I didn't really expect you to understand the analogy. But since you feel it is so telling, what exactly is it saying, then?

And are you mocking other's beliefs by wishing a "Happy Winter Solstice" rather than a Merry Christmas, or are you just not that strong in your convictions? I personally don't recognize winter solstice, other than it being a natural astrological occurance, nor have I ever given any indication here that I do. So why would you, being a proclaimed Christian, express wishes of a happy winter solstice to me? Should I in return wish you a happy Ramadan?

I don't remember mockery of one's faith as being a desirable trait in the Bible I read.

This thread is like porn, I just can't seem to look away. There's actually a debate about if people even ever heard of religion and quotes from "the book". Holy gob ****e

I love it!!!

No, but I like it!

Ok, I hadn't checked this thread in a day or so and its grown a lot! The most recent comments delve a little too much into the esoteric for me. When it comes to interpretation of religious philosophies, well, to each his own, and you really aren't going to change anyone's mind on an online discussion board.


h20,

Ok, you got me fair and square . If you say that people are free to celebrate Christmas, which has Christian origins, without relating it to its religious roots, can't christians use symbolism that previously had other religious connotations? Either they are both wrong or they are both fine.

I realize that that also points out the hypocricy of this threads origins, but I think that in challenging someone's hypocricy you can't fall victim of the same thing yourself, or you lose whatever argumentative high ground you had.

In any case, I'd just like to say you are clearly very intelligent, and I look forward to seeing your next comment!

Wow, nice hook-set Aix. I can hear the drag screaming! You caught your limit on this one. This arguments been around longer than any of us and will still be debated long after we're gone. We'll know for sure once we're dead...or will we?

Dogfish... You're alright! We've never met but I like your "pay it forward" karma way of being. You will have some fine sons.

Agnostic...for the record. And yes I'll have my pagan Christmas tree. I'll even sing some Christmas carols...maybe "Away in a Manger" for starters.

Camo

That very question has always bothered me, as a christian, but I have come to believe that God is just in this situation. Let me explain my thinking.

It is my understanding that children who have never had a chance to grow to know the lord go to heaven to be with him. I think that God would classify this man in the wilderness with these children. I think that he considers all of us children anyways, so it makes sense to me.

On top of this, I don't feel any of us have the right to claim anyone else is not going to heaven. While as a christian I feel that the only way to heaven is through Christ, I also think that none of us can say what is in another's heart. I think God knows far better than us how to decide who belongs where, so we should focus on good thoughts and encourage eachother to find him, rather than condemning anyone.

Dogfish, when you said "follow it to the letter", that saddened me. It saddened me because it seems that your encounters with christianity have made you think it was all about following this book, this set of rules, and it isn't. I guess it has become that way for a lot of people in a lot of churches, but I strongly believe that is not how God meant it to be. Jesus said that if you follow no other commandments, follow these: Love God, and love your fellow man. Christianity is a religion based entirely on love, and far too often in today's world it is seen, and perpetuated, as a religion of rules, condemnation and even bigotry and hate.

For me, what religion could make more sense than one that's main tenant is to love? Ok, barring a religion based on fishing or drinking beer

ahhh, i ain't so smart...i had to turn around three times this year to get my fishing license and earlier today I lost my keys....found them in the front pocket of the pants I was wearing.

"If you say that people are few to celebrate Christmas, which has Christian origins, without relating it to its religious roots, can't christians use symbolism that previously had other religious connotations? Either they are both wrong or they are both fine."

If I understand the question correctly I believe your last line is what I am arguing...the nature of the original post is hypocritical because, as I understood it, he feels borrowing religious symbolism is wrong.

Since I personally don't care where Christians get their religious symbology, I don't see how I'm trying to have it both ways. Borrow away, just don't cry foul when someone borrows from you basically...

Am I the only one that caught elvis trying to explain how the first christmas tree was given to the baby jesus by the magii? I'll bet one of them was wearing a fuzzy lil red hat...

R,O,F,L,M,A,O.

I Personally do not do any of the Bs that comes with the commercialized Christmas, or Easter. I don’t give gifts, and I don’t take them either. I don’t put up stupid little lights or trees either . I read the bible in a duck blind every year for Christmas with my boys or buy my self, and I go camping on Easter, with the bible. I don’t play the games sing the songs, and I do believe. I do however have the theology degree, and I am not perfect. Most every one makes mistakes on interpretation. Even I do and it’s always later when I notice it. That’s the great thing about God and his forgiveness.

Aix, you sound like fun

H20,

How do you get this?

"Am I the only one that caught elvis trying to explain how the first christmas tree was given to the baby jesus by the magii?"

From this?


"The first christmas tree was of course and Olive tree in the manger at Christs birth visitiation by the wisemen."

Many accounts of this by the way.

were the magii wearing fuzzy little red hats, too.....?

the christmas tree as it is known culturally in the united states evolved from....ahhh, forget it...why am I even bothering? Talking to you is like clapping with one hand...

Man, what an understatement.

Jeremiah 10:2-4: "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." (KJV).

Anthrax - Caught in a Mosh

H20,

"the christmas tree as it is known culturally in the united states evolved from"

It evolved from Martin luther not the Pagan evergreen ritual that you haters put forth. The US custom was to add glass ornaments nothoing more.

Look it can google. There are over 1000 sites that discuss the origins of Christmas. Anyone can google a site to make their claim and defend it on a variety of points. The Pagan solistce ritual with the evergreen tree is just one.

The bigger point is none of it means a fricken thing if you understand that this world is ruled by freewill. That freewill allows man to do whatever he chooses. It has zero effect on the claim that one is Christian, the bible or god period. It is simply mans choice. The fact that it may be a sin is irrrelevent as well as the messiah came to forgive us for sin. It has about as much effect on the validity of biblical events or god as a box of Cheerios.

Actually, the POINT is that a Christian decided to start a thread to deride others and was challenged on his statements which you thought you could defend with less than accurate statements yourself.

I'm not finding anything at all supporting your statement.

Only 100 or so sites mention the legend. here is one.

http://www.christmascarnivals.com/tradition/


According to a legend, the Christmas tree is associated with the birth of Jesus Christ. It is believed that on the night of the birth of Christ, all kinds of living creatures came to Bethlehem with gifts. The olive tree came along with its fruit and the palm with its date but the fir had nothing to gift the newborn king. So an angel, taking pity on the fir, commanded a cluster of stars to shine on its beautiful boughs. Baby Jesus smiled on seeing the lighted tree, and blessed it. Consequently, the fir tree is always lighted with many decorations on it, to please little children during Christmas.

and by 'None christians' you mean 'non-christians'?