General Interest > Open Free for All

I Believe in Father Christmas

(1/8) > >>

Tony Stark:
Anybody ever heard that song by Emerson, Lake and Palmer? It's a great song. You can find it on the "Return of The Manticore" box set. I just want to clear up some of the misconceptions about "Santa Claus" and the "Egyptian" end of year market sales. Of course, the German xmas tree too. One thing I know It's a pagan holiday that's been around for the Scandanavians for a long time. There was a "Saint Nickolas", but that's not "Santa Claus" If you really want to screw up your kids head teach him or her presents, and Santa Claus and The Pagan season in this country is formally called "Yule". It's a Wiccan holiday. Should you celebrate xmas? I guess. I'd much rather have a good meal and be with loved ones than be showered by presents and play the "game" of being thoughtful for one season. Of course the winter does deserve much prayer in the days to come. It is a good thing to celebrate Christ everyday of my life. Does anybody know what I am talking about? How commercialized xmas is? Look at the toys, and the mass media celebrations during xmas. I believe the homeless should have a seat at my xmas feast table. Not just my loved ones.I've spent one xmas at the Salvation Army one year. I was homeless. I ate good. I even came back at lunch time for turkey soup that was superb. If you see Santa Claus ringing the bell outside your mall or wal-mart for the Salvation Army, do them a favor..........give all you can. It goes a long way towards a lot of people. People who are cast out and have no home. Anybody want to run with some of these points?  :nworthy:  :nworthy:
Who would believe that a democratic government would pursue for eight decades a failed policy that produced tens of millions of victims and trillions of dollars of illicit profits for drug dealers, cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars, increased crime and destroyed inner cities, fostered widespread corruption and violations of human rights - and all with no success in achieving the stated and unattainable objective of a drug free America?


--Milton Friedman,  winner of 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize for economic science
--- End quote ---

Anonymous:
Something to consider re: Salvation Army and Target, this holiday season.

The Salvation Army has been publicly discriminating against gays.  This week I wrote Target a letter of  support in telling the S.A. to get lost until they apologize.  Read the "voucher".
 
http://www.esoterically.net/log/archives/002333.html
 
AND Target has banned the Salvation Army'
 
Target Stores boot Salvation Army bell ringers off
premises Target stores nationwide have banned the
Salvation Army's red kettle campaign. They have told The Salvation Army's bell ringers, "You're no longer welcome here."  Target spokesperson Jennifer Hanson said that allowing the Salvation Army to collect funds as a mission of hope for the hungry, the homebound, and the helpless would violate their 'no solicitation' policy.

Target's new policy is opposite of  Wal-Mart, J.C.
Penney's, and Big Lots. They believe the Salvation
Army serves a critical need by offering kindness to families in need.  

"Last year, bell ringers raised about $8.8 million
nationally outside Target stores," Major George
Hood, Community Relations Secretary for the
Salvation Army U.S.A.  "We're going to lose 112 days of food service for the hungry because of [Target's] decision," Russ Russell, Salvation Army executive director for development told The Detroit News. Because of Target's decision 6,000 people, including children, will be forced to go elsewhere to find help.

Please take this action:
 
Tell Target that you will be doing your Christmas
shopping elsewhere this year unless they change
their policy:
 
1. Call Target customer service toll-free at
1-800-440-0680, option 2, then option 2 at the next prompt.

2. Call your local Target store and speak with the
manager. You can find the number in your local phone book, or through their Online Store Locator.

3. Here is additional contact information for
Target:
 
Target Stores
Chairman Robert J. Ulrich
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(12) 304-6073
Fax: 612-696-3731
Email: Guest.Relations@target.com

4. Finally, please forward this to your family and
friends.

BuzzKill:
I recall the song very well.
I believe in father Christmas; I believe in the Israelite -
Hallelujah, Noel -
Be it Heaven or Hell -
The Christmas we get, we deserve.

Don't know that I agree with this  - but I too believe in the Israelite.

Christmas and the traditions we have in the celebration of it, are as you suggest, controversial and much debated in the Christian community.

The origins are in fact Pagan; just as are many of the Easter traditions. I personally believe this combining of pagan practice and holidays with Christian Holy days is a result of Charlemagne's desire to have his empire be a Christian one. It was in fact entirely pagan. In my opinion, to help encourage the acceptance of Christianity, many of the Holy days were celebrated at the times the Pagans were accustomed to having celebrations. Also, as long held pagan traditions were not going to be set aside with ease; they were incorporated into the Christian celebrations - Thus we have Christmas trees; and celebrate the Messiah's birth in the winter, instead of the Spring - when it probably, actually took place.
Also, in my opinion, this is where and how the notion of Virgin worship and prayer to saints got its start.
Being a good protestant, I believe this to be idol worship and believe this is something that should never take place. I know the Catholic arguments well; and I disagree. I think once the church became a political entity (with the conversion of Charlemagne) it became corrupt. I believe many false teachings were brought into the church as a result. I think the adoration/whorship of Mary was the result of the church wanting to placate the pagans. I think it was like: You needn't give up the worship of the goddess; you see, we have the mother of God - worship her. I feel the notion one can pray to saints is a result of the same sort of adulteration/corruption of the Faith. It is a false teaching, began by false teachers, in an attempt to give people what they want, instead of what they need. Nothing in scripture supports this practice, and in fact much that is there, condemns it.
Back to Christmas -
Yes, the traditions are of Pagan origin. But they are not now, what they were. They are born again, one might say. :wink:
I do think the holiday is far less Christian than it once was. Certainly many who are not at all Christian celebrate it. And certainly, the Christians who do, often forget the reason for the season. Still, if we as Christians do make an attempt to recall and celebrate the humble birth of the Christ our Lord; I think this is a good thing. Weather or not we put up a tree; or shop till we drop.

Tony Stark:
Thank you so much for putting into words what I could only garble out. That is the truth. I saw a movie all about Easter Island and it was about an egg and about idolotry. nNot Christianity at all. Still the feast of Passover by the Jews is celebrated then. The crusifixion of Christ is observed by the Christians also. Thanx.
May the fleas of one thousand llamas infest your armpits
--One ticked off sysadmin
--- End quote ---

Anonymous:
It's the truth sysadmin. Isis was ousted in the Egyptian mythology.The Roman Catholic church then replaced the goddess with the virgin Mary, just to fit humanity and their sceme of things.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page