NationStates Jolt Archive

The Christmas Story

The Christmas story, for Christians is not just a time of remembrance, it is instead a time of great joy and celebration of a historical event that had no precedence. Those in the West celebrate Christmas with gift giving, family, food worship, prayer and praise. Africa celebrates it with worship centring upon exuberant rejoicing. Asia mixes between the two. And South and Central America celebrates jubilantly in they’re own timeless fashion.

Christmas, to Christians is a day of global celebration where all, men and women of every tribe and creed are invited to hear the news, that two thousand years ago, the saviour of all mankind was born.

The Gospels depict the birth of Jesus as the great culmination of God’s steady revelation and redemptive purpose incarnated into one man. Jesus Christ. Born, from the womb of a virgin, sinless, without the taint of Adam’s err, Jesus Christ was destined before the very foundations of this earth, to die for humanity and her sin.

Born to a family, in the darkest conditions, on a cold, cool night, when the stars had no veil the King of Kings and Lord of Lords entered into this earth in the fullness of his glory, demonstrating the greatness of his humility.

Fulfilling prophecy declared by the prophet Isaiah more than seven hundred years prior, the birth of Christ was witnessed by the meekest and the greatest of men. Shepherds bowed, angels who worshipped and travellers from the east gave gifts rejoicing that their search was over.

Bathed in the light of a shining star, Christ, lay in his mothers arms, crying, destined to live as we had lived to fulfil all rightness (righteousness).

This boy grew into a man, learned and impressive in his knowledge and wisdom. Baffling his teachers, assuming the same position as the meekest of the poor, Jesus Christ began his earthly ministry at the tender age of thirty years.

He never travelled more than two hundred miles from his home, yet he impacted thousands. Preaching the coming of the Kingdom of God, Jesus healed many, he gave great and mighty teachings, as well as rebukes towards the great injustices he had laid down.

He experienced temptation, but was never tempted. He experienced anger, but never hated. He experienced love, but never lusted. He experienced tears but never depression. Jesus lived as we do, experienced the temptations we do, but never did he succumb to them. Enduring even to the spilling of his own undeserving blood.

Handed over to his enemies, Jesus suffered a mock trial, enduring senseless malice and torture from the people he came to save. Crucified overlooking the city of Jerusalem Jesus wept.

Bearing upon his shoulders, an eternity of hell for all those who would believe in him, Jesus gave his last breath, yet death did not, nae could not hold him. This boy, born thirty two years prior, in the crisp cold of a dark night, rose from death after three days defeating it.

Many saw the risen Christ, many heard and believed. Accounts were written, and the authorities of the day found themselves powerless to deny the reality of the wonders in their midst. Jerusalem was aflame in jubilance that now, the sins of mankind were lain low and relationship, living everlasting relationship was now available for all, through Jesus Christ.

Christmas time, for Christians is a time where we remember, celebrate, rejoice, worship, pray and give thanks, for our saviour, our Lord, our King of Kings. We each express our thanks in different ways, but it is a day, which will be remembered for all time.

Christmas is also a time, where many who do not celebrate Jesus, but instead find themselves helpless in wonder at the great questions that shape our worldviews. What is the point in life, what will happen when I die, why is this world so messed up?

Christians all over the world, in their rejoicing will tell many on December 25th of the great deeds that Christ has done, is doing and will do in the future. Many on this day will receive presents of worldly wealth, but others will also gain the greatest gift of all. Jesus Christ. Free of charge.

For all, on this forum at this time of year who would like to ask questions or discuss Jesus Christ, I invite you to an open and friendly discussion.

The Christmas Story...

SNIP

Christians all over the world, in their rejoicing will tell many on December 25th of the great deeds that Christ has done, is doing and will do in the future. Many on this day will receive presents of worldly wealth, but others will also gain the greatest gift of all. Jesus Christ. Free of charge.

For all, on this forum at this time of year who would like to ask questions or discuss Jesus Christ, I invite you to an open and friendly discussion.

Well fuck. No need to go out on Boxing Day then is there?

For all, on this forum at this time of year who would like to ask questions or discuss Jesus Christ, I invite you to an open and friendly discussion.

I'm pretty sure you don't want to go there on this forum.

