| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"words of truth" |
| Date: |
22 Dec 2005 11:38:34 PM |
| Object: |
Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
http://catholica.pontifications.net/?p=1280
Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory Bank
Years ago, back when we lived in Maryland and my son Aaron attended
Clarksville Elementary School, we attended the mandatory annual school
Christmas concert. The songs played and sung were all of the secular
variety-"Jingle Bells," "Silver Bells," "Christmas
Bells," "Cow bells." But the last song of the concert was an
honest to goodness Christmas carol. The chorus sang the glorious
opening stanza:
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Dah dah dah-dah.
The "dah's" represent the silence of the chorus and the sound of
the trumpets. They deleted "Christ the Lord"!
I was furious.
I sent a letter the next day to the principal objecting to the
mutilation of a Christmas carol dear to the heart of all Christians.
The principal replied: "It was an artistic decision and had nothing
to do with content." Yeah, right.
.. . .
Have you noticed how many more people are now saying "Happy
Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"?
Our culture appears to be intent on following Europe's example. We
want to purge Christmas from our cultural memory. Yet we also want to
keep the "holiday spirit," as if that could be divorced from the
babe in the manger. Why do people think thoughts of peace and goodwill
during the "holiday season"? Only because of the story of
Christmas. Only because of the story of Mary and Joseph and the
shepherds and angels. Only because of the story of the birth of the
Savior. Apart from this story, there is no holiday season.
.. . .
One of my favorite holiday movies is "The Bishop's Wife," with
Cary Grant and Loretta Young. A secondary character in the movie is
Professor Wutheridge-an irascible old man, scholar, and atheist at
the twilight of his unexceptional life. Yet at the beginning of the
movie we see the professor buying a Christmas tree and at the
conclusion of the movie we see him entering into a church for the
midnight Mass. Even the curmudgeon and skeptic finds the magic of
Christmas irresistible.
Yet now Western culture desires to hit the delete key and wipe from the
cultural mind all memory of Jesus. Let us pretend that the birth of the
eternal Word is irrelevant to the Christmas season. Let us pretend
there can be Christmas without a Christ.
.. . .
In the latest issue of First Things, Pope Benedict XVI presents a
diagnosis of the sprititual decline of Europe that is equally
applicable to the United States:
In European society today, thank goodness, anyone who dishonors the
faith of Israel, its image of God, or its great figures must pay a
fine. The same holds true for anyone who dishonors the Koran and the
convictions of Islam. But when it comes to Jesus Christ and that which
is sacred to Christians, freedom of speech becomes the supreme good.
This case illustrates a peculiar Western self-hatred that is nothing
short of pathological. It is commendable that the West is trying to be
more open, to be more understanding of outsiders, but it has lost all
capacity for self-love.... Multiculturalism, which is so passionately
promoted, can sometimes amount to an abandonment and denial, a flight
from one's own things. Multiculturalism teaches us to approach the
sacred things of others with respect, but we can do this only if we
ourselves are not estranged from the sacred, from God.
The American denial of Christmas sadly exemplifies our growing
estrangement from God. To our secularist brethren I ask: Will America
be richer or poorer if you succeed in purging our nation of Christmas?
.
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| User: "Paul Duca" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
23 Dec 2005 08:15:56 PM |
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In case you haven't read, the Pope must want that--otherwise, why
wear the Santa hat?
Paul
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| User: "Spartakus" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
23 Dec 2005 09:13:18 AM |
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"words of truth" <wordsoftruth@hoshmail.com> wrote...
http://catholica.pontifications.net/?p=1280
Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory Bank
[...]
I would suggest that the author's desire to see "Merry Christmas" emblazoned
in every public place and to hear affirmations of Baby King Jesus at every
Christmas^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^HHoliday event is a symptom of his
less-than-robust faith. The spirit of Christmas is almost unstoppable for
people of faith. In fact, the *only* thing that stops it is whining and
hand-wringing over a phony "War on Christmas".
.
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| User: "Sam Taylor" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
24 Dec 2005 02:53:23 PM |
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Actually Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.
In it's most ancient Incarnation, it happened at the winter Solstice,
as a sign that Nimrod had entered the Heavenly realm as a GOD,after He
died.
it was instituted, By nimrods mother, who was also His wife.
the Incarnation of Santa, used toys to entice babies to find
Children to sacrifice unto the gods.
hence the Red and green, on the Trees.
it later became Saturn ilia, which Jeremiah talks about the Cutting
of a Tree and decking it with ornaments, after the infant murders.
