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.

Anonymous wrote:
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!

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Anonymous wrote:

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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?

From a historical perspective, is was written by one person, and is still in the original language in which it was written. WHich means that instead of a collection of stories and events written and rewritten (often hundreds of years apart) and translated through dozens of languages, it is likely to be more accurate. Many of historical events referred to in the Bible are also refered to in the Qu'ran, such as the birth of Jesus, who is a prophet. Just not THE prophet, or the Son of God, if you're a follower of Islam.

Who said the Bible is a credible source? Even biblical scholars can't say that, at least not from a historical perspective--that's when it comes back down to faith. ANd to call the Bible the word of god is just plain laughable--I'm sure he doesn't speak in vernacular english.

Anonymous wrote:Mighty Christian of the PP who says Jesus would "kick people's asses." That's, like, TOTALLY what Jesus is known for and teaches. Isn't there a famous Jesus Saying - "Slap the Other Cheek"?

signed, a Christian who actually believes in the teachings of Jesus (but still thinks it's okay for people to hang up stockings and twinkly lights)

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.

Anonymous wrote:I'm Hindu and I celebrate xmas every year

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Anonymous wrote:To continue - I dont believe you have to be a god-loving Christian to celebrate Christmas, but you do have to acknowledge the source of the holiday. Sure, early Christians co-opted a bunch of pagan holidays over the years - Jesus' birthday was probably moved to December to take over the pagan winter solstice celebrations, - and it's hard to see how a tree and lights and all (which are not very old traditions, really) have much to do with Jesus. But if you're going to call it "Christmas" then I believe you should at least acknowledge that it is the day Jesus's birth is celebrated. Being an atheist myself, I decided to go back and look at the myths, the Bible stories, re-read the Sermon on the Mount, do some research on Santa Claus, in order to find out what there was about Jesus for a non-Christian to celebrate. And there turns out to be a lot. Yes, Muslims and many Jews consider Jesus to have been a prophet, but even more recently Mohatma Gandhi acknowledged Jesus as one of his inspirations for peaceful non-violence. I certainly don't buy the Virgin Birth (and I don't celebrate Easter, which is all about the resurection of Jesus) or Christmas Star, but I am willing to accept that the Christmas stories are symbolic of the principle "Peace on Earth, good will towards men." The "Christmas spirit" embodies Jesus' core beliefs of mercy and compassion for your fellow humans. The "Christmas season" is a time when people do try harder to be generous and kind to others. Those are all good things which we should all celebrate and participate in.

As has been pointed out before, Christmas has entered the vernacular (like Band-Aid) as the term used to describe the winter holidays and a number of people get upset when the winter holidays are called anything but 'Christmas' and . We can't win if we call it Christmas and we win if we call them Winter Holidays. Of course, as a PP noted, I don't call it Christmas, I call it Criss-mus....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mighty Christian of the PP who says Jesus would "kick people's asses." That's, like, TOTALLY what Jesus is known for and teaches. Isn't there a famous Jesus Saying - "Slap the Other Cheek"?

signed, a Christian who actually believes in the teachings of Jesus (but still thinks it's okay for people to hang up stockings and twinkly lights)

She is referring to the story where Jesus found commercialism - money changers - in the temple and had a bit of a temper tantrum. He did lash out.

I have always taken this to indicate that while (his followers believe) Jesus was divine, he was also human and had moments of failure. Moments of desperation, like the night in the garden "take this cup from me".

- signed, a now Pagan