The War on Christmas

[Storm]

A lot of things are fun and can appear harmless.

The bottom line is Not whether Christmas is fun or not, but is it religious truth?

If something is based on a lie or a man-made religious custom or tradition outside of Scripture, adding on to Scripture, then that ones form of worship is in vain or worthless according to Jesus.
Mark 7:7; Matthew 15:9.

How did Jesus apostles celebrate Jesus birthday?

I might care about this if I were Christian.

 

[tumbleweed41]

How did Jesus apostles celebrate Jesus birthday?

They sang "Hayom Yom HUledet"?

 

[dogsgod]

I'd like to wish Bill O'Reilly a Happy Holidays and to those celebrating Christmas a Merry Christmas, and to everyone else a Season's Greetings.

 

[zenzero]

Friend Arlanbb,

The War on Christmas

Simply the swinging of the pendulum.
Mind swings from one side to the other as opposites always attracts.
Energy spend doing this or that will remain the same. Existence always seeks a balance at all times. The net result of any actions would always be *zero* or the point of balance.
Love & rgds

 

[Smoke]

I can't stand Bill O'Riley or Anne Coulter or any of those right wing supposed news people. They're so slanted it's disgusting. I will however point out that there are atheists who say things like "we need to rid ourselves of the christian roots in our everyday language by eradicating expressions like Bless you when someone sneezes". Gimme a break. I've got much more important things to worry about in my life. And I don't care if I don't accept the divinity of Jesus, I'm celebrating christmas however I want, jesus or no jesus, it's my time and my family, end of story.

I'm so conflicted about Christianity it's not even funny. I dislike Western Christianity in general and Roman Catholicism in particular. I think the Vatican is an evil organization. I hate Catholic spirituality, Catholic liturgical practices, Catholic dogma and Catholic politics. Yet it's part of our culture and part of our heritage, or at least my heritage. I'm glad Catholic parishes are closing all over the U.S. -- but it hurts my feelings that some of the parishes my family belonged to are closed. It's sad to me to go by my great-grandparents' church and not be able to go inside because the doors are locked and nobody's there.

Basically, I'd like to hang on the West's Christian heritage without actually taking Christianity seriously. I like Nativity scenes, Christmas carols, Easter eggs, baptisms, confirmations, and all that stuff. I just hate the Church. I think the Nordic countries have the right idea about Christianity. Most of the people belong to church, but hardly anybody ever actually goes except for special occasions. Nominal Christianity is the best Christianity.

 

[dogsgod]

That peeves me, not as a Christian, but as a concerned citizen. Schools, above all govt. institutions ought to be honest and intentional. If they were really honest with themselves (and us) the reason they're taking a break is not due to winter, it's due to Christmas. Why not be honest and call it "Christmas break?" Because of some "politically-correct," non-believing schmucks who don't think that religion has any place in government want to make sure our precious children aren't being forced by the system into observing a religious holiday. So they have to lie to everyone and call it "Winter Break." Please! Look them in the eye and say, "It's Christmas break. Tough!"

The break is due to winter, and that's why Christmas is celebrated at this time. Government is honest by recognizing the fact that everyone needs a break and not everyone celebrates Christmas. If some are peeved because not everyone celebrates Christmas the same way then that's too bad for them.

 

[Magic Man]

I'm so conflicted about Christianity it's not even funny. I dislike Western Christianity in general and Roman Catholicism in particular. I think the Vatican is an evil organization. I hate Catholic spirituality, Catholic liturgical practices, Catholic dogma and Catholic politics. Yet it's part of our culture and part of our heritage, or at least my heritage. I'm glad Catholic parishes are closing all over the U.S. -- but it hurts my feelings that some of the parishes my family belonged to are closed. It's sad to me to go by my great-grandparents' church and not be able to go inside because the doors are locked and nobody's there.

Basically, I'd like to hang on the West's Christian heritage without actually taking Christianity seriously. I like Nativity scenes, Christmas carols, Easter eggs, baptisms, confirmations, and all that stuff. I just hate the Church. I think the Nordic countries have the right idea about Christianity. Most of the people belong to church, but hardly anybody ever actually goes except for special occasions. Nominal Christianity is the best Christianity.

Basically, you like the myths and traditions without the literalism. I concur.

 

[Sunstone]

It's a good thing that, in a world threatened with lost jobs and standards of living, global warming, nuclear proliferation, and environmental degradation, folks can still find some heart warming time to argue that their neighbor ain't christmassy enough to suit them. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to see it.

 

[Mr Spinkles]

I'm so conflicted about Christianity it's not even funny. I dislike Western Christianity in general and Roman Catholicism in particular. I think the Vatican is an evil organization. I hate Catholic spirituality, Catholic liturgical practices, Catholic dogma and Catholic politics. Yet it's part of our culture and part of our heritage, or at least my heritage. I'm glad Catholic parishes are closing all over the U.S. -- but it hurts my feelings that some of the parishes my family belonged to are closed. It's sad to me to go by my great-grandparents' church and not be able to go inside because the doors are locked and nobody's there.