It wasn't until Christianity became prevalent that Santa became the
benevolent Gift giver.
before then Children were warned to sleep until Morning, to not get
caught by Santa.
The Adult Inappropriate party, part of Christmas was done away with,
when it was no longer
a celebration of the resurrection of the Sun (not Son)
early Church leaders kept it as Christmas not wanting to upset the
masses.
Jesus Died on Passover day, he lived 33 1/2 years do the Math,
another Clue was his Circumcision, as it was in the temple, with
a prophet commenting," that He cried not out"
only 1 ceremony would have allowed Jesus to be in the temple,
before his 8th Birthday.
he had to either Be born on the day of Atonement, or 8 days before
the feast of Tabernacles, to be presented unto YHWH, on the 1st day of
the
7 day feast.
this is usually in late September, or early October.
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| User: "Sam Taylor" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
24 Dec 2005 02:54:55 PM |
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Actually Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.
In it's most ancient Incarnation, it happened at the winter Solstice,
as a sign that Nimrod had entered the Heavenly realm as a GOD,after He
died.
it was instituted, By nimrods mother, who was also His wife.
the Incarnation of Santa, used toys to entice babies to find
Children to sacrifice unto the gods.
hence the Red and green, on the Trees.
it later became Saturn ilia, which Jeremiah talks about the Cutting
of a Tree and decking it with ornaments, after the infant murders.
It wasn't until Christianity became prevalent that Santa became the
benevolent Gift giver.
before then Children were warned to sleep until Morning, to not get
caught by Santa.
The Adult Inappropriate party, part of Christmas was done away with,
when it was no longer
a celebration of the resurrection of the Sun (not Son)
early Church leaders kept it as Christmas not wanting to upset the
masses.
Jesus Died on Passover day, he lived 33 1/2 years do the Math,
another Clue was his Circumcision, as it was in the temple, with
a prophet commenting," that He cried not out"
only 1 ceremony would have allowed Jesus to be in the temple,
before his 8th Birthday.
he had to either Be born on the day of Atonement, or 8 days before
the feast of Tabernacles, to be presented unto YHWH, on the 1st day of
the
7 day feast.
this is usually in late September, or early October.
.
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| User: "billu" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
24 Dec 2005 08:49:24 AM |
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Personally I don't care what people say. I only have a problem
when they are prohibited from saying Merry Christmas, Happy
Chaunika (sp) or enjoy the Kwanza or whatever. It's not so much
what they can say as to what they are prohibited from saying that
irks me.
If Walmart wants to plaster their ads with Happy Holidays that's
cool. When they prohibit their employees from saying that it's uncool.
"Spartakus" <no.spam@this.address> wrote in message
news:doh46f$bm9$0@pita.alt.net...
"words of truth" <wordsoftruth@hoshmail.com> wrote...
http://catholica.pontifications.net/?p=1280
Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory Bank
[...]
I would suggest that the author's desire to see "Merry Christmas"
emblazoned
in every public place and to hear affirmations of Baby King Jesus at every
Christmas^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^HHoliday event is a symptom of his
less-than-robust faith. The spirit of Christmas is almost unstoppable for
people of faith. In fact, the *only* thing that stops it is whining and
hand-wringing over a phony "War on Christmas".
.
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| User: "Les Hellawell" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
23 Dec 2005 02:52:50 PM |
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On 22 Dec 2005 21:38:34 -0800, "words of truth"
<wordsoftruth@hoshmail.com> wrote:
http://catholica.pontifications.net/?p=1280
Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory Bank
Years ago, back when we lived in Maryland and my son Aaron attended
Clarksville Elementary School, we attended the mandatory annual school
Christmas concert. The songs played and sung were all of the secular
variety-"Jingle Bells," "Silver Bells," "Christmas
Bells," "Cow bells." But the last song of the concert was an
honest to goodness Christmas carol. The chorus sang the glorious
opening stanza:
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Dah dah dah-dah.
The "dah's" represent the silence of the chorus and the sound of
the trumpets. They deleted "Christ the Lord"!
I was furious.
I sent a letter the next day to the principal objecting to the
mutilation of a Christmas carol dear to the heart of all Christians.
The principal replied: "It was an artistic decision and had nothing
to do with content." Yeah, right.
. . .
Have you noticed how many more people are now saying "Happy
Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"?
