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Post by Nihonin on Dec 7, 2005 20:51:02 GMT -5
Ok,
Here goes a serious topic. Is Christmas a religious holiday? or are all the traditional traditions based upon pagan rites & rituals?
Some may think that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of crist right? Well according to the bible, that happened in march at some point. And the festival of winter solstice, the celebration of the shortest day of the year was celebrated by the pagans.
Santa himself is based upon the nordic god of thunder and protector himself THOR. He had a couple of goats that took him everywhere, Gnasher & basher. (Sound familiar?) So how did we come to think of this celebration as a "religious" holiday? Could it be that the christians needed something to counter act the "pagan" traditions being celebrated by the masses? And therefore told people that they celebrate the birth of crist during that time? So what do you think?
Is Christmas a religious holiday? Or is it just another form of organized religion trying to pull the wool over your eyes?
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Post by forsakentwilight on Dec 7, 2005 21:11:27 GMT -5
It's Christian. 90% is stolen the other 10% came from out of the author's ass. This is now simply a good excuss to give people vacation, with a boost for the economy too. Even non-christians see the uses of this now-hallmark-holiday. Whatever meaning it had is gone or hardly visable, we just need to leave it and open our gifts.
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Post by Nihonin on Dec 7, 2005 21:14:52 GMT -5
It's Christian. 90% is stolen the other 10% came from out of the author's ass. This is now simply a good excuss to give people vacation, with a boost for the economy too. Even non-christians see the uses of this now-hallmark-holiday. Whatever meaning it had is gone or hardly visable, we just need to leave it and open our gifts. I am 100% agreeing with the opening of gifts. However, What part of the 90% is religious? The santa part? Or the reindeer? Or wait maybe the elves are really the angels in heaven? No? Maybe the statement about the 10% being out of the authors ass is more like it! LOL But seriously, how do you defend the christian aspect of this holiday? I don't see it anymore. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to get into an arguement and I'm not saying I don't enjoy the holiday. Iam just confused at the implications of a pagan holiday being passed off as a religious holiday. |
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Post by forsakentwilight on Dec 7, 2005 21:23:29 GMT -5
I am 100% agreeing with the opening of gifts. However, What part of the 90% is religious? The santa part? Or the reindeer? Or wait maybe the elves are really the angels in heaven? No? Maybe the statement about the 10% being out of the authors ass is more like it! LOL The ratio was the religion as a whole, not the holiday. It's losing said aspect anyway, so I say let them think what they want, so long as they play nice. When the worlds largest religion(and most forceful) decides it's a holiday, it gets passed. When it losses favor, it will be changed, I promise it. Until then, keep it simple, use it for what it is-a hallmark holiday. The pagan part is still used though, Yule tide spirits, Yule log, Yule as a surname in general. They just, as stated, like to "borrow" things. |
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Post by Merina on Dec 8, 2005 16:45:07 GMT -5
I believe it's very religious, but thhat might be because I live in a very religious family, and I would say that Santa was just something someone made up, alot of kids believe in santa...personally, I don't and chistmas to me is a holiday to celabrate christ's birth...I dont care much about it even though I do it every year.
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Post by Nihonin on Dec 11, 2005 8:17:10 GMT -5
Very valid points Forsaken. But in that context I find it hard to believe that catholics are such sheep to follow anything the organized church tells them. To adopt pagan rites & rituals and tell the church goers, no it's not pagan it's truly a reigious rite and to have the worshippers believe it does not cease to amaze me.
Take Merina for instance, she believes it to be religious. I'm not going to knock that. But Jesus was supposed to have been born some time in MARCH. So how can you justify celebrating it in december so close to the winter solstice that the pagans celebrate?
I firmly believe that the "church" did so to keep paganism at bay and to keep it's followers brainwashed to believing that theirs is the "only" way. How can you see another "celebration" if it conflicts with the holiday YOU are celebrating?
Being the "pagan" that I am, celebrate a multitude of things. My son will grow up celebrating d**n near every "holiday" and tradition there is to be had. He won't grow up practicing holiday racism.
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