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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Well I’m of European ancestry and I’m atheist. I stay culturally close to Christianity because
Christianity is central to all our cultural things. And obviously I have very little problem with this because [b]Christianity stole all the pagan culture and customs[/b] from them to create their own anyway. [/quote]

This has been refuted many, many times here. And, of course, it's been refuted by actual historians. For starters, although there are lots more historians saying the same thing: https://podtail.com/en/podcast/the-rest-is-history/402-christmas-pagan-or-christian/[/quote]

Instead of posting a link to a podcast, why not post the facts presented here?  Not all of them, just the best one refuting the MANY sources indicating the opposite.[/quote]

DP. You get what you give.  If you want someone on a message board to refute your thesis in detail, you first need to provide a detailed thesis, which you haven't done. It's all been laid out in this award winning atheist blog...but you have to do the actual work of reading it.

https://historyforatheists.com/the-great-myths/5 [/quote]

OK, that's fine, I am a DP but I'll do as you ask.  I'll cite a few facts specifically and then if you can tell me how the podcast link refutes those as false that would be educational to me.

[i]Saturnalia is a classic example of a winter solstice festival, one of many which have evolved in different cultures to bring good cheer in the season of long nights, and to mark the sense a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. In 274 AD, long after Saturnalia was already a thing, the Romans established yet another way to mark the season: a day to celebrate the sun god Sol Invictus. And the day in question? December 25th.

It was a custom of the Pagans to celebrate on the same December 25 the birthday of the Sun, at which they kindled lights in token of festivity. In these solemnities and revelries, the Christians also took part.'

Less than a century later, Pope Julius I officially established that same date as Christ’s birthday, conveniently appropriating the existing pagan shenanigans as a key Christian date.[/i]

https://www.history.co.uk/article/the-pagan-roots-of-christmas

Let's start with that one.  I will post more.  How does the podcast refute that?[/quote]

Most of Christianity was a complete U-turn from paganism, for better or worse. Were there a few overlapping customs?Of course. Similar to your example many people believe that it is not accident that lent occurs at the end of winter when food supplies would have been depleted. Claiming that the Christians just stole pagan customs is not an accurate statement about Christian customs and traditions.

Finally, if this is what you believe, there is nothing stopping you from celebrating the pagan traditions instead. It sounds like celebrating Saturnalia would be more spiritually fulfilling for you than celebrating “stolen” traditions.

-signed, an atheist

[/quote]

Thanks but I was looking for references specific in that podcast, and posted what I did at the PP's request.  I am not the PP who used the word "stolen".

Can I get the response promised from the podcast poster now please?[/quote]

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