Basically, I'd like to hang on the West's Christian heritage without actually taking Christianity seriously. I like Nativity scenes, Christmas carols, Easter eggs, baptisms, confirmations, and all that stuff. I just hate the Church. I think the Nordic countries have the right idea about Christianity. Most of the people belong to church, but hardly anybody ever actually goes except for special occasions. Nominal Christianity is the best Christianity.

I agree with this. We need to develop a secular Christianity the same way we have secular Judaism. If atheists can celebrate their Jewish heritage why can't atheists celebrate their Christian heritage? I'm in.

 

[Sunstone]

I agree with this. We need to develop a secular Christianity the same way we have secular Judaism. If atheists can celebrate their Jewish heritage why can't atheists celebrate their Christian heritage? I'm in.

I agee! And also why can't atheists freely and with dignity celebrate their trampoline heritage? One must ask what's wrong with that?

Am I the only one concerned with this?

 

[Smoke]

Am I the only one concerned with this?

Yeah, pretty much. However, we love you and are willing to feign sympathy with your concerns.

 

[Sunstone]

Yeah, pretty much. However, we love you and are willing to feign sympathy with your concerns.

Works for me. After all, there have been whole political movements born of less substance than that.

 

[blackout]

I agee! And also why can't atheists freely and with dignity celebrate their trampoline heritage? One must ask what's wrong with that?

Am I the only one concerned with this?

*UV pulls up a lawn chair*
I'll just be a spectator (benchwarmer) this season.
kind of a sideline or... nominal secular trampolinist.
I'll jingle bells from the sidelines and cheer jolly "ho-ho hoots"though,
in my little red and white socks,
and wish passersby a "Hippy & Bustiful Holiday!".

:trampo::beach::mistletoe::stocking:

Yeah, pretty much. However, we love you and are willing to feign sympathy with your concerns.

I'm unashamed to stand... erm sit... (yeah, lounge) by Sunstone on this one.
And I'm not even an athiest.

*UV hardly knows what that says about her, and really doesn't care*

 

[andys]

Yikes! Questions like this drive me nuts:

"How did Jesus['] apostles celebrate Jesus['] birthday?"

ANSWER:
They didn't! The apostles and early true Church never celebrated Christ's birthday at any time. There is no command or instruction to celebrate it in the Bible—rather, the celebrating of birthdays is a pagan, not a Christian custom.

According to the Church, itself, the celebration of a birthday is a pagan act:
In the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 edition, under the heading "Natal Day," we find that the early Catholic father, Origen, acknowledged this truth: "In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into this world"

 

[blackout]

Yikes! Questions like this drive me nuts:

"How did Jesus['] apostles celebrate Jesus['] birthday?"

ANSWER:
They didn't! The apostles and early true Church never celebrated Christ's birthday at any time. There is no command or instruction to celebrate it in the Bible—rather, the celebrating of birthdays is a pagan, not a Christian custom.

According to the Church, itself, the celebration of a birthday is a pagan act:
In the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 edition, under the heading "Natal Day," we find that the early Catholic father, Origen, acknowledged this truth: "In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into this world"

Forget it dude. who cares.

*Pull up a lawn chair* *relax*
:trampo::beach:

​

:mistletoe: HAVE A HIPPY BUSTY HOLIDAY!
(assuming of course that's your preference) :flirt:

 

[blackout]

Phil is my Xmas savior.:rainbow1:

He has defined X.
(at least for this year)

They don't call him the "Sugar Cane Daddy" for nuthin.

 

[blackout]

(aren't you all so glad I'm posting when I said I wasn't going to?)

I'm feeling better now though,
by next week you'll be rid of me again I hope.

 

[blackout]

*Waits a bit impatiently for C1 and Mystic to arrive in their little red and white Xmas bikinis*

*Thinks Katiafish better get on up there too* :yes:

I'm getting too old to be a jumper. :sad:

Maybe if they give me a nice massage first,
I could jump for just a little while.

 

[sojourner]

Is it wintertime? Is it a break?

it's a winter break.

In the spring there's a break too.

they call it.... Spring break.

The winter break also falls right in the middle of the school year semesters,
which is a perfect place for a school year break.

(pst... just because it's christmas break for you,
doesn't mean it is for me.
HOWEVER it IS clearly a winter break
for everyone.)

not that any of it matters

Is it Christmas? Is it a break? It's "Christmas Break." That's what it was years ago, when the whole school-taking-a-break thing started. They broke for Christmas. Secular businesses don't close for "the holidays." But they do close ... guess when? ... Christmas. Look on any calendar. It doesn't say, "Winter Solstice Celebration, "The Holidays," or even "Festivus." But it does indicate that Christmas falls on December 25. It's a cultural norm.

Do you know that, for most of my formative years (and I went to several schools in several states), the semester broke after the new year? This wasn't "semester break." And we didn't break due to winter (unless there was ice on the roads). We broke because it was ... guess again. That's right! ... Christmas!

 

[sojourner]

Well, there is also the fact that one semester ends, and the next one begins. There is also New Years eve/day. And since it is during the winter, I think "Winter break" or holiday is more fitting than just Christmas. Or we could just call it "Semester break." But since we have Spring Break, and a Fall Break, I think Winter Break is a good option.

They obviously don't have a problem with having a "Thanksgiving break." I don't see why they should have a problem with "Christmas break."