Crud. I messed up one of the html links, accidentally hitting “post” instead of “edit,” but the message is still in tact, at least.
The idiots today want to detract from any tradition. If it did not happen to them...it must be a scam.
But I think most people like the tradition of Christmas. I won’t let these idiots—nor those fighting against the idiots—ruin the peaceful feeling I get around this time of year.
And as I get older, it gets more peaceful.
People, principalities and powers in high places despise anything or anyone Christian or His very name, Y’shua ha meshiach, The Christ
Some of the traditions, symbols and such associated with American, commercialized Christmas actually do have pagan origins. The Christmas tree, even Santa Claus. Other aspects have their origin in Macy’s Department Store.
None of this means a thing if you’re Christian rather than pagan. It’s beautiful, makes people happy and long may we celebrate it.
That’s not to say that I approve of besmirching people who do not believe in celebrating Christmas. It is their right in this nation. I repeat, it is their right, enshrined in the Constitution. Leave them alone, their religious beliefs don’t harm you and are actually none of your business.
Just this evening, I read this:
http://www.classicaldifference.com/the-medieval-redemption-of-christmas/
which speaks to the connections to paganism, but from a Christian perspective. Excerpt:
The church fathers of the fourth century thought so as well. When Constantine ended the Roman persecution of the church, he, along with the leaders of the church, knew that bridges would have to be built between Christianity and paganism.
You see, at the time of Constantine, the Roman pagans were already celebrating a religious festival of Mardis Gras-like joy and mirth. The Romans believed, as Virgil records in Book VIII of The Aeneid, that Italy had, in the distant past, experienced a Golden Age of pastoral innocence. During that time, Saturn, the father of Jupiter, and his fellow Titans had lived on the earth alongside mortals. Long ago, Italy had fallen from her age of gold; however, each year, around the winter solstice, the Romans celebrated the Saturnalia as a way of hearkening back to that lost time of divine closeness, when the dwelling places of gods and men had come, all too briefly, into direct proximity.
But that was not all. The time of the winter solstice, which the Romans celebrated on December 25 rather than December 21, also included a birthday celebration—that of the invincible Sun, who rose up anew out of the shortest day of the year and marched forward into the promised spring. It seemed to Constantine and to many of the church leaders that the conjunction of the Saturnalia and the birthday of the sun made for an appropriate season to celebrate the birth of Christ, He who had drawn heaven and earth together by His Incarnation and brought Light into a world imprisoned in darkness.
Yes, there are many who would argue that the dating of Christmas marks a negative example of the church watering down Christian theology to accommodate pagan culture. Like the religious Puritans and the secular utilitarians of the Victorian Age, they would strip Christmas of all its “medieval” trappings and transform it into a day of sober reflection, either on our sins or our bank accounts.
The medieval church did not see it that way. Far from destroyers of doctrine, they were cultural evangelists, reaching out to the pagan world with a message of hope and joy: “Let us lead you to the full truth, which up until now you have only seen in part.” Or, in the words of that timeless promise that Paul extended to his pagan Greek audience: “What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:23; ESV).
All I can say to the grinches is BAH HUMBUG!
Why Christmas’ ‘Pagan Roots’ Shouldn’t Keep You From Celebrating
Let the reader understand the meaning of my column. It is based PURELY in the BIBLE, ALONE, “solo Scriptura,” if you will, and NOT in any traditions created by fallen man!
Christmas is NOT pagan!
https://oca.org/saints/lives/2016/12/25/103638-the-nativity-of-our-lord-god-and-savior-jesus-christ
Astrological events Associated with the Birth of Jesus Christ and the Dec 25th date
It isn't a very good write up and would fail any English class but I think most people could pick through it. About 2/3 of the way through the blog it talks about the Dec 25th date. Some might notice the day I created this is todays date, actually I just edited it today to post on another freerepublic post earlier today, I deleted about half of what I wrote a few years ago.
Scouts Out!~ Cavalry Ho! God Bless Texas!
Just as the solar new year caused chrstmas to assume the status as the ultimate holiday, the influence of chrstmas later did the same thing to Chanukkah.