Poll: Irony...
- Thread starter Jirlond
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I don't know that I'd call it "self-contradiction" so much as adaptation. The Romans had recently become a Christian nation thanks to Constantine's deathbed decision and they simply merged the celebration of Christ's birth with their previous holiday for winter/Yule. That doesn't seem like a contradiction so much as people just trying to adapt a new cultural idea to fit with the existing ones.curlycrouton said:
Well, to be fair--Christmas was originally a pagan holiday. It was only given the Christ connotation later.
Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus anyway seeing as he wasn't born in December, it's a religious festival stolen from the Pagans who are celebrating the end of the life cycle (Winter) and looking forward to the beginning of the next one (Spring).
The festival is called Yule and it actually takes place on the 21st/22nd of December.
Funnily enough, all Christian holidays are stolen from Pagan ones.
I am not saying this to insult those who believe in God, rather pointing out that all organised religions stole things from the most previous most common religion.
The festival is called Yule and it actually takes place on the 21st/22nd of December.
Funnily enough, all Christian holidays are stolen from Pagan ones.
I am not saying this to insult those who believe in God, rather pointing out that all organised religions stole things from the most previous most common religion.
Eh, it's been said already but pagans and mithraism got ripped off by christianity.
Since there are almost no mithraic followers now, and very few pagans, it is equally ironic that anyone religious would celebrate it.
But it has become an adopted tradition for christianity, just as business adopted it for commercial gain giving all us atheists just as much cause to celebrate it.
In the end it isn't that ironic at all, because it is just a tradition pretty much removed entirely from its religious origins.
Since there are almost no mithraic followers now, and very few pagans, it is equally ironic that anyone religious would celebrate it.
But it has become an adopted tradition for christianity, just as business adopted it for commercial gain giving all us atheists just as much cause to celebrate it.
In the end it isn't that ironic at all, because it is just a tradition pretty much removed entirely from its religious origins.
Fat Man Spoon said:
....How did you get this quote if he posted after you?
*Head explodes in confusion*
Like almost every religious holiday, Christmas is an adapted & christianized form of an older, pagan holiday/celebration.
Anyways, any excuse to pig out and get some days off is good enough for me.
Anyways, any excuse to pig out and get some days off is good enough for me.
Do you notice how the religious undertone of Christmas has turned into a worldwide celebration, mainly awaited for the shitloads of presents and good food and happy Christmas movies and meeting with your family and spending time with them and so on?Jirlond said:
It actually has "mas" in it, which is Spanish for "more." Someone decided to play a little game and say we all need more Christ in our lives.NeutralDrow said:
Bastard
OT: Christmas is a secular holiday, so no, it's not hypocritical for the nonreligious to celebrate it.
I celebrate two Christmas events. The first being the commercial present giving one on December 25th. The second is to celebrate the birth of Jesus and I do this in my church on the Sunday before Christmas.
If Christmas falls on a Sunday we go to church and have the present giving bit on the Monday. Thus do I seperate out what Christmas means to various people and still celebrate both.
Jesus wasn't born in December anyway, you don't hold a census during Winter. It doesn't really matter when you celebrate his birth.
If Christmas falls on a Sunday we go to church and have the present giving bit on the Monday. Thus do I seperate out what Christmas means to various people and still celebrate both.
Jesus wasn't born in December anyway, you don't hold a census during Winter. It doesn't really matter when you celebrate his birth.
Christmas is about proving to your family you love them by spending all your money. Any religious or sentimental meaning it once had is surely gone.
Do you need a day to prove to your family you love them? Surely it should be a given - I think we do so on this day because we are told to love by corporations etc that say prove to your family you love them by buying them a new 6000 S.U.X - cookie to anyone who knows where tit's fromGenHellspawn said:
I have to admit I am a hypocrite. I am a strong hater of religion and obviously a massive atheist and humanist. Buuuut ever since I can remember, my favourite time of the year is Xmas.
I suppose my only defence is the commercial side of it. Everyone loves giving and recieving presents, everyone loves making cakes, decorating their house and their tree and everyone love Santa Claus. I just love spending this time with my family, giving each other presents etc. I try not to associate it with it's Christian origins (although I am grateful to Christianity for Xmas). I'm fine with being a hypocrite, cos I'd rather that than have to go without my favourite time of the year, however much that makes it seem like I'm giving up on my beliefs (although I could say that being an atheist I actually have NO beliefs and therefore can do what I want lol.
Wow, I should have shut up 12 paragraphs ago
I suppose my only defence is the commercial side of it. Everyone loves giving and recieving presents, everyone loves making cakes, decorating their house and their tree and everyone love Santa Claus. I just love spending this time with my family, giving each other presents etc. I try not to associate it with it's Christian origins (although I am grateful to Christianity for Xmas). I'm fine with being a hypocrite, cos I'd rather that than have to go without my favourite time of the year, however much that makes it seem like I'm giving up on my beliefs (although I could say that being an atheist I actually have NO beliefs and therefore can do what I want lol.
Wow, I should have shut up 12 paragraphs ago
There is a button that they don't tell you about that lets you do things like this. I only know because a friend of a friend told me.The Austin said:
Look slightly to the left of the reply button on your original post, it has to be your own post. It might be hard to see, but try hit the little blue thing there.
I celebrate Christmas as a cultural holiday. In my culture we get together with family and exchange gifts, even when we secretly loath each other.
The whole nativity is BS anyway, without even mentioning the virgin pregnancy. No one new where he was born but the old testament led the Jews to expect Bethlehem. So Matthew and Luke opted for Bethlehem. The census doesn't match up with dates, and would still be no reason to go to Bethlehem. Mathew and Luke are the only two who mention the nativity and their accounts clash.
All of it, the virgin birth, worship by kings, the star in the east were all lifted straight from mediterranean and near east religions that were around at the time. So its a cultural holiday going back further than Christianity.
No hipocracy required.
The whole nativity is BS anyway, without even mentioning the virgin pregnancy. No one new where he was born but the old testament led the Jews to expect Bethlehem. So Matthew and Luke opted for Bethlehem. The census doesn't match up with dates, and would still be no reason to go to Bethlehem. Mathew and Luke are the only two who mention the nativity and their accounts clash.
All of it, the virgin birth, worship by kings, the star in the east were all lifted straight from mediterranean and near east religions that were around at the time. So its a cultural holiday going back further than Christianity.
No hipocracy required.
