As Christmas approaches...

@secondson said
Pagan origins are spurious at best.

You'd do better to view history in light of the truth instead of from pagan mythology.

What? Is this "light of truth" according to God...or Garp?

I believe that there's no possible proof for some. Archaeologically produced evidence just doesn't fit the history that's been selected.

The messages of love and forgiveness surrounding the story of Christ are good ones. Too bad they're lost in desperate scrambles to always be correct in the minutiae.

Quite sad, really.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
You don't think Christmas has its origin in paganism?

One of Christianity's greatest strengths was its ability to assimilate the customs of others. It simply wouldn't be here if it hadn't.

You have it backwards.

If and when Christianity does what it's supposed to do the culture assimilates biblical values and morals.

Anything and everything that's biblically based with regards to the birth of Jesus Christ has no pagan origins.

@wolfe63 said
What? Is this "light of truth" according to God...or Garp?

Archaeologically produced evidence just doesn't fit the history that's been selected.

What God says is truth. Everything else is a lie.

The archaeologists spade has always produced the evidence that the Bible is true.

No one knows the date of Jesus' birth, and the Bible doesn't say.

Who cares?

@secondson said
You have it backwards.

If and when Christianity does what it's supposed to do the culture assimilates biblical values and morals.

Anything and everything that's biblically based with regards to the birth of Jesus Christ has no pagan origins.

People are super sensitive when it comes to Christmas, and that’s understandable. Much of the world has been taught that the holiday marks the birth of the Christian savior, Jesus Christ, but that’s simply wrong. Jesus wasn’t white — and he damn sure wasn’t a Capricorn.

Historical evidence suggests that Jesus, the person, was born in the springtime — but that Christian missionaries adopted Yule celebrations in order to appease and convert pagans who were deeply, spiritually attached to their own holidays. Early Christians were also fascinated by the rural, rustic pagan traditions.

“Christians of that period are quite interested in paganism,” says Philip Shaw, a researcher of early Germanic languages and Old English at Leicester University. “It’s obviously something they think is a bad thing, but it’s also something they think is worth remembering. It’s what their ancestors did.”

The two most notable pagan winter holidays were Germanic Yule and Roman Saturnalia. Christian missionaries gave these holidays a makeover and they are now known to us as Christmas.


https://wearyourvoicemag.com/entertainment-culture/christmas-pagan-roots-winter-holiday

@ghost-of-a-duke said
People are super sensitive when it comes to Christmas, and that’s understandable. Much of the world has been taught that the holiday marks the birth of the Christian savior, Jesus Christ, but that’s simply wrong. Jesus wasn’t white — and he damn sure wasn’t a Capricorn.

Historical evidence suggests that Jesus, the person, was born in the springtime — but that Chris ...[text shortened]... istmas.


https://wearyourvoicemag.com/entertainment-culture/christmas-pagan-roots-winter-holiday

There's nothing to suggest it was springtime. Some Christians have advanced the idea that it was around Passover, but this is not necessary; his death brings all the symbolism from Passover, since it occurred during the week of Passover. Not everything about Jesus has to be associated with Passover.

Jesus' death was engineered to be around Passover, giving substance to the idea that he was the innocent, sacrificial Lamb of God.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." - Luke 2:8 KJV The shepherds would be far less likely to be "abiding in the field" in December.

Just so, I believe his birth probably coincided with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, usually in September, to symbolize rebirth and a hope for the new age of mankind. This time of year also has Yom Kippur, symbolizing atonement and repentance. Christianity has its roots in Judaism; Jesus was, after all, a Jew.

@secondson said
Pagan origins are spurious at best.

You'd do better to view history in light of the truth instead of from pagan mythology.

"Pagan origins are spurious at best."

Yes, but they dominated human belief for most of the planet's human history.

@caesar-salad said
Oh how you swagger, you toothless flea.

What depth are you referring to? We are only a few inches front to back, and a few more side to side, so any depth you might imagine is only that, imaginary.

"Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." -- Yoda

@secondson said
It was eleven days off from the start of this thread.

dictionary.com

off, adjective
32 in error; wrong:
You are off on that point.

@secondson said
You have it backwards.

If and when Christianity does what it's supposed to do the culture assimilates biblical values and morals.

Anything and everything that's biblically based with regards to the birth of Jesus Christ has no pagan origins.

"Anything and everything that's biblically based with regards to the birth of Jesus Christ has no pagan origins."

Tell that to the Roman Catholic Church.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
People are super sensitive when it comes to Christmas, and that’s understandable. Much of the world has been taught that the holiday marks the birth of the Christian savior, Jesus Christ, but that’s simply wrong. Jesus wasn’t white — and he damn sure wasn’t a Capricorn.

Historical evidence suggests that Jesus, the person, was born in the springtime — but that Chris ...[text shortened]... istmas.


https://wearyourvoicemag.com/entertainment-culture/christmas-pagan-roots-winter-holiday

When you say that Jesus was not white, what colour do you think his skin was? Given the appearance of the populations of that area that have been there for the past couple of thousand years I'm wondering what other major race you can have in mind?

@deepthought said
When you say that Jesus was not white, what colour do you think his skin was? Given the appearance of the populations of that area that have been there for the past couple of thousand years I'm wondering what other major race you can have in mind?

Uhhhh, Semitic, for starters?

Hebrew, specifically?

@deepthought said
When you say that Jesus was not white, what colour do you think his skin was? Given the appearance of the populations of that area that have been there for the past couple of thousand years I'm wondering what other major race you can have in mind?

I provided the link where I got the article from.

@secondson said
In this context you make it sound like a platitude.

not at all, I am one of the least of these my brothers

hope

@secondson said
The archaeologists spade has always produced the evidence that the Bible is true.

What evidence has the "archaeologists spade" produced that proves "the Bible is true" in what it claims about supernatural things and divine beings?

Poor Jesus didn't mean to start a cult
Poor Christian folk believe the poor boy did
Be glad he doesn't see the poor result
Of how his life with "Christian" crap's been hid

Poor Mary was a simple girl, a teen
Who found that she was pregnant and unwed
Cast out, the "law" proclaimed she was "unclean"
Though true, it isn’t what the gospels said

Let’s steal the rustic solstice to ensure
Our celebration of poor Jesus stays
Alive, though he is dead, and let’s adjure
The simple, rustic people with our ways

We’ll call it “Christmas,” decorate with sh$$
No one will ever know the truth of it.
~T. Scott Ennis

Christmas...it’s probably not what most think...