there's another one), a gnostic sense of humor. But like Christ doing standup, I got massacred !

whyischrist massacred ?

Possibly other angles too - you must remain alert and receptive or they slip past you !

 

[savagewind]

I agree with you Mestemia. Some people celebrate Christmas without even knowing that pagan holidays exist. I think in order to be actually celebrating something, you actually have to know that it exists. In order to celebrate or in other words to observe a holy day, one must actually observe that day as holy, and I find it quite absurd to consider someone observing something that in fact they never have observed.

What I see happening is self righteous souls who I think in their selfrighteousness that they should lead other people to a good conscience are doing the opposite. People celebrating the secular holiday of Christmas with their families are being made to feel guilty by the people who consider themselves NOT guilty. So we have the not guilty causing guilt is other people which is the antithesis of Christianity I think.

So they really aren't not guilty because their Lord says we will be judged as we feel fit to judge. Isn't that right? Did I add something there? Is it not right?

If Christmas is so bad then have it it eliminated. Oh wait! You can't do that because of your rule "no part of the world". So instead take the relatively few out of it, the ones who will become like you, and the rest? Who cares? Let them carry the guilt of God. Why not?

What else they do, which is another topic but related, is they reject what words are attributed to their Lord, but they make into law (for everyone) the words attributed to the followers of The Lord which are the people most like themselves. They want to make more people like themselves. Why? Is it because they find comfort in numbers?

What good will there be for anything if a few more people quit Christmas because of it's pagan origins? I do agree much of Christmas is adopted from the Gentiles. Oh wait! We are all Gentiles except of course them who aren't.

 

[Sonofason]

pun. the humorous use of a word or phrase so as to emphasize or suggest its different meanings or applications, or the use of words that are alike or nearly alike in sound but different in meaning; a play on words. the word or phrase used in this way.
I eschew spelling out jokes which are only one or two short sentences, however I will deconstruct this one for you. Us low-educated folk need to help each other !

OK. Coffins. Lying down. Until 'Judgement Day'. A la the muslim idea that the dead will rise on Judgement Day. Eww. I hope they have some deodorant, and maybe a little make-up.

" I prefer to take it lying down" . A Crowleyan reference to 'cakes of light'. And that when in such a state that one is experiencing 'judgement', it is likely that you will be supine. Ha ha ?

All in all (there's another one), a gnostic sense of humor. But like Christ doing standup, I got massacred !

whyischrist massacred ?

Possibly other angles too - you must remain alert and receptive or they slip past you !

Okay apophenia, fair enough.

 

[Sonofason]

What I see happening is self righteous souls who I think in their selfrighteousness that they should lead other people to a good conscience are doing the opposite. People celebrating the secular holiday of Christmas with their families are being made to feel guilty by the people who consider themselves NOT guilty. So we have the not guilty causing guilt is other people which is the antithesis of Christianity I think.

So they really aren't not guilty because their Lord says we will be judged as we feel fit to judge. Isn't that right? Did I add something there? Is it not right?

If Christmas is so bad then have it it eliminated. Oh wait! You can't do that because of your rule "no part of the world". So instead take the relatively few out of it, the ones who will become like you, and the rest? Who cares? Let them carry the guilt of God. Why not?

What else they do, which is another topic but related, is they reject what words are attributed to their Lord, but they make into law (for everyone) the words attributed to the followers of The Lord which are the people most like themselves. They want to make more people like themselves. Why? Is it because they find comfort in numbers?

What good will there be for anything if a few more people quit Christmas because of it's pagan origins? I do agree much of Christmas is adopted from the Gentiles. Oh wait! We are all Gentiles except of course them who aren't.

If you feel guilty, you probably are.

 

[savagewind]

If you feel guilty, you probably are.

Of course I am guilty. Everyone is guilty and if I wasn't guilty I would be dead. Haha I am not dead.

 

[ChristineES]

No opinion on this from me, but here is an interesting sequence of letters ...


why is Christmas sacred ?

It's only sacred to Christians. Others, although they call it "Christmas", it would not be sacred. It would be sacred because it was celebrating when Jesus was born, although virtually everyone now knows that He was NOT born on December 25th.