Our culture appears to be intent on following Europe's example. We
want to purge Christmas from our cultural memory. Yet we also want to
keep the "holiday spirit," as if that could be divorced from the
babe in the manger. Why do people think thoughts of peace and goodwill
during the "holiday season"? Only because of the story of
Christmas. Only because of the story of Mary and Joseph and the
shepherds and angels. Only because of the story of the birth of the
Savior. Apart from this story, there is no holiday season.
I think thoughts of peace and goodwill to all men all year long.
Only Christians do it just during their Christ Mass season then
return to their normal hatred of those of us who are not Christian
the rest of the year. I call their all too short season of good will
the "Christian cynical season".
In their war against the rest of us they only declare their truce
so they can do their thing undisturbed.
One of my favorite holiday movies is "The Bishop's Wife," with
Cary Grant and Loretta Young. A secondary character in the movie is
Professor Wutheridge-an irascible old man, scholar, and atheist at
the twilight of his unexceptional life. Yet at the beginning of the
movie we see the professor buying a Christmas tree and at the
conclusion of the movie we see him entering into a church for the
midnight Mass. Even the curmudgeon and skeptic finds the magic of
Christmas irresistible.
Yet now Western culture desires to hit the delete key and wipe from the
cultural mind all memory of Jesus. Let us pretend that the birth of the
eternal Word is irrelevant to the Christmas season. Let us pretend
there can be Christmas without a Christ.
You can keep your Christ mass and your Jesus if you wish. You
are free to do as you wish. Those of us who are not Christian
have a better reason for our season.
We turn our backs on your religion and instead celebrate the coming
of a new year and the solstice when the days start to lengthen
again. Something that mankind did long before the Christians invented
their god Christ. We decorate our houses, towns and cities with
coloured lights and decorate fur trees also with lights to banish the
winter gloom and put us into a happy mood when the nights are at
their longest. We exchange presents to celebrate our industrial
harvest (as farmers celebrate their natural harvest) and increased or
continuing prosperity. None of which has anything to do with a long
dead prophet whom Christians have elevated to gods rather like the
Romans elevated their leaders.
We know Christians stole from us these celebrations forcing us
to call then Christmas. Well I give you your word back, it has
nothing to do with me or what I do. You enjoy your Christ Mass
and I will enjoy my Winter Festivities. If you will we can call
it the Festive season to signify our parallel celebrations. If you
insist on lumping in our celebrations then I will regard your
wishing me a Merry Christmas as an insult and denegration
of my celebrations. It is up to you. Either we live together
at peace or you declare war against us, a war to force us
into your Christian mould. I am happy for you to celibrate
your Christmas, why are you try to deny me my freedom
to celebrate the Winter Festival?
The American denial of Christmas sadly exemplifies our growing
estrangement from God.
If you consider yourself 'estranged from your god' that's your
business not the business of those USA'ers who are not
Christian.
To our secularist brethren I ask: Will America
be richer or poorer if you succeed in purging our nation of Christmas?
I am not a USA'er but I am certain that US atheists have no
desire to deprive you of your Christmas but I ask you
again: Do you seek to deny them of their secular
celebrations? Where is this supposed American freedom
of speech and rights of freedom of conscience and religion
(or none). Do you Christians just see it as freedom to
impose just your religion.
Please confirm: Which comes first, your beliefs and faith
or freedom of conscience for all?
--
Les Hellawell
Greetings from:
YORKSHIRE The White Rose County
.
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| User: "skyeyes" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
23 Dec 2005 03:34:15 PM |
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Les Hellawell wrote:
<Snip most of Les's excellent post>
I am not a USA'er but I am certain that US atheists have no
desire to deprive you of your Christmas but I ask you
again: Do you seek to deny them of their secular
celebrations? Where is this supposed American freedom
of speech and rights of freedom of conscience and religion
(or none). Do you Christians just see it as freedom to
impose just your religion.
It goes like this, Les: in 'Merica, you *have* the freedoms of speech,
conscience and religion; you're just not supposed to *practice* any of
them. ;->
Brenda Nelson, A.A.#34
EAC Professor of Feline Thermometrics and Cat-herding
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| User: "randytheicon" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
24 Dec 2005 03:42:47 PM |
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"You have the right to Free Speech...as long as you're not dumb enough
to actually TRY it!"