In fact, as a Christmas present to you, I'll just pretend you never asked :D

All well and good, but it was Nicholaus of Myra who started Christmas about a hundred years after the fact, by inviting the women and children of Mithraic followers in to hear about the birth of HIS god-Mithras' birthday being Dec. 25th, and the Mithraic mystery cult not permitting women or underage males in. Nicholas simply invited those left out to join in HIS celebration.
As Christianity spread, the holiday intersected with the soltice celebrations and the Yule well enough that a properly Christian message could sanitize these pagan beliefs.
The real story of Christmas is much more interesting than the glossing over it gets, especially as Santa Claus is based in Nicholaus of Myra, the secret gift-giver who dropped presents down the chimney, who started the holiday more than Jesus.
Though I do admit, the current vogue of taking the founder of Christmas and trying to give him pagan roots and denounce him as a commercializing of the holiday is ironic

Fulfilling prophecy declared by the prophet Isaiah more than one thousand years prior

o rly?

Christmas isn't only a religious holiday, it's also a time for gathering with family and loved ones. It's also a time for putting aside differences (especially within family) and trying our best to behave like civilized people. And it isn't always a happy time for everyone - especially for those who are far away from home or those who have lost someone.

It's easy to fall into despair over your own small worldly troubles but Christmas is also a time to think of those who are worse off than yourselves and perhaps try to do something about it. If you have the means think about donating something to a charity this year - or simply be kind to someone who needs being kind to.

Merry Christmas + Peace.

Snippet

I agree Christmas is celebrated at the wrong time of year, however, this is the time of year where the birth of Christ is celebrated. Tradition does play a part on the timing of this year. But it is the event that is celebrated, not when it happened.

I think that the intentions of Christians at the time could be treated with unfair bias. We must remember that at the time Paganism itself was declining, and Christianity itself was on the rise. I don't doubt that the intentions of the first Christmas holiday was to appeal to Pagans, but there is nothing wrong in inviting those cast out into a celebration. Additionally, those same people who were invited would never have been forced to become a Christian. Each decision would have come out of a personal commitment.

o rly?

No. But let us not spoil the OPs trip to happyland,

Merry Christmas, X-mas, Solstice, Festivus or whatever winterfestival you celebrate these days. Perhaps even a mere "enjoy your free days". With peace on earth and all that ;)

Snip.

Merry Christmas to you as well.

GTFO my lawn, you hippies with all your "love" this and "merry" that. I want hookers, weed, and booze for Christmas, not this inner peace crap you spout on about.

:tongue:

merry christmas to you as well.

merry christmas!

Would Jesus have dressed to the left, or to the right?

Well fuck. No need to go out on Boxing Day then is there?
when you do go out on boxing day what do you do?

something seems to be implied by your response and since we dont do boxing day here i have no idea what it is for.

when you do go out on boxing day what do you do?

something seems to be implied by your response and since we dont do boxing day here i have no idea what it is for.

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day):

Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and countries in the Commonwealth of Nations with a mainly Christian population. It is based on the tradition of giving gifts to the less fortunate members of society. Contemporary Boxing Day in many countries is now a "shopping holiday" associated with after-Christmas sales.

I believe I was getting at the "Christ is free" thing being a better deal than many of the sales found on Boxing Day.

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day):



I believe I was getting at the "Christ is free" thing being a better deal than many of the sales found on Boxing Day.

Christ is free, but he doesn't play Blurays.

Christ is free, but he doesn't play Blurays.

No, but I don't believe the difference in quality really has that much of an effect that I will enjoy my movies more if played in HD to justify the cost to switch to Blueray. Give me Jesus! (for free, otherwise I'll stick to Satan $5.99 for a monthly subscription with high res photos and unlimited movie downloads)

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day):



I believe I was getting at the "Christ is free" thing being a better deal than many of the sales found on Boxing Day.
kk so its a "now we dont have to stand in line for hours on black friday morning" kind of comment.

got it.

kk so its a "now we dont have to stand in line for hours on black friday morning" kind of comment.

got it.

No, you still have to stand in line for hours, you just do it the day after Christmas instead. :p

No, you still have to stand in line for hours, you just do it the day after Christmas instead. :p
*smack* i was going with the tone of your post about not having to go out on boxing day

anyway

i wonder why the US doesnt have boxing day if canada does. was it not big in the 1700s?

*smack* i was going with the tone of your post about not having to go out on boxing day

anyway

i wonder why the US doesnt have boxing day if canada does. was it not big in the 1700s?

You don't, unless you want a Christ that plays Bluerays. But be prepared to stand in line.

You don't, unless you want a Christ that plays Bluerays. But be prepared to stand in line.
would he play porn?

would he play porn?

Probably not if it was on HDDVD. That is the storage device of the devil.

And Lo! The Devil took Jesus to a high mountain, and all the world was laid out in high definition.

"All these things will I show thee in Hi-def, if thou wilt fall down and play HDDVD" Saith the Devil

"No! Get thee hence, Satan: for it is recorded on bluray, Thou shalt play the Bluray disc, and him only shalt thou play."

