Posted on 12/10/2008 3:52:30 PM PST by Sammy67
...”Name your toilet Allah”
And start dropping some major Mohammeds in there!
Nonsense? Really? Let me point out, if I may, a couple things overlooked in your dissertation.
For example, although the Gospels describe Jesus’ birth in detail, they never mention the date, so historians do not know on what date he was born. The Roman Catholic Church chose December 25 as the day for the Feast of the Nativity in order to give Christian meaning to existing pagan rituals. For instance, the Church replaced festivities honoring the birth of Mithra, the god of light, with festivities to commemorate the birth of Jesus, whom the Bible calls the light of the world. The Catholic Church hoped to draw pagans into its religion by allowing them to continue their revelry while simultaneously honoring the birthday of Jesus. The Eastern Orthodox Church took a slightly different course. By the end of the 4th century the Eastern Church in Constantinople had also begun to acknowledge December 25 as Jesus’ birthday, but it emphasized the celebration of Christ’s baptism on January 6 as the more important holiday.
Also overlooked is that fact that historians are unsure exactly when Christians first began celebrating the Nativity of Christ. However, most scholars believe that Christmas originated in the 4th century as a Christian substitute for pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. Before the introduction of Christmas, each year beginning on December 17 Romans honored Saturn, the ancient god of agriculture, in a festival called Saturnalia. This festival lasted for seven days and included the winter solstice, which usually occurred around December 25 on the ancient Julian calendar. During Saturnalia the Romans feasted, postponed all business and warfare, exchanged gifts, and temporarily freed their slaves. Many Romans also celebrated the lengthening of daylight following the winter solstice by participating in rituals to glorify Mithra, the ancient Persian god of light. These and other winter festivities continued through January 1, the festival of Kalends, when Romans marked the day of the new moon and the first day of the month and year.
Cordially, A
since he’s living on the dole, and obviously cant afford it himself, I think we should all take up a collection to send him a nice Christmas ham, complete with trimmings. Its the least we could do.
Im not toast. My Guy wins in the end. And O’s election may have brought that day significantly closer.
Maranatha!
Try the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. You will recognize the liturgy. Only difference is no pope, saints, adoration of Mary etc. Very conservative and biblically based. You might feel at home. (and no we are not the ELCA either, we and a few other synods are what is left of the conservative branch of Lutherans.)
Or work to reform the errors of the Catholic church from the inside. (No I am not catholic bashing, every church has its problems)
Religiously! ;^)
And other scholars draw no connection with Saturnalia.
It is a dangerous practice to assign motives to others particularly when there are sufficient other reasons for the date and the celebration.
It is particularly offensive to see the pagan arguments on a thread about Muslim objections to our Christian tradition.
Whatchu' talkin' 'bout Willis? You may have overlooked my initial comment noting the irony that a pagan holiday transformed into a Christian holiday we know today as Christmas is now being challenged as an evil, pagan celebration by deceived, Hell-bound Muslims (2 Timothy 3:12-14). Merry Christmas and let me recommend 2 shots and some salve to reduce that swelling from your over-sensi-nativity.
I just read the one post of yours.
If I misunderstood your position and jumped the gun, I apologize.
But I will retain my sensi-nativity about and rejection that “Christmas was introduced as a substitute for pagan celebrations”.
As familiar as the leftists heatedly proclaiming “There is no war on Christmas!”, over and over, every time one of these Christmas-hating nuts gets mentioned.
I guess that just shows some ailments are chronic. Adieu.
Cute.
It is constant. And comes from many sides. Christianity fought paganism, heresy and materialism and the fight never ends.
thanks for your reply..
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