-The Clash, "Know Your Rights" (1982)
--Randy Brown
Baltimore MD
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| User: "The Rock Is Peter" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
23 Dec 2005 04:58:35 PM |
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Les Hellawell wrote:
On 22 Dec 2005 21:38:34 -0800, "words of truth"
<wordsoftruth@hoshmail.com> wrote:
http://catholica.pontifications.net/?p=1280
Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory Bank
Years ago, back when we lived in Maryland and my son Aaron attended
Clarksville Elementary School, we attended the mandatory annual school
Christmas concert. The songs played and sung were all of the secular
variety-"Jingle Bells," "Silver Bells," "Christmas
Bells," "Cow bells." But the last song of the concert was an
honest to goodness Christmas carol. The chorus sang the glorious
opening stanza:
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Dah dah dah-dah.
The "dah's" represent the silence of the chorus and the sound of
the trumpets. They deleted "Christ the Lord"!
I was furious.
I sent a letter the next day to the principal objecting to the
mutilation of a Christmas carol dear to the heart of all Christians.
The principal replied: "It was an artistic decision and had nothing
to do with content." Yeah, right.
. . .
Have you noticed how many more people are now saying "Happy
Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"?
Our culture appears to be intent on following Europe's example. We
want to purge Christmas from our cultural memory. Yet we also want to
keep the "holiday spirit," as if that could be divorced from the
babe in the manger. Why do people think thoughts of peace and goodwill
during the "holiday season"? Only because of the story of
Christmas. Only because of the story of Mary and Joseph and the
shepherds and angels. Only because of the story of the birth of the
Savior. Apart from this story, there is no holiday season.
I think thoughts of peace and goodwill to all men all year long.
Only Christians do it just during their Christ Mass season then
return to their normal hatred of those of us who are not Christian
the rest of the year. I call their all too short season of good will
the "Christian cynical season".
In their war against the rest of us they only declare their truce
so they can do their thing undisturbed.
One of my favorite holiday movies is "The Bishop's Wife," with
Cary Grant and Loretta Young. A secondary character in the movie is
Professor Wutheridge-an irascible old man, scholar, and atheist at
the twilight of his unexceptional life. Yet at the beginning of the
movie we see the professor buying a Christmas tree and at the
conclusion of the movie we see him entering into a church for the
midnight Mass. Even the curmudgeon and skeptic finds the magic of
Christmas irresistible.
Yet now Western culture desires to hit the delete key and wipe from the
cultural mind all memory of Jesus. Let us pretend that the birth of the
eternal Word is irrelevant to the Christmas season. Let us pretend
there can be Christmas without a Christ.
You can keep your Christ mass and your Jesus if you wish. You
are free to do as you wish. Those of us who are not Christian
have a better reason for our season.
We turn our backs on your religion and instead celebrate the coming
of a new year and the solstice when the days start to lengthen
again. Something that mankind did long before the Christians invented
their god Christ.
Right, except this and everything you mention later was still always
done in the name or honor of a deity. Strip the current one away,
you're still left with the previous myth, and so one. Without them, it
boils down to a lot of silly fuss for a common, expected, and
non-impressive astronomical occurance.
One may as well celebrate the rotation of the Earth for its own sake.
We decorate our houses, towns and cities with
coloured lights and decorate fur trees also with lights to banish the
winter gloom and put us into a happy mood when the nights are at
their longest. We exchange presents to celebrate our industrial
harvest (as farmers celebrate their natural harvest) and increased or
continuing prosperity. None of which has anything to do with a long
dead prophet whom Christians have elevated to gods rather like the
Romans elevated their leaders.
Like most, including most Christians, you confuse what is celebrated on
the day with how it is celebrated.
Your rant contains a mix of traditions from distinctly different
cultures. Why don't you chose just one and stick with its partular
tradition? If you don't, you've done absolutely nothing different from
what you accuse American Christians of.
We know Christians stole from us these celebrations forcing us
to call then Christmas. Well I give you your word back, it has
nothing to do with me or what I do. You enjoy your Christ Mass
and I will enjoy my Winter Festivities. If you will we can call
it the Festive season to signify our parallel celebrations. If you
insist on lumping in our celebrations then I will regard your
wishing me a Merry Christmas as an insult and denegration
of my celebrations. It is up to you. Either we live together
at peace or you declare war against us, a war to force us
into your Christian mould. I am happy for you to celibrate
your Christmas, why are you try to deny me my freedom
to celebrate the Winter Festival?
Where did your winter festival come from? From the sound of it, it
appears to be a combination of different celebrations stolen from other
cultures.
The American denial of Christmas sadly exemplifies our growing
estrangement from God.
