Non-Christians who celebrate Christmas

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Christian and a minister. The things you listed are pagan in origin. Christianity adopted them in an effort to combine the nativity with well-established pagan winter festivals. Lights and festivities make the celebration of the birth of Jesus much more fun! So anyone can celebrate the winter holiday and more importantly, Christ would welcome all to the celebration regardless of spiritual path.

How would you know something like that? It suggests that there is something in the Bible that indicates that Christ would want people who don't believe he is the Messiah to be celebrating his birth.

There IS something in the Bible to that effect. A lot of somethings, actually. Let the children come to me and do not hinder them and all that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Christian and a minister. The things you listed are pagan in origin. Christianity adopted them in an effort to combine the nativity with well-established pagan winter festivals. Lights and festivities make the celebration of the birth of Jesus much more fun! So anyone can celebrate the winter holiday and more importantly, Christ would welcome all to the celebration regardless of spiritual path.

How would you know something like that? It suggests that there is something in the Bible that indicates that Christ would want people who don't believe he is the Messiah to be celebrating his birth.

There IS something in the Bible to that effect. A lot of somethings, actually. Let the children come to me and do not hinder them and all that.

Does it say something about people who don't believe in Jesus celebrating his birth? I don't think so. Jesus had no idea that people would be celebrating his birth or that a religion would be formed around him. He lived and died a jew. I"m sure the Christian minister knows that.

[Anonymous]

Celebrate the season and the spirit. For me it has nothing to do with fantastical notions about some bearded guy who walked around trying to con people into signing up to follow him.

[Anonymous]

And Jesus Christ people, just relax and shop.

[Anonymous]

Because it's a fun family tradition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Christian and a minister. The things you listed are pagan in origin. Christianity adopted them in an effort to combine the nativity with well-established pagan winter festivals. Lights and festivities make the celebration of the birth of Jesus much more fun! So anyone can celebrate the winter holiday and more importantly, Christ would welcome all to the celebration regardless of spiritual path.

This. Also, wasn't Jesus actually born around the Autumnal equinox?

Trees, lights, etc are pretty. They're just a fun thing to do and have nothing to do with Christianity or Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are a non-Christian who celebrates Christmas but not the festivals of your religion, can you share why? By celebrating, I mean decorating and having a tree, doing a gift-exchange, decorating the yard. Is it so the kids don't feel left out?

I am a UU who is not Christian but my family's history is Christian. We continue to celebrate a modified Christmas/Yule as part of our cultural heritage. I love the things the Jesus said about peace, love and acceptance and embrace them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Christian and a minister. The things you listed are pagan in origin. Christianity adopted them in an effort to combine the nativity with well-established pagan winter festivals. Lights and festivities make the celebration of the birth of Jesus much more fun! So anyone can celebrate the winter holiday and more importantly, Christ would welcome all to the celebration regardless of spiritual path.

Thank you!!!i wish many of the"christians" I met had your attitude.

[Anonymous]

Because it is a family tradition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Christian and a minister. The things you listed are pagan in origin. Christianity adopted them in an effort to combine the nativity with well-established pagan winter festivals. Lights and festivities make the celebration of the birth of Jesus much more fun! So anyone can celebrate the winter holiday and more importantly, Christ would welcome all to the celebration regardless of spiritual path.

Thank you!!!i wish many of the"christians" I met had your attitude.

Exactly, the Christian minister has a good attitude about non-Christians celebrating Christmas, but it's the minister's personal opinion, with no basis in Christian history or teachings.

Jesus thought he was King of the Jews -- their long-awaited Messiah. He did not know that a new religion would be formed around him - that was Paul's doing - and certainly did not envision his supposed birthday becoming a major holiday.

[Anonymous]

So, We do all of the things you listed (none are Christian but all pagan or Druid). Also Jesus wasn't even born in December. Why do YOU op celebrate Jesus birth in December?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, We do all of the things you listed (none are Christian but all pagan or Druid). Also Jesus wasn't even born in December. Why do YOU op celebrate Jesus birth in December?

Because history doesn't give us a date and Christians have been using December 25th for maybe 1700 years. Yes, it was chosen because it coincides with other festivals, which isn't news to any Christian here. Buts it's as good a day as any other.

[Anonymous]

Christmas is a national holiday. Why wouldn't every American celebrate it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Christmas is a national holiday. Why wouldn't every American celebrate it?

I agree. The lights on houses, Santa, Christmas tree, presents... these are all non religious things.

My nativity, advent calendar and going to church are all Christian things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, We do all of the things you listed (none are Christian but all pagan or Druid). Also Jesus wasn't even born in December. Why do YOU op celebrate Jesus birth in December?

Because history doesn't give us a date and Christians have been using December 25th for maybe 1700 years. Yes, it was chosen because it coincides with other festivals, which isn't news to any Christian here. Buts it's as good a day as any other.

Don't try to downplay it -- lots of people don't know that the birthdate of Jesus is unknown. They also don't know that that Paul started Christianity. The info is out there, but Christians don't necessarily hear about it in church.