Thor, St. Boniface, and the Origin of the Christmas Tree

[JerZ]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

Wonder if Boniface will ever make the list of Top 100 Baby Boy Names.

If only!

I don't know what I was doing not considering that one for any of my kids.

I DID consider Nicodemus but my sister told me if I named my son that he'd get beaten up on the playground every day.

[Matthew 4:4]

Originally Posted by JerZ

I don't understand this as God made a sacrifice of his own child. So obviously, such a thing did come into God's heart.

God sent the sinless pre-human Jesus to earth.
Jesus could have walked away any time he wanted.
Jesus on his own chose to sacrifice, or give up his own life for us, out of his own free-will choice.
Those pagan peoples were burning their children alive. Those children had No choice in the matter. Jesus did.
God never authorized anyone to do such a thing - Jeremiah 32:35; 2nd Chronicles 28:3; Deuteronomy 18:10; 12:31 B
Jesus gave up his sinless earthly life as a ' ransom ' price for us - Matthew 20:28
Adam sold us, so to speak, into the Pawn Shop of Death.
We needed someone from the outside to pay over the asking price to free us from death.
Because Jesus was sinless he could, and his faithful death opened up the way for the resurrection for us - Rev. 1:18

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by JerZ

I don't think anybody's worshiping these trees or sacrificing them to Santa Claus, LOL.

I have lived on this earth 48 years and I have yet to walk into a friend's house, yell "Surprise!" and catch them wide-eyed and guilty-looking assembled underneath the Christmas tree in deep prayer over a trussed virgin.

I think it's pretty well beyond dispute that "pagans" (by Christian definition) brought greens, including trees, into their homes as a reminder of life continuing during winter before Jesus was ever born - since he was only born a little over 2000 years ago. As far as "stealing," I don't think anybody "stole" the idea from anyone else, I think it's a basic idea that any culture which experiences a cold winter will rely upon to sort of magnetically pull abundance via magic, etc. Obviously, bringing evergreens into the home was a distinctly European tradition and the traditions blended over time...as traditions do. So as a non-Christian I don't have a negative outlook on Christians having maintained this tradition post-conversion. It's like me wanting to make a cake for my kids' birthdays. If my city were suddenly taken over in warfare and a new religion and way of life were "required" I doubt I'd stop making a cake for my kids' birthdays.

So IMO this one is a no harm, no foul. The history really is fascinating (IMO) but I can't see why various groups can't enjoy the same tradition.

The "trussed virgin" thing made me laugh.

Just relax and enjoy, everyone! I LOVE the "Pagan" parts of Christmas!