If you consider yourself 'estranged from your god' that's your
business not the business of those USA'ers who are not
Christian.
To our secularist brethren I ask: Will America
be richer or poorer if you succeed in purging our nation of Christmas?
I am not a USA'er but I am certain that US atheists have no
desire to deprive you of your Christmas but I ask you
again: Do you seek to deny them of their secular
celebrations? Where is this supposed American freedom
of speech and rights of freedom of conscience and religion
(or none). Do you Christians just see it as freedom to
impose just your religion.
Please confirm: Which comes first, your beliefs and faith
or freedom of conscience for all?
--
Les Hellawell
Greetings from:
YORKSHIRE The White Rose County
.
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| User: "Les Hellawell" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
24 Dec 2005 03:37:00 AM |
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On 23 Dec 2005 14:58:35 -0800, "The Rock Is Peter"
<TheRockIsPeter@jesusanswers.com> wrote:
We decorate our houses, towns and cities with
coloured lights and decorate fur trees also with lights to banish the
winter gloom and put us into a happy mood when the nights are at
their longest. We exchange presents to celebrate our industrial
harvest (as farmers celebrate their natural harvest) and increased or
continuing prosperity. None of which has anything to do with a long
dead prophet whom Christians have elevated to gods rather like the
Romans elevated their leaders.
Like most, including most Christians, you confuse what is celebrated on
the day with how it is celebrated.
The explanation why I suggest we use all these lights is to
brighten otherwise dark and gloomy days when they are at the
shortest. There is nothing religious about it.
Farmers celebrate their rural harvest but since the Industrial
Revolution which was at its height between circa 1750-1830
Britain any many other nations have become largely industrious
nations producing goods and services instead of agricultural
products. Why should we not celebrate the harvest that comes
of that. Goods and profit at year end. Again nothing whatsover
to do with religion
Your rant contains a mix of traditions from distinctly different
cultures. Why don't you chose just one and stick with its partular
tradition? If you don't, you've done absolutely nothing different from
what you accuse American Christians of.
We know Christians stole from us these celebrations forcing us
to call then Christmas. Well I give you your word back, it has
nothing to do with me or what I do. You enjoy your Christ Mass
and I will enjoy my Winter Festivities. If you will we can call
it the Festive season to signify our parallel celebrations. If you
insist on lumping in our celebrations then I will regard your
wishing me a Merry Christmas as an insult and denegration
of my celebrations. It is up to you. Either we live together
at peace or you declare war against us, a war to force us
into your Christian mould. I am happy for you to celibrate
your Christmas, why are you try to deny me my freedom
to celebrate the Winter Festival?
Where did your winter festival come from? From the sound of it, it
appears to be a combination of different celebrations stolen from other
cultures.
It matters not where it comes from, except as an interesting
history. What matters is what we do now and why. It does
not even matter what we call these festivities and pleasure
taking events , I used the term "Winter Festival" merely to
distinquish them from the Christian Christ Mass which
happens at the same time, any name will do just as long
as it makes this clear distinction so Christians do not
feel we are stealing their reason for their Christ Mass and
my activities are not associated with their religion.
And the reason, the real reason? Any excuse to put down
our tools, whether they be keyboard, spanner or ***** and
rest, have a good time, and enjoy the fruits of our labour
whether it be industrial of agricultural.
There is little the farmer can do this time of year anyway
with the days short and nothing growing so his rest is
practically enforced anyway. We all can afford to do it,
we are not struggling to survive so why not?
Maybe that is why Christians decided to celebrate
their prophets birthday at this time of year. because
there was the time available to do it? They could hardly
do it during other times when people would be busy
attending to crops. If they had placed their prophets
birthday at harvest time it would simply have to
be ignored!
Those of us not engaged in agriculture take breaks in
summer of course but there is a long gap between summers
so the end of the year is a good time to fill the gap. Actually
what is becoming increasingly popular here this time of year
is for people to fly out to warmer beach resorts many citing
'escaping Christmas' as an excuse. Airports are reporting
heavy traffic.
--
Les Hellawell
Greetings from:
YORKSHIRE The White Rose County
.
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| User: "The Rock Is Peter" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
24 Dec 2005 07:06:24 AM |
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Les Hellawell wrote:
On 23 Dec 2005 14:58:35 -0800, "The Rock Is Peter"
<TheRockIsPeter@jesusanswers.com> wrote:
We decorate our houses, towns and cities with
coloured lights and decorate fur trees also with lights to banish the
winter gloom and put us into a happy mood when the nights are at
their longest. We exchange presents to celebrate our industrial
harvest (as farmers celebrate their natural harvest) and increased or
continuing prosperity. None of which has anything to do with a long
dead prophet whom Christians have elevated to gods rather like the
Romans elevated their leaders.
