Merry Christmahanukwanzakah

[eggwards]

Can't anyone just celebrate a nice, non-contentious little-"c" christmas anymore?

You know, when I was growing up, I had a household that was vaguely Christian, but we didn't push it. My parents did make me go to church, Methodist church, but I'll admit, somewhere around the time I was in confirmation classes, I was realizing that not only was church boring, but the stuff wasn't really sticking. No offense to those with faith, that's cool, but for me, I believe in a higher power, I'm just not so sure about the whole divinity of Jesus thing.

So that makes me Agnostic, right? Actually, I believe that there was a real Jesus who walked the Earth, and he became a big celebrity, much like Alexander and Caesar and several other historical figures. I find it interesting that both Time and Newsweek magazines this week have stories looking at the uncertainty surrounding the gospels of the Christmas story. Time requires a subscription, Newsweek is kind enough to allow you to read it online.

I promise, I'm not trying to convert anyone. In fact, I believe your faith should be stronger when you see all views. Those who remain ignorant on purpose deserve little from me. (sorry, I know that was arrogant, but that's my opinion)

It's not that I want to be anti-christian, the actual teachings of Christ are beautiful, and when followed, could truly change lives and the world, but unfortunately we see time and time again that we get division and contention. And here's were we get the Christmas problem.

Listening to radio as I was coming home from Dallas earlier this week, as I often do, the radio talkshow host kept going on how Christmas (with a big "C") was being ruined, because groups like school administrators were taking it out of the schools. In some cases the schools were having more inclusive "winter festivals" but in some they were just removing everything, because the problems of trying to include others had become so great, that they couldn't do any of them.

One example was that parents in one school contended that Kwanzaa was made up and wouldn't support it. I guess they had had so many problems with trying to create that Virgin mobile Christmahanukwanzakah, that they chucked the whole thing, and went with a "Patriotic" celebration. No Holiday music, just charging cannons and camo. Happy Solstice!

Of course I will ask that everyone please call radio talk show host Glen Beck a moron for announcing Ramadan should be celebrated as well, showing his ignorance that the Islamic moth of ramadan had already passed more than 3 weeks ago.

You know, I could handle seeing nativity scenes without getting angry, why can't others? Do some people really get upset seeing a menorah next to a Christmas tree, and why do some people get so upset when you tell them that that evergreen tree was a symbol of pagan fertility way before it was attributed to the Christ child?

To be silly, "Why can't we all just get along?"

What happened to a nice, easy going going holiday season, that actually celebrated the happiness of the season, no matter what your beliefs, or lack there of. All I want is the happiness, the light and the hope of these times, for everyone, and not to be assaulted with the messages that so and so is the reason for the season, or that my belief is better than yours, and should be exalted in excelsis deo.

I'm going to go on record to say I'd like to contribute to an idea of John's (jkusters) for a billboard next year that would read: "Many Faiths, Many Traditions, One Message: Peace on Earth, Goodwill Towards All."

Comments

[dedos.livejournal.com]

Because the winter solstice celebration has been going on a lot longer than Christianity. It was the Church's decision to conveniently place their holidays over the existing ones to ease conversion. But noone around town calls it The Solstice Celebration anymore, it's just Christmas, even if you don't believe in Christ, I guess. Calendars have it marked, you get time off from work... heck, why wouldn't you celebrate?

[metaljunkie.livejournal.com]

That makes sense, but why do you say that it was the Church's decision to conveniently place their holidays over the existing ones? wasn't Jesus born on the 25? I mean, it was a coincidence that he was bron during those dates, or am i missing something and you are saying that Jesus was born some other day and church told people it was on dec 25?

[randomcub.livejournal.com]

Jesus' actual date of birth is unknown. The Western Church and the cultures around them choose to celebrate it on Dec. 25. The Eastern ORthodox church follows a different calendar and their Christmas is on January 6 or 7. The date is less important than the meaning.

[metaljunkie.livejournal.com]

ohhh...i didn't know that. thanks for the info dude

[dedos.livejournal.com]

Doing a quick Google search will lead you to many possibilities. Several are mentioned in the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Theories_regarding_the_origin_of_the_date_of_Christmas) about Christmas. The Bible never states when Jesus was born, or when he died. They weren't even using the same calendar. The Church decided to pick a date that people were already celebrating in order to overpower the pagan celebrations and stamp out heretical thoughts.