One Question (Jesus, priests, rituals, reject, Messiah)

[laffslast]

Why don't Christians celebrate Hanukkah?

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by laffslast

Why don't Christians celebrate Hanukkah?

For the same reason Jewish people don't celebrate the religious aspects of Christmas. . .

[MdmSzdWhtGuy]

And for the same reasons that they don't celebrate Ramadan. Hannakuh is a Jewish holiday, not a Christian one.

B.

[john63]

Originally Posted by laffslast

Why don't Christians celebrate Hanukkah?

I think maybe you don't know the difference between Christianity and Judaism.

[laffslast]

What I'm trying to get at is, yes it is a Jewish holiday, but it happened before Jesus was born, when there were no Christians. Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, why wouldn't we?

[michel]

Originally Posted by laffslast

What I'm trying to get at is, yes it is a Jewish holiday, but it happened before Jesus was born, when there were no Christians. Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, why wouldn't we?

Hi lafflast,

Firstly, Welcome to the Forum !

As I notice that this is your first visit here, perhaps you would like to introduce yourself to the other members, by posting on:- Are you new to ReligiousForums.com?

Please feel free to ask questions, if you have any. You might like to check out our article with links for our newer members; from there, there is also a link to the forum rules which you ought to see.



As regards your question, well, Pari Johnson agrees that we should:-
"Pari became interested in the subject of Jewish roots after she and daughter, Julie, toured Israel with Bridges for Peace in March of 1995."

http://www.localaccess.com/Pari/about.htm

She wrote

While not listed among the Feasts of The Lord, Hannukah is mentioned in the Gospel of John (10:22-23) as the Feast of Dedication.
Hannukah celebrates the defeat of a wicked Hellenistic ruler, Anticochus Epiphanies, who defiled the Temple around 167 B.C.E. by sacrificing a pig on the alter and then setting up an image of himself on the altar. This was done to try to force the circumcision, and to accept the Hellenism. This action only galvanized a few stalwart Jews and priests to fight back.

After a three year battle, the Jews won against all odds. On the 25th of Kislev, the Temple was rededicated and the Menorah that symbolized the light of The Lord was relit. But then this revealed a new problem--there was only enough of the special lamp oil to last one day. They decided it was better to light the Menorah anyway. To their amazement, the light stayed lit for eight days, allowing enough time for new oil to be prepared. The Temple was restored and rededicated to the glory of G-d and an eight - day festival was established. Thus the reason today for Hannukah to be celebrated for eight days and lighting candles every night during that time.

This story is told in the Book of Maccabees.
Why should Christians celebrate Hannukah? Because Yeshua did! Not only did he celebrate it, but he observed it in the same Temple that had been cleansed and rededicated just a few generations earlier!

Hannukah is a reminder of the faithfulness of God. Satan, through Anitochus had planned to destroy God's word and His people through assimilation and annihilation. Had he been successful, there would have been no more Jewish people, no Messiah to come, and no Calvary. Men and women would have been lost forever in sin, without hope.

Therefore, Hannukah is a celebration of many things. Christians can remember God's faithfulness not only because he delivered His people, Israel, from Anitochus; but because He was faithful and sent His son, our Jewish Messiah, to deliver people from their sin.

Finally, Hannukah is a reminder of the importance of not allowing oneself to be "assimilated" into the world. This was part of the plan that Anticochus was implementing to eliminate the Jewish people. This same plan is still in effect today for Jews and for Christians.

[MdmSzdWhtGuy]

Because after the time of Jesus, those who called themselves Christians rejected Judaism in favor of the religion that came to be known as Christianity. Not too many people since the time of Jesus who call themselves Christians are continuing on with Jewish tradition.

When Muhammad came along, claiming to be the last of the Prophets, he acknowledged the prophets of the Bible, including Jesus, but came up with his own religion, which became known as Islam. They don't celebrate Christian or Jewish holidays, as they came up with their own set of holidays.

The 3 Abrahamic religions all claim to be worshipping the same Diety, but it is quite clear that once each religion became its own distinct entity, that they came up with different rituals, seperate and apart from the traditions of the religions that preceded them.

B.

[TashaN]

Originally Posted by MdmSzdWhtGuy

When Muhammad came along, claiming to be the last of the Prophets, he acknowledged the prophets of the Bible, including Jesus, but came up with his own religion, which became known as Islam. They don't celebrate Christian or Jewish holidays, as they came up with their own set of holidays.

Hi dear MdmSzdWhtGuy,

Actually, When Mohammed came and acknowledged the prophets of the bible as you said, including Jesus, he did not came up with a new religion because islam was there since the first prophet on earth and it's not a new religion as many might think so.

The reason why Muslims do not celebrate these holidays is because Allah allowed us to celebarate only 2 Eids, the one after Ramadn and the one after Haj.

The 3 Abrahamic religions all claim to be worshipping the same Diety, but it is quite clear that once each religion became its own distinct entity, that they came up with different rituals, seperate and apart from the traditions of the religions that preceded them.

B.

I believe all 3 religions worship the same God but they chosed thier own way in doing it according to thier understanding for it.

Moreover, even within these 3 religions there are many sects and they have there own sets of tradtions and holidays too sometimes.

[JerryL]

Actually, When Mohammed came and acknowledged the prophets of the bible as you said, including Jesus, he did not came up with a new religion because islam was there since the first prophet on earth and it's not a new religion as many might think so.

When did the last person before Muhammed practice Islam? Or are you claiming that Islam *is* Judaism? (even that started).

[MdmSzdWhtGuy]

The Truth,

Correct me if I am wrong, but there was no Quran on Earth prior to the time of Muhammad, right? There were no people calling themselved Muslims prior to Muhammad. The people of the Arabian peninsula had many different religions, a lot of them pagan, prior to the time of the prophet.

I know that Islamic scholars say that the original Quran is on gold plates in heaven, and the Quran as told to Muhammad by Gabriel is supposed to be a perfect copy of the one in heaven. If we are to take them at their word, and I am willing to do so for this discussion, then we must agree that prior to Muhammad, there is no Quran, and my understanding is, that without a Quran, we cannot have a Muslim.

Just as there were no Christians prior to the time of Jesus Christ. No Zoroastrians prior to the time of Zoraster, no Buddhists prior to Buddha, etc. . .

If there is some reference to Muslims or Islam prior to the mid 7th Century, please point them out, as I am not aware of them. I am currently reading a book which is quite detailed on the history of Islam and it says nothing at all of there being people claiming themselves to be Muslims prior to the time of Muhammad.

B.