Like most, including most Christians, you confuse what is celebrated on
the day with how it is celebrated.
The explanation why I suggest we use all these lights is to
brighten otherwise dark and gloomy days when they are at the
shortest. There is nothing religious about it.
Farmers celebrate their rural harvest but since the Industrial
Revolution which was at its height between circa 1750-1830
Britain any many other nations have become largely industrious
nations producing goods and services instead of agricultural
products. Why should we not celebrate the harvest that comes
of that. Goods and profit at year end. Again nothing whatsover
to do with religion
Your rant contains a mix of traditions from distinctly different
cultures. Why don't you chose just one and stick with its partular
tradition? If you don't, you've done absolutely nothing different from
what you accuse American Christians of.
We know Christians stole from us these celebrations forcing us
to call then Christmas. Well I give you your word back, it has
nothing to do with me or what I do. You enjoy your Christ Mass
and I will enjoy my Winter Festivities. If you will we can call
it the Festive season to signify our parallel celebrations. If you
insist on lumping in our celebrations then I will regard your
wishing me a Merry Christmas as an insult and denegration
of my celebrations. It is up to you. Either we live together
at peace or you declare war against us, a war to force us
into your Christian mould. I am happy for you to celibrate
your Christmas, why are you try to deny me my freedom
to celebrate the Winter Festival?
Where did your winter festival come from? From the sound of it, it
appears to be a combination of different celebrations stolen from other
cultures.
It matters not where it comes from, except as an interesting
history. What matters is what we do now and why. It does
not even matter what we call these festivities and pleasure
taking events , I used the term "Winter Festival" merely to
distinquish them from the Christian Christ Mass which
happens at the same time, any name will do just as long
as it makes this clear distinction so Christians do not
feel we are stealing their reason for their Christ Mass and
my activities are not associated with their religion.
And the reason, the real reason? Any excuse to put down
our tools, whether they be keyboard, spanner or ***** and
rest, have a good time, and enjoy the fruits of our labour
whether it be industrial of agricultural.
There is little the farmer can do this time of year anyway
with the days short and nothing growing so his rest is
practically enforced anyway. We all can afford to do it,
we are not struggling to survive so why not?
Maybe that is why Christians decided to celebrate
their prophets birthday at this time of year. because
there was the time available to do it? They could hardly
do it during other times when people would be busy
attending to crops. If they had placed their prophets
birthday at harvest time it would simply have to
be ignored!
Those of us not engaged in agriculture take breaks in
summer of course but there is a long gap between summers
so the end of the year is a good time to fill the gap. Actually
what is becoming increasingly popular here this time of year
is for people to fly out to warmer beach resorts many citing
'escaping Christmas' as an excuse. Airports are reporting
heavy traffic.
But you're still stealing pagan religious traditions from multiple
sources in your observance, aren't you?
--
Les Hellawell
Greetings from:
YORKSHIRE The White Rose County
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| User: "Les Hellawell" |
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| Title: Re: Deleting Christmas From Our Cultural Memory |
24 Dec 2005 10:48:35 AM |
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On 24 Dec 2005 05:06:24 -0800, "The Rock Is Peter"
<TheRockIsPeter@jesusanswers.com> wrote:
Les Hellawell wrote:
On 23 Dec 2005 14:58:35 -0800, "The Rock Is Peter"
<TheRockIsPeter@jesusanswers.com> wrote:
Those of us not engaged in agriculture take breaks in
summer of course but there is a long gap between summers
so the end of the year is a good time to fill the gap. Actually
what is becoming increasingly popular here this time of year
is for people to fly out to warmer beach resorts many citing
'escaping Christmas' as an excuse. Airports are reporting
heavy traffic.
But you're still stealing pagan religious traditions from multiple
sources in your observance, aren't you?
Sorry but I see nothing pagan about putting up lights to
brighten otherwise dark nights, but even if it was so what,
it long lost any pagan connotations if it has.
Who cares anyway except perhaps you for some ridiculous
reason trying to make some obscure and meaningless point.
Whatever it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do
with Christianity a later imposition.
--
Les Hellawell
all year round greetings from:
YORKSHIRE The White Rose County
.
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