08-12-2003 22:12									#31
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quote: Originally posted by MrFun Well, that's true -- to some extent, Christianity owes its heritage from pagan cultures.

Oh, goody. We get to disagree again.
Christ's birth has nothing to to with a winter solstice or any pagan ritual.

	08-12-2003 22:15									#32
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Sorry Sloww, the pagans were celebrating at this time of year a long time before Christians got around to it (you can bet your boots the contempories of Christ didn't celebrate it).

Who cares? With weather this bad, everybody needs to eat, drink and make merry.

	08-12-2003 22:16									#33
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And did you know that Saint Nicholas wasn't wearing Coca Cola corporate branding?

	08-12-2003 22:21									#34
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quote: Originally posted by Cruddy Sorry Sloww, the pagans were celebrating at this time of year a long time before Christians got around to it (you can bet your boots the contempories of Christ didn't celebrate it). Who cares? With weather this bad, everybody needs to eat, drink and make merry.

Sorry, Cruddy.
Christmas has nothing to do with seasons.
Do you actually think it was snowing on the manger?
Christ could have been born on July 4th, but it wouldn't have had anything to do with American's Independance Day.

	08-12-2003 22:21									#35
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To me Christmas is a time of hope for the future and a coming together of humanity to share in what they hold dear.

Whether we celebrate it as a commercial holiday spin on the winter solstace or as the birth of a religious figure it is all the same to me.

I don't see Jesus as "The Savior" but some do, and the see him as giving the greatest gift anyone ever could.

In the same since, during the winter times are tough. In the ol' days food would be short as would warmth, getting together and sharing what you have would be a great gift as well.

Regardless why we celebrate the holdiday the spirit of giving is still alive, and that is what this time is about. Too bad most of us only feel that was once a year while there are needy people all year long...

	08-12-2003 22:27									#36
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A lot of people are still short of food in winter. (not to mention the ones who are short of food all year round). That applies in the UK and US as much as poorer countries.

	08-12-2003 22:38									#37
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I'm going to get drunk and sacrifice something.

	08-12-2003 22:40									#38
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If its a human being you'll get more power

	08-12-2003 22:43									#39
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If it's a goat I'll have the makings of a nice curry afterwards. **** power.

	08-12-2003 22:44									#40
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You're a belly slave pagan then, not a true one.

	08-12-2003 22:55									#41
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Christmas Morn (Charlie Pride)

A star in the east, bringing wise men to them
He and his mother, bringing gifts to them
A sign telling all the Christ-child is born
On this first Christmas morn

CHORUS
Could this be the day a new world begins?
Could this tiny child walk through life, free from sin?
Has mankind been blessed with a port from all storms,
On this first Christmas morn?

Shepherds lay trembling from fear, some were fleeing
With the sky ablaze, what could they be seeing?
They heard of the Savior, soon to be born,
And he comes, on this first Christmas morn

CHORUS

These things came to pass, as now we all know
May these thoughts be planted in your heart, to grow
Let's not forget why he wore the crown of thorns
On this next Christmas morn.

	08-12-2003 22:57									#42
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quote: Originally posted by SlowwHand Sorry, Cruddy. Christmas has nothing to do with seasons. Do you actually think it was snowing on the manger? Christ could have been born on July 4th, but it wouldn't have had anything to do with American's Independance Day.

I agree with you -- celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with pagan cultures.


But I thought that the other aspects of our Christmas came from pagan cultures.

Such as using "Christmas" trees that were begun by Viking cultural traditions??

	08-12-2003 23:00									#43
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Huns.

They also invented the custom of garlanding trees.

You really don't want to know what they used for garlands.

	08-12-2003 23:17									#44
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I see -- but I thought there were Scandinavians who had a custom in which they cut pine trees for some kind of cultural observance??

	08-12-2003 23:22									#45
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in greece it comes from ancient greek festivities in the same time frame, like many other religious fests

	09-12-2003 00:40									#46
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Well that's all fine and dandy -- but I really wanted to focus on the celebration of Jesus Christ.

	09-12-2003 01:45									#47
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quote: is there anything about celebrating Jesus Christ's birth that you find inspiring?

For me, Easter has been much more inspiring than Christmas.

However, that's not to say I don't find some parts particularly inspiring.

Luke 1:37

"For nothing is impossible with God."

Also, Luke 1:45

"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"