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> Seeing Christmas through New Eyes
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> "Christmas is a time for remembering the Son of God and renewing our determination to take upon us His name. It is a time to reassess our lives and examine our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Let this be a time of remembrance, of gratitude, and a time of forgiveness. Let it be a time to ponder the Atonement of Jesus Christ and its meaning for each of us personally. Let it especially be a time of renewal and recommitment to live by the word of God and to obey His commandments. By doing this, we honor Him far more than we ever could with lights, gifts, or parties."
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> —Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Seeing Christmas through New Eyes", 2010 First Presidency Christmas Devotional, December 2010
> Topics: Christmas
22 Dec 12
Originally posted by Lloyd E AdkinsBlessed are the children of the Ori.
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> Seeing Christmas through New Eyes
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> "Christmas is a time for remembering the Son of God and renewing our determination to take upon us His name. It is a time to reassess our lives and examine our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Let this be a time of remembrance, of gratitude, and a time of forgiveness. Let it be a time to ponder the A ...[text shortened]... gh New Eyes", 2010 First Presidency Christmas Devotional, December 2010
> Topics: Christmas
22 Dec 12
Originally posted by Lloyd E AdkinsAmen.
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> Seeing Christmas through New Eyes
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> "Christmas is a time for remembering the Son of God and renewing our determination to take upon us His name. It is a time to reassess our lives and examine our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Let this be a time of remembrance, of gratitude, and a time of forgiveness. Let it be a time to ponder the A ...[text shortened]... gh New Eyes", 2010 First Presidency Christmas Devotional, December 2010
> Topics: Christmas
22 Dec 12
The popular celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian and secular themes and origins. Wiki
Some selected quotes from Faith Freedom International:
The Christmas holidays were celebrated much earlier than the birth of Christ. It is a Mithraic festivity dating back more than 4000 years.
Noting that days start becoming longer after the winter solstice, the ancients gave birth to the myth that the sun-god rises from his death after three days. This belief of the death and resurrection of god was later incorporated into Christianity.
Prior to the dominance of Christianity the Romans celebrated this festivity during the 25th of December to 6th of January.
Mithraism, as St. Jerome reports, was forcefully subdued especially in Rome and in Alexandria. (my bolding)
The use of evergreen tree in Christmas festivities comes from Germany where it was used in worship and celebration of the yule god as well as in observance of the resurrected sun god.
The evergreen represented life and also was regarded as a phallic symbol in fertility worship. It was believed that the red holly was a symbol of the menstrual blood of the queen of heaven, Diana. The white berries of mistletoe were considered to be the droplets of the semen of the sun god. Branches of holy and mistletoe were hung in doorways of temples and homes and it was believed that kissing beneath them will make the spirits of the god and goddess to enter one's body and make them fertile.
St Augustine says "we hold this (Christmas) day Holy, not like the pagans because of the Birth of the Sun, but because of the birth of him who made it (Christmas) day Holy, not like the pagans because of the Birth of the Sun, but because of the birth of him who made it."
This clearly shows that this festivity was dedicated to the Birth of the Sun that was adopted by the Christians.
I could go on and on showing that Christianity is not the source of our Christmas traditions.
(Too those) who celebrate the holydays now known as Christmas, remember that the origin of this beautiful festivity is not the birth of Christ but the birth of life, hope and love. It represents the victory of light over darkness. It is the triumph of good over evil.
22 Dec 12
Originally posted by apathistThank you for that.
The popular celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian and secular themes and origins. Wiki
Some selected quotes from Faith Freedom International:
The Christmas holidays were celebrated much earlier than the birth of Christ. It is a Mithraic festivity dating back more than 40 ...[text shortened]... t represents the victory of light over darkness. It is the triumph of good over evil.
A very interesting insight.
22 Dec 12
United Church of God
(http://www.ucg.org/bible-faq/when-was-jesus-christ-born-was-jesus-born-december-25-christmas-day) selected
A careful analysis of Scripture, however, clearly indicates that December 25 couldn't be the date for Christ's birth. Here are two primary reasons:
First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:7-8). Shepherds were not in the fields during December.
Second, Jesus' parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census (Luke 2:1-4). Such censuses were not taken in winter, ...
Given the difficulties and the desire to bring pagans into Christianity, "the important fact then which I have asked you to get clearly into your head is that the fixing of the date as December 25th was a compromise with paganism" (William Walsh, The Story of Santa Klaus, 1970, p. 62).