 

[ChristineES]

If you feel guilty, you probably are.

Some people who don't feel guilty could very well be guilty, too.

 

[savagewind]

The post wasn't about guilt or no guilt. It was about causing guilt.
Everything is clean to clean people is what the Bible says. To keep on about the uncleanness of Christmas is to make the clean people unclean. K? It is about a person's conscience.

By the way, how many divorces do you suppose were caused by making people unclean? Someone wants to be clean when she stands before The Lord but her husband wants Christmas more than he wants what is best for his wife. They can't get along so they choose a divorcing. Is a divorce better or worse than a Chistmas tree in a house? No one will answer the question I bet. Are they both equally wrong? That would be the correct answer for some but it is ridiculous.

 

[savagewind]

Some people who don't feel guilty could very well be guilty, too.

I love that point! God bless you!

 

[savagewind]

I think I might agree Christmas is a sin. But I am sure there are worse sins and I think it is true everyone sins. To be condemning the celebrating of the tradition of Christmas is not wise because the one condemning is also doing something which is considered a sin.

Also it is possible the good which results from it would not happen without it. Isn't it? I think Christmas makes more people feel loved, appreciated and happier than it makes people sad and lonely.

Today I heard a Christmas song. The song absolutely has something to do with Jesus Christ. "O Holy Night" calls him "our dear Saviour", "your King", Also "Truly He taught us to love one another" and tells us about his "holy name". It implies even the angels bend their knees to him. Are those words the truth? So....the song is preaching and IS about Jesus Christ.

 

[savagewind]

Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth!

How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n;
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

 

[Sonofason]

Of course I am guilty. Everyone is guilty and if I wasn't guilty I would be dead. Haha I am not dead.

Okay, that seems fair enough. I agree. We're all guilty.

 

[Sonofason]

Some people who don't feel guilty could very well be guilty, too.

Of course. Ignorance is bliss, at least for a while.

 

[Sonofason]

The post wasn't about guilt or no guilt. It was about causing guilt.
Everything is clean to clean people is what the Bible says. To keep on about the uncleanness of Christmas is to make the clean people unclean. K? It is about a person's conscience.

By the way, how many divorces do you suppose were caused by making people unclean? Someone wants to be clean when she stands before The Lord but her husband wants Christmas more than he wants what is best for his wife. They can't get along so they choose a divorcing. Is a divorce better or worse than a Chistmas tree in a house? No one will answer the question I bet. Are they both equally wrong? That would be the correct answer for some but it is ridiculous.

You're making a great point.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Christmas is over for another year. Hurrah!

 

[Dirty Penguin]

What are you talking about?

Is it your claim that noone can celebrate Christmas without also celebrating the pagan holidays that fall at the same time?

Because they are celebrating pagan customs and rituals even if they've linked their christ in with them. I don't believe morphology means a thing cease to exist.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

?? This makes absolutely no sense. There are pre-Christian symbols and traditions that I would, like many others, celebrate, but this doesn't mean that..
-Christmas isn't about Christ

Never said it wasn't. I said it had little to do with...

-Christ is not part of those holidays

Sure he is. It's obvious he is but that doesn't negate what I said about its historical roots and the fact that many of those roots are still observed even if many don't know, don't care or have changed those meanings....

-Christ was not the catalyst of the celebration for most people (most people don't celebrate Yule).

Yet it's still an observed pagan custom.

The symbols are idols or being worshipped.
// Xmas tree
For most people celebrating Xmas, using an Xmas tree, this has no 'pagan' significance.

Exactly. I think many misunderstand my position. I'm fine with what pagans did back then, how Christian converts brought over and maintain many of the customs and how many of today's Christians have reinterpreted them. All I was doing was showing that it has its origins in paganism and has collected other pagan customs along the way. It doesn't mean Christians should stop celebrating their holidays or that their reinterpretations shouldn't be acknowledge. I say they should be free to celebrate the way the want.

 

[Cephus]

What are you talking about?

Is it your claim that noone can celebrate Christmas without also celebrating the pagan holidays that fall at the same time?

Why not, lots of Christians claim that atheists can't celebrate Christmas because they're inherently celebrating Christianity at the same time.