If you celebrate Christmas, are you a Christian?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:40 poster here - I have to say, I do think there's something intellectually dishonest about celebrating Christmas and not simply acknowledging that it is the date Jesus' birthday is celebrated (not that you have to agree that Jesus is a god, I sure don't). But to ignore that, it seems to me, would be like saying that MLK Day is the long ski weekend in January (and has nothing to do with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) or that the 4th of July has nothing to do with American independence (you just like the BBQ and pool parties). Christmas isn't just the "the shopping/frosty/mistletoe" day.

<3 you!

What does <3 mean?

[Anonymous]

<3 is a heart. I mean, a "laying down" heart. So I guess it means: "I love you".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12:40 poster here - I have to say, I do think there's something intellectually dishonest about celebrating Christmas and not simply acknowledging that it is the date Jesus' birthday is celebrated (not that you have to agree that Jesus is a god, I sure don't). But to ignore that, it seems to me, would be like saying that MLK Day is the long ski weekend in January (and has nothing to do with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) or that the 4th of July has nothing to do with American independence (you just like the BBQ and pool parties). Christmas isn't just the "the shopping/frosty/mistletoe" day.

Religion is not about intellectual reasoning, it is faith and belief. And I don't mean that as a slam. And, for many people, MLK (and President's day and memorial day, etc.) are used merely for long weekends of activity, despite the importance of the originating holiday. That's just the way it is. I have British friends . . . should they not participate in the 4th of July parties b/c they lost the Revolutionary War? I don't see any people reciting the declaration of independence at bbq's I attend.

Look, Jesus was not born on the 25th. Yes, that is the celebration but the origination of the 25th as that celebration date has nothing to do with Christianity's core beliefs. Read up about it. Google "Saturnalia Christmas."

But, even were he to have been born that day, I simply don't celebrate the day as that. That you want me to -directly or by saying that "like it or not you do"- does not matter. I don't. The day is different to everyone and I cannot for the life of me understand why it is any of your damn business how or why I celebrate Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so THAT's why people feel so empty. Thank you! I know a lot of psychologists and psychiatrists that will be unemployed now since you figured out everyone's emptyness cause.
Please!


I agree with 10:14.

Did you even read? They said MANY not ALL people.

Duh

[Anonymous]

If you like Christmas because of the tree, lights, food, gifts and "get together" you're better call your holiday another name.
Christmas is the birth of Christ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:18, have you read the previous posts? There IS NO REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS! There is only the meaning YOU ascribe to it. "Christmas" is a catchall term for the traditions of millenia. Just because YOUR religion's name for the holiday stuck to the whole conglomeration of celebrations doesn't mean YOU get to define it for ME.

So you go ahead and celebrate the birth of Jesus (in December, when he was born in June, with a pine tree and lights and candy canes, none of which have anything to do with Jesus) and I will celebrate warmth and light in a dark, cold season. And we'll both call it Christmas. Ok?

just so you know, here is a bit about candy canes:

"The distinctive "hook" shape associated with candy canes is traditionally credited to a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany, who, legend has it, in 1670 bent straight candy sticks into canes to represent a shepherd's crook, and gave them to children at church services.[5] The shepherd's staff is often used in Christianity as a metaphor for The Good Shepherd Jesus Christ." and I will add... the red symbolizes Jesus' blood and the white his purity.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you like Christmas because of the tree, lights, food, gifts and "get together" you're better call your holiday another name.
Christmas is the birth of Christ.

Help yourself to the German "Weihnachten". The etymology of it dates back to 11th Century German, and loosely translates to High Holy Nights. But since the old Germans were notorious pagans, it is just as likely the term was used as a celebration of the Winter Solstice.

So..Frohe Weihnachten, und ein gesundes Neues Jahr.

Keep your Christmas, and your Christ in it if you'd like.

[Anonymous]

Yes, happy birthday Jesus!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:18, have you read the previous posts? There IS NO REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS! There is only the meaning YOU ascribe to it. "Christmas" is a catchall term for the traditions of millenia. Just because YOUR religion's name for the holiday stuck to the whole conglomeration of celebrations doesn't mean YOU get to define it for ME.

So you go ahead and celebrate the birth of Jesus (in December, when he was born in June, with a pine tree and lights and candy canes, none of which have anything to do with Jesus) and I will celebrate warmth and light in a dark, cold season. And we'll both call it Christmas. Ok?

just so you know, here is a bit about candy canes:

"The distinctive "hook" shape associated with candy canes is traditionally credited to a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany, who, legend has it, in 1670 bent straight candy sticks into canes to represent a shepherd's crook, and gave them to children at church services.[5] The shepherd's staff is often used in Christianity as a metaphor for The Good Shepherd Jesus Christ." and I will add... the red symbolizes Jesus' blood and the white his purity.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Interesting since the candy cane is a very American candy--I've never seen one in Germany.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, happy birthday Jesus!

According to the Qu'ran, he was born in the season of the date harvest--late summer.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure Jesus would just LOVE all this bickering. Jesus is well known for his love of discord, right? I mean, he'd totally WANT his followers to bash, harangue, harass and rail against others...right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure Jesus would just LOVE all this bickering. Jesus is well known for his love of discord, right? I mean, he'd totally WANT his followers to bash, harangue, harass and rail against others...right?

Jesus would walk around the "market" and kick people's asses for being commercializing his birthday, exactly like the did in the temple in Jerusalem.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, happy birthday Jesus!

According to the Qu'ran, he was born in the season of the date harvest--late summer.

and who said the quran is a credible source?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you like Christmas because of the tree, lights, food, gifts and "get together" you're better call your holiday another name.
Christmas is the birth of Christ.

Or you'll do what?

Do I need to get my Band-aids ......I mean........CVS adhesive strips with cotton pads out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, happy birthday Jesus!

According to the Qu'ran, he was born in the season of the date harvest--late summer.

and who said the quran is a credible source?

The same people who say the bible is.