Book of Sony 25:17

This thread started out fail but has swung round to win.

And Lo! The Devil took Jesus to a high mountain, and all the world was laid out in high definition.

"All these things will I show thee in Hi-def, if thou wilt fall down and play HDDVD" Saith the Devil

"No! Get thee hence, Satan: for it is recorded on bluray, Thou shalt play the Bluray disc, and him only shalt thou play."

Book of Sony 25:17

:tongue:

This thread started out fail but has swung round to win.

There's the power of Christ for you.

The Christmas Story

...on this forum at this time of year who would like to ask questions or discuss Jesus Christ, I invite you to an open and friendly discussion.

It's not a bad story. Not exactly original, it steals quite heavily from centuries of earlier works... and it's pretty poorly written, and not very believable.

But if a simple work of fiction can make people be nice to each other for a while, I'm all for it. Bring on the christmas pudding.

*smack* i was going with the tone of your post about not having to go out on boxing day

anyway

i wonder why the US doesnt have boxing day if canada does. was it not big in the 1700s?

'Cause when you ditched the monarchy you ditched all the silly traditions as well.

Honestly, I'm surprised you guys kept English :tongue:

'Cause when you ditched the monarchy you ditched all the silly traditions as well.

Honestly, I'm surprised you guys kept English :tongue:

They didn't.

And Lo! The Devil took Jesus to a high mountain, and all the world was laid out in high definition.

"All these things will I show thee in Hi-def, if thou wilt fall down and play HDDVD" Saith the Devil

"No! Get thee hence, Satan: for it is recorded on bluray, Thou shalt play the Bluray disc, and him only shalt thou play."

Book of Sony 25:17

Now, Satan, although vexed, was not going to giveth up. He then tooketh the Lord to a cliff, and said unto him, "If thou art really a Blu-ray player, then cast yourself down, and your blu-ray shall not freeze on the screen, lest your player be thrown on the floor."

The Lord replied "I say unto you, "Do not tempt the blu-ray disc, for thou shalt be forced to pay $50 for a new one."

Because no one has heard of Jesus before, so we really need you telling us this!


FFS does NSG have missionaries too now?

Well, we are a god-forsaken land of liberal commies. I think we deserve it.

Because no one has heard of Jesus before, so we really need you telling us this!


FFS does NSG have missionaries too now?

Who is this Jee-zus you speak of?

Because no one has heard of Jesus before, so we really need you telling us this!


FFS does NSG have missionaries too now?

You would be surprised at how many people think they know the story, but in fact do not. I tried to present a brief presentation of what Christmas means to Christians around the globe to give a better understanding to their mindset, and their faith.

Many topics that have begun from a Christian viewpoint have either done one of two things. They have either been presented in a poor, agressive fashion by the opening poster. Or, they have been attacked with comments which have shown little to no reflection or thought, in an inappropriate manner from those that disagree.

I hope, that this thread would do neither of these things, but will instead at least to a greater understanding on both sides of the fence in a restrained fashion.

As for NS General missionaries. Why not? You have NS general Liberals. ^_^

Christ is free, but he doesn't play Blurays.

No, but he would be quite the addition to your home bar, what with the water-to-wine and all..

No, but he would be quite the addition to your home bar, what with the water-to-wine and all..

or you can get the Jesus from Family Guy

"I'm going to turn this water into FUNK!"

Who is this Jee-zus you speak of?

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:U1zUj4aNzCfMeM:http://www.radioactivecommunistzombies.com/radioactive_communist_zom/images/2008/02/03/obama.jpg

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:U1zUj4aNzCfMeM:http://www.radioactivecommunistzombies.com/radioactive_communist_zom/images/2008/02/03/obama.jpg

Why didn't I see that coming?

why didn't i see that second coming?

fixed

fixed

Congrats, you just won.

'Cause when you ditched the monarchy you ditched all the silly traditions as well.

Honestly, I'm surprised you guys kept English :tongue:

Well, we sure as heck weren't gonna learn French. Too many have died from swallowing their own tongue trying to properly pronouce their Rs.

They didn't.

You're right. They improved it.

Because no one has heard of Jesus before, so we really need you telling us this!


FFS does NSG have missionaries too now?

KoL, come on. One thread in the whole of the season, and it's a sincere exposition? Even you can lay off and unclench, if I can. Relax. Here:

http://coffeegeek.com/images/29579/300x300/eggnog.jpg

Have one on me.

