The x-mas conundrumFollow

Inheard of, even!

I was raised Christian although I'm really out of practice now. I celebrate Christmas, and I buy into it pretty much the same way Kat was saying. I like the music, the decorations, the family get-togethers and the gift giving.

Also, even though I rarely use the term "Xmas", I had never heard of it being used in order to take Christ out of Christmas. The Wikipedia definition is the one I had always heard. That, and it's just a nice lazy way of writing out Christmas.

Celebrate Festivus!

Speaking of Christmas, I think it's time to put away the Halloween avatar, Nobby

He has a point. xXx sucked.

The Christ Files would have been a ****** show

This reminds me of the Christian NES games. Anyone play those? I had a friend in elementary school whose parents where HUGE bible thumpers (father is now in prison for spousal abuse). Anyway, the kids had a NES but where only allowed to play Christian NES games..these games where not sanctioned by Nintendo and featured hit titles like "Noah's Ark" (where you had to run around and jump on the animals to capture them)..there were some others but I don't remember them.

If you say so. My copy of the Bible has the story in Luke of Christ's conception and birth but never once says anyone celebrated the day after the fact. My copy of Acts and the Epistles, when describing and defining the doctrine of first century Church, never once mentions it or calls upon anyone the celebrate it. It's never mentioned again after the first chapter or two of Luke and the much abbreviated versions in the other Gospels. In fact, there's no indication that Christmas is anything but an outside event that has nothing at all to do with Biblical Christianity.

I don't see anything innately wrong with taking time to celebrate and observe the birth of Christ but I doubt God takes special pleasure in a tradition created around the event nor do I suspect he delights in people acting self-righteous about the "sanctity" of such a created holiday.

"Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." -- Mark 7:6-8

My siblings and in-laws are Christian, though most are non praticing Catholics. My Daugthers are Pagans and Ethical Humanist like me. Their father (who likes to be called mom) is Wiccan and my grandchildren has Jewish Great grandparents on their father mom's side.

So my grandkids luck out with 3 holidays to celebrate with 3 parts of their families. On the 21st or 22th they will have a family dinner with my ex for the Winter Solstice. The 25th they will be with my family for dinner and then Since Hannah is so late this year, they will go to my daugther's in-laws for New Year's and Hanukkah party.

I plan to wish everyone a Merry Solstice and Happy New Year, because such cnuts as vanelr, who are making such a big deal over the fact he thinks I should go to hell for being a non believer.

Actually I have lots of faith in some Christians to get all butt-hurt over anything that they feel is an attempt to secularize the USA and blame us Humanist.

I totally had that game. There may have been a few noah's ark games actually. It was a blueish cartridge, and had 3 games on it. This one had Noah's Ark, David and Goliath, and.... something else... something with a baby that you had to carry around... baby moses maybe.

I'm totally gonna go home, hook up the NES, load up Noah's ark, and carry around a stack of 5 cows.

Wow, where to begin. I suppose by tying on my bib and tucking into this little gem:



I am not a doctor, nor have I sworn a Hippocratic oath; therefore I shall say "no" to this earnest but odd question.



Why on earth would you decide that these conditions are exclusive of each other? One can both celebrate a secular Christmas (or Xmas, if you must) AND care about one's family the rest of the year. See? no conflict.



No, indeed, my sweaty friend. The bearing of gifts is a part of many, many holidays, festivals and celebrations around the world, including (but not limited to) the pagan Solstice celebration that preceded and was absorbed into what is now the Christmas festival.

I can't even mock the remainder of your tearily sincere little post. My poor efforts would never measure up to the self-mockery of the original.

I can just see Ned Flanders' kids playing that.

Wandering aimlessly for God! Ya-ay!