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He wasn't even born in 1 AD--because of course calendars weren't organized that way at the time. But I think it's generally accepted that Jesus was born in what we consider to be 4 BC.
My family celebrates it as a secular holiday, although I think my father would prefer a little more religiosity in our Christmas.
What the heck- go to church for a few days during the Christmas season. It won't kill you and the message can be educational. Our priest teaches me something to ponder every time I go to mass.
Faith and religion must be found voluntarily by the individual, as they will be receptive to the message when they are ready, not before. Otherwise, they are going through an empty ritual. Go to church a few times and hear the PHILOSOPHY and the wisdom of the Bible. If not- that's okay, but there is alot of good information there one can use in daily life.
One of my teenage kids, who was compelled to go to church in elementary school, has returned to the church voluntarily on Sundays through his own volition. The other two kids are not quite there yet, but they need to find thier own way.
What the heck- go to church for a few days during the Christmas season. It won't kill you and the message can be educational. Our priest teaches me something to ponder every time I go to mass.
Faith and religion must be found voluntarily by the individual, as they will be receptive to the message when they are ready, not before. Otherwise, they are going through an empty ritual. Go to church a few times and hear the PHILOSOPHY and the wisdom of the Bible. If not- that's okay, but there is alot of good information there one can use in daily life.
One of my teenage kids, who was compelled to go to church in elementary school, has returned to the church voluntarily on Sundays through his own volition. The other two kids are not quite there yet, but they need to find thier own way.
And we have the same thing. Our granddaughters were required to go to church until a certain age. One continued while in college (spasmatically I will add, but did) now she and hubby are church shopping.
We have a good friend in NM. She is an Episcopal priest. When her daughter came home with a friend from college (room mate) she informed her friend, because mom is a priest, we go to church on Sundays. The college room mate was totally against religion at the time but went. Now, 30 years later she too, is a priest in So California.
Secular holiday. Neither my wife or I are Christian or even religious. We do however celebrate Hannukah with her father. So, we celebrate both Christmas and Hannukah.
Jesus was not born on Christmas, this is just another made-up holiday for the purpose of making pagans into "Christians". Celebrate it if you like, but know its true origins.
yes, lets do everything BUT read what he was teaching and apply it in our life
the great irony is the Jesus was not particularly religious, and even a reluctant theist
he more or less said that loving God was all well and good, but if you were a jerk with in your personal relationships you were worse than a pagan
but no..endless debates about christmas and religion and secularism
Actually a better question would be - why the need to celebrate the birth of our Lord using all the traditions of other religions? Of course, we know the answer to that, don't we? The Church assigned this date for Christmas specifically to coincide with such holidays as Saturnalia, Soltice and others so they could use it as a conversion tool and make it easier to convince the Pagans they were already celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Yes....and
NO where in the bible does it instruct anyone to celebrate the birth of Jesus....it is his resurection that they were instructed to remember....but hey, there's no football in the spring!
Of course, the taveling around Easter would be more sensible and eggs and candy are easier and cheaper to provide for guests....but, alas! , the christians don't make a big deal out of the resurrection.....
My family celebrates it as a secular holiday, although I think my father would prefer a little more religiosity in our Christmas.
Good thread topic, rep for you. Oh and, Jesus is the reason for the Season for us, but we thrown in a little Santa for toddler Sonrise as well.
Can't rep you, have done it too much already; sorry. Merry Christmas
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