tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14229312.post113322704227190279..comments2023-05-13T09:16:17.585-06:00Comments on FollowingFrodo: 2 HolidaysGordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767921257861340046noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14229312.post-54857818784893231522008-12-18T13:08:00.000-07:002008-12-18T13:08:00.000-07:00Where did you get the idea that, "Christmas is the...Where did you get the idea that, "Christmas is the Christian holiday." Who told you this? Was Jesus really born on the 25th of December? Did Jesus ever celebrate his birth? Did Jesus ever suggest that we celebrate his birth? (Why would Jesus want us to celebrate his birth on a day he wasn't born on?) Who informs and directs your Christianity? Jesus or somebody else?<BR/><BR/>Christmastide is simple. It is a pagan religious invention for the corporate worshiping of the sun and the personifications of the sun. <BR/><BR/>You can not, through a process of reappropriation, claim that by wrapping christmastide in Jesus, Santa, christmas trees, consumerism or family-togetherness change it intrinsically or divide it into two.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04033944766795085990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14229312.post-31730774576046232602008-12-01T15:07:00.000-07:002008-12-01T15:07:00.000-07:00Although I do like the distinction between Christm...Although I do like the distinction between Christmas and Xmas, I do not say "Amen," because I do not quite agree. You had me until the end.<BR/><BR/>Would you say, then, that Christians do not have an obligation to remind other Christians of the reason for the season? Shouldn't Christians encourage each other to celebrate a true CHRISTmas? Also, isn't there an obligation to share Christ with those who cling to Xmas? I would say Scrooge's claim is very wrong here. Admittedly, there might be different Christian ways to celebrate Christmas, but Christians are called not to sit back and let people do as they please, but, rather, to act. I don't want to let someone keep Christmas in their way if they're sticking to Xmas and calling it the same as my holiday. I'd like to see either a different name for the exorbitant, materialistic, worldly Xmas, or for it to be done away with completely (ideally the latter). Xmas is hypocritical for a Christian, and a good start for an atheist or agnostic. In either case, the goal should be for that person (or family) to come closer to Christ and move away from Xmas towards Christmas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14229312.post-30242262261376636562008-12-01T11:56:00.000-07:002008-12-01T11:56:00.000-07:00Gord,You ask for a different perspective, here it ...Gord,<BR/><BR/>You ask for a different perspective, here it is...<BR/><BR/>While I am not a very religious person, I am quite spiritual. I claim no one religion, as I have yet to find the one that shares enough of my beliefs to claim it. As for Christmas, I am disgusted at the waste and excessiveness of what has become the holiday. While I am aware that many who are atheist or agnostic celebrate the holiday in this way, my distaste comes more from the realm of Christians who are leaning more toward the need to buy expensive gifts to out do each other than the expression of love that SHOULD come with the holiday. I know it is easy to say, but we DON'T do that at our house. We do buy small gifts, but they are small, and not over a certain dollar amount. They really are more about the thought than the expense. We also give more during the holidays, though we are careful to make sure we give all year, not just at the end. Though some consider it odd, we do not accept receipts for contributions. The gift is for the joy and help it will bring others, not the financial boost on our taxes.<BR/><BR/>My point is this...My celebration of Christmas is based on the person he was/is...Peaceful, giving, accepting, tolerant, and above all, loving.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14229312.post-44431333954635869202008-11-30T20:31:00.000-07:002008-11-30T20:31:00.000-07:00i think this really would make the world a differn...i think this really would make the world a differnt place if you put it some place where everyone would read it. I never really looked at it this way. Christmas is different than Xmas because Christ is not and X he is a savior! <BR/>thanks for sharing!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14229312.post-48393046164534452682007-11-09T09:24:00.000-07:002007-11-09T09:24:00.000-07:00All I have to say is AMEN! You nailed it.All I have to say is AMEN! You nailed it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14229312.post-1133820969590738722005-12-05T15:16:00.000-07:002005-12-05T15:16:00.000-07:00Very good point. I grew up in a family that didn't...Very good point. I grew up in a family that didn't celebrate Christmas at all, because of the origins of the holiday and many of the traditions. In our home we celebrate Christmas very simply, without a tree, Santa, or any of that stuff. But I certainly don't expect "the world" to follow suit.purple_kangaroohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02543172194041505144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14229312.post-1133292845055657152005-11-29T12:34:00.000-07:002005-11-29T12:34:00.000-07:00RM,I was drawing from personal observation. So of...RM,<BR/>I was drawing from personal observation. So of course there are likely other ways of being.<BR/><BR/>Most of what I have seen and read along the "simplify Christmas" line has come from a faith-based perspective. I would be interested in hearing about other approaches.Gordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03767921257861340046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14229312.post-1133291515734105792005-11-29T12:11:00.000-07:002005-11-29T12:11:00.000-07:00I think I'm with you, and I definitely feel that C...I think I'm with you, and I definitely feel that Christians celebrate Xmas more often than we should, but I also know people who celebrate a "secular Christmas" (which you call Xmas) in a way that *doesn't* involved an orgy of gifts, wasteful lights, etc., but that emphasizes simplicity and joy. But they *wouldn't* call their celebration religious either.<BR/><BR/>I agree that there are two parallel celebrations going on (and that they bleed into one another), I just would say that the way it's expressed here it seems that for a non-Christian the only option is an overindulgent spend-a-thon. Does that make sense?reverendmotherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07457532866087494676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14229312.post-1133266342110011532005-11-29T05:12:00.000-07:002005-11-29T05:12:00.000-07:00You got it, man.You got it, man.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16052081819882002321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14229312.post-1133236163935023062005-11-28T20:49:00.000-07:002005-11-28T20:49:00.000-07:00I've read your post three times - and all I can sa...I've read your post three times - and all I can say is...<BR/><BR/>Amen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com