You would be surprised at how many people think they know the story, but in fact do not.
Not to toot the collective horn(because that thing is dirty) but generalites are a fairly knowledgeable bunch, for the most part. And generally from the West. We all have a pretty good idea of the beliefs of Christians, both from our own lives and from posting here.
I tried to present a brief presentation of what Christmas means to Christians around the globe to give a better understanding to their mindset, and their faith.
Why do you think we need a better understanding?

Many topics that have begun from a Christian viewpoint have either done one of two things. They have either been presented in a poor, agressive fashion by the opening poster. Or, they have been attacked with comments which have shown little to no reflection or thought, in an inappropriate manner from those that disagree.

I hope, that this thread would do neither of these things, but will instead at least to a greater understanding on both sides of the fence in a restrained fashion.
The reasonable people understand each other pretty well. The unreasonable ones, well best to just leave them alone.
No, but he would be quite the addition to your home bar, what with the water-to-wine and all..

If I re-tool my personal lord and saviour so he makes whiskey from water, will the warranty cover me if I break him?

If I re-toll my personal lord and saviour so he makes whiskey from water, will the warranty cover me if I break him?

I believe you are covered, but you have to serve 10 years in Purgatory for Shipping and Handling.

I also hear that Our Heavenly Father Inc. is designing a new Jesus that is portable and plays music. It's called the iGod.

I also hear that Our Heavenly Father Inc. is designing a new Jesus that is portable and plays music. It's called the iGod.

/facepalm

*groans*

*shakes head*

etc.

I also hear that Our Heavenly Father Inc. is designing a new Jesus that is portable and plays music. It's called the iGod.

Feature exists (http://www.titane.ca/concordia/dfar251/igod/main.html)

Still on the nutty Xtian path, Sith, eh? Always made me laugh.

Still on the nutty Xtian path, Sith, eh? Always made me laugh.

Yeah, I laugh when I think about it too. Amazing how life can change so quickly.

Happy Christmas ya silly Christians, from NSG Seax Wiccan. :)

KoL, come on. One thread in the whole of the season, and it's a sincere exposition? Even you can lay off and unclench, if I can. Relax. Here:

http://coffeegeek.com/images/29579/300x300/eggnog.jpg

Have one on me.


Oh how I loathe you for your ability to chill me out.:p

I'm pretty sure you don't want to go there on this forum.

In fact, as a Christmas present to you, I'll just pretend you never asked :D

Well he asked for a friendly discussion, pretty much nigh impossible on NSG.

Happy Christmas ya silly Christians, from NSG Seax Wiccan. :)

Happy Yule you silly Wiccan :)

IIRC you have yours on the 21st, the Winter/Summer Solstice. How was it?

Because no one has heard of Jesus before, so we really need you telling us this!


FFS does NSG have missionaries too now?

You don't have to read the threads you know KOL.

Thank you for the inspirational words. The church says Amen.

Blessings to you this Christmas.

Happy Yule you silly Wiccan :)

IIRC you have yours on the 21st, the Winter/Summer Solstice. How was it?

It was awesome, At midnight on Yule, I did my own Yule Ritual and at 9pm, I did a ritual with the pagan group that I'm a part of. We then had cake, egg nog, and mead, and sat around and talked. It was really awesome and dare I say it...I may become more sociable in the local Pagan Community! :)

This was the Yule alter that they set up, which I thought was nicely done.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v73/PAY5353/1221082108.jpg

Hang on, just to get this straight:

25th December - wasn't that originally Maithras' birthday?
The thing with the tree, isn't that Germanic, getting living greens into the house around the solistice?
The thing with the gifts, wasn't that Mithras again?
The thing about being born to a virgin and fulfilling prophecies, I seem to recall that was Mithras as well, right?

So, why do you take someone else's holiday and claim it's yours? Isn't that, you know, stealing? :confused:

We had a dictator once in England. He banned christmas :(

You're right. They improved it.


No, they massacred it.

So, why do you take someone else's holiday and claim it's yours? Isn't that, you know, stealing? :confused:

Nonono. When I suggested that in another topic, people got all insulted.

It is merely plagiarism.

Nonono. When I suggested that in another topic, people got all insulted.

It is merely plagiarism.

But plagiarism is stealing of intellectual property without properly referencing the originator.

Are you saying that all christmas-related items, including bible texts, from now on need to contain footnotes referencing Mithras? That would be interesting...

Are you saying that all christmas-related items, including bible texts, from now on need to contain footnotes referencing Mithras? That would be interesting...

I think it would be more efficient to just publish a another book with all those references, possibly even containing the original stories ;) Mithras after all is not the only thing the Bible took eeehm.. "inspiration" from.

May even become a bestseller - I certainly would enjoy reading it.