I'd like to see the Christians admit they stole the pagan holiday and give it back. Create your own holiday to celebrate the birth of Christ. Is not your God better served by honesty?
same source
If Jesus Christ wasn't born on December 25, does the Bible indicate when He was born? The biblical accounts point to the fall of the year as the most likely time of Jesus' birth, based on the conception and birth of John the Baptist.
Since Elizabeth (John's mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:24-36), we can determine the approximate time of year Jesus was born if we know when John was born. John's father, Zacharias, was a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple during the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5). Historical calculations indicate this course of service corresponded to June 13-19 in that year (The Companion Bible, 1974, Appendix 179, p. 200).
It was during this time of temple service that Zacharias learned that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child (Luke 1:8-13). After he completed his service and traveled home, Elizabeth conceived (verses 23-24). Assuming John's conception took place near the end of June, adding nine months brings us to the end of March as the most likely time for John's birth. Adding another six months (the difference in ages between John and Jesus) brings us to the end of September as the likely time of Jesus' birth.
Isn't the Christian god strong enough to spread his message without stealing the holidays of others and forcing the pagans to submit?
22 Dec 12
Originally posted by apathistPolitics & Religion make for heated debates. 😛 😉
[quote]United Church of God
(http://www.ucg.org/bible-faq/when-was-jesus-christ-born-was-jesus-born-december-25-christmas-day) selected
A careful analysis of Scripture, however, clearly indicates that December 25 couldn't be the date for Christ's birth. Here are two primary reasons:
First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watch ...[text shortened]... t [b]stealing the holidays of others and forcing the pagans to submit?[/b]
22 Dec 12
Originally posted by Great Big SteesThe skinhead is in the crowd,
You left out British football (soccer).
Oh wait it's not so much debate as...RIOTS
his shirt upon the floor.
When the opposition win,
see him gesture hear him roar.
Bottles and other missiles,
thrown upon the field.
Surrounded by police,
still he will not yield.
Helmets on batons drawn,
the bloodletting will now begin,
How on earth you ask yourself,
did they ever let him in?
But as you turn and as you flee,
you see he's not alone.
For many more have joined him,
prearranged by phone.
The battle rages further,
reinforcements on every side.
Hooligans of every sort
from near and far and wide.
The referee has blown his whistle,
abandoning the game.
but when they fix the replay,
it will turn out just the same.
Many now are injured,
a disgrace or so they say,
the newspaper headline screams,
PUBLIC INQUIRY NOW! TODAY!
But when it is all over,
both colours laying low.
you look upon your season ticket
and again you will go.
So once again you find yourself,
in the arena of war and terror.
You begin to ask yourself,
was this decision a grave error?
Battle lines again are drawn,
incursions do begin.
All you want is to escape,
you care not for loss or win.
But as you see your destination,
the gate of your escape.
Darkness overcomes you,
a baton under a policeman's cape.
An innocent victim a casualty,
in your hospital bed.
You cannot move arms or legs,
and through a tube you are fed.
What shall the legacy be,
as you lay there in silence?
All you wanted was some fun,
now a victim of soccer violence.
22 Dec 12
Originally posted by johnnylongwoodyI'm pretty sure they call it football. 😉
The skinhead is in the crowd,
his shirt upon the floor.
When the opposition win,
see him gesture hear him roar.
Bottles and other missiles,
thrown upon the field.
Surrounded by police,
still he will not yield.
Helmets on batons drawn,
the bloodletting will now begin,
How on earth you ask yourself,
did they ever let him in?
But as yo ...[text shortened]...
as you lay there in silence?
All you wanted was some fun,
now a victim of soccer violence.
22 Dec 12
Originally posted by Very RustyNo. It's called "lets get those ba****s before they get us.
I'm pretty sure they call it football. 😉
English soccer violence is a huge problem, and not just in England.
Whenever there is a European competition on and the English fans have to travel
to say Italy or Holland or somewhere else in Europe, the host country put out
extra cops.
Not just ordinary cops. These guys are like Seal team 6.
But to be fair and balanced, other European countries have their hooligans too.
Except Ireland. We have no hooligans. We are praised all over the world
for our intelligence and our good behaviour and our charm and our
good looks.
Need I go on?