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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Krowbar who wrote (67687)	12/21/1999 3:59:00 AM
From: Michael M	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Christians stole WHAT, Delbert? Is anyone preventing you from celebrating the winter solstice? If you're a year older than me and were born on December 19, does that mean I stole your birthday? Remarkable! Is it really insulting to you that Christians celebrate the birth of Christ, at this, or any other time of year. I think Christine is delightful, Del, but I don't need her help in understanding Christmas. Please enjoy the season in the context most meaningful for you and your family. Please allow others to do the same. A turd in the punchbowl is unpleasant any time of year -- free country though..... Have yourself a merry little solstice. M

To: Krowbar who wrote (67687)	12/21/1999 9:14:00 AM
From: jlallen	Respond to of 108807

Good will toward all men, eh? LOL! JLA

To: Krowbar who wrote (67687)	12/21/1999 1:04:00 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 108807

Dear Delbert, of course you and Christine are probably right, it's well-accepted by Bible scholars that Christ was not born near the Winter Solstice. There is disagreement as to exactly when He was born, but using the narrative of the events preceding His birth, some say in the spring, others say in September, possibly during Rosh Hashanah. Christ was, after all, Jewish, and many, if not most of the earliest followers were also Jewish. It is also true that later the Church decided to celebrate Christ's birthday near the Solstice, in order to co-opt the pagan celebrations at that time. This is not unusual, the early Jewish church co-opted many pagan rituals, but that proved not to be such a good idea, after all, and I believe they have all been purged. I like to think that the explanation for adopting a December birthday for Christ isn't "stealing." Think about it, the Church was spreading into Northern Europe from the Mediterranean, and the dark and cold of winter is very oppressive in Northern Europe. Christmas gives Christians something cheerful to think about during the cold, dark days: Christmas presents Christmas cards Christmas trees Christmas wreaths Christmas lights Christmas parties Christmas cookies Christmas eggnog Christmas dinner Christmas visits Christmas outfits for Christmas services On, and on, and on - and by the time it's all done, the days are getting longer! I think this is a wonderful time to talk about religion, myself, and am always interested in what you have to say. Happy Solstice! and Merry Christmas!