All well and good, but it was Nicholaus of Myra who started Christmas about a hundred years after the fact, by inviting the women and children of Mithraic followers in to hear about the birth of HIS god-Mithras' birthday being Dec. 25th, and the Mithraic mystery cult not permitting women or underage males in. Nicholas simply invited those left out to join in HIS celebration.

Hang on, just to get this straight:

25th December - wasn't that originally Mithras' birthday?
The thing with the tree, isn't that Germanic, getting living greens into the house around the solistice?
The thing with the gifts, wasn't that Mithras again?
The thing about being born to a virgin and fulfilling prophecies, I seem to recall that was Mithras as well, right?

So, why do you take someone else's holiday and claim it's yours? Isn't that, you know, stealing?


I'm going to take my Russian Orthodox hat off, and put my professional archaeologist hat on to address these, because, well, I'm as capable of Orwellian doublethink as the next person...

In any case, I think you may both have some misconceptions about Mithraism and the interaction between Mithraism and early Christianity.

Not for a second do I doubt that interaction took place, but I think you're both overstating your case.

Take for example the Virgin Birth. This misconception seems to have been started by Joseph Campbell, but academic Mithraic studies hold that Mithras was usually believed to have sprung forth from solid rock "wearing his Phrygian cap ... As yet only his bare torso is visible. In each hand he raises aloft a lighted torch and, as an unusual detail, red flames shoot out all around him from the petra genetrix." (Mithraic Studies: Proceedings of the First International Congress of Mithraic Studies. Manchester U. Press, 1975, p. 173)

As to December the 25th and present giving, I have little doubt that the dating of several Christian festivals owes much to the syncretic synthesis of a variety of festivals both pre-Christian and competitive with early Christianity, but the 25th of December date seems to owe more to the related festivals of Roman Saturnalia (17-23 December) and Sol Invictus ('the unconquered sun' - 25th of December) than to Mithraism. As far as I can tell, no one suggested a connection between the 25th of December and Mithraism until the mid-20th century. The exchange of gifts was also closely associated with Saturnalia.

Mithras himself seems to be a development of the Zoroastian divine figure ('god' may be overstating the case) Mithra - there is no evidence for a historical Mithras - though some disagree with this theory due to the lack of either an independent Zoroastian cult of Mithra or any taurine iconography in Zoroastian depictions of Mithra. This remains a point of contention.

Finally, St. Nicholas of Myra... and all I can say is - where did that one come from? That's entirely new to me. As far as I know, there's no serious work of scholarship on Nicholas of Myra that associates him with Mithraism. So please provide a citation if you have one, but every source I can put my hands on has him as a late 3rd - mid 4th century Christian bishop. The association of gifts with St. Nicholas relates to a story whereby the saint anonymously donated bags of gold to a poor father in order to avoid the father having to sell his daughters into prostitution (which is also the supposed origin of the three golden balls of pawnbrokers, each ball representing one of the gold bags). I respectfully suggest that there's a misunderstanding here.

But yes, the tree's German in origin.

i wonder why the US doesnt have boxing day if canada does. was it not big in the 1700s?

It's an 1850s thing IIRC.

We had a dictator once in England. He banned christmas :(
He was just preventing the Papists from taking over the CoE... and protecting us from the King... or Parliament... or something...

He was just preventing the Papists from taking over the CoE... and protecting us from the King... or Parliament... or something...

And he had to invade you lot to make you safe as well.

We had a dictator once in England. He banned christmas :(

And he was who?

I think religion is a very important part of Christmas, even today. Its truly great that we come together as a species across the world at this time of year to celebrate the birth of Santa, God of Presents.

And he had to invade you lot to make you safe as well.
Quite right too, all us uppity Scots.

(Both of the castles near my parent's home have bloody great holes in them from when Cromwell battered them with cannon.)



And he was who?
His Highness Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth.

His Highness Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth.

Oh yeah, him.

Quite right too, all us uppity Scots.

As if having a completely separate culture and branch of Christianity was a reason for you not to use his prayerbooks.

(Both of the castles near my parent's home have bloody great holes in them from when Cromwell battered them with cannon.)

The Bristol one doesn't even exist anymore thanks to him.

The Christmas Story

The Christmas story, for Christians is not just a time of remembrance, it is instead a time of great joy and celebration of a historical event that had no precedence. Those in the West celebrate Christmas with gift giving, family, food worship, prayer and praise. Africa celebrates it with worship centring upon exuberant rejoicing. Asia mixes between the two. And South and Central America celebrates jubilantly in they’re own timeless fashion.

Christmas, to Christians is a day of global celebration where all, men and women of every tribe and creed are invited to hear the news, that two thousand years ago, the saviour of all mankind was born.

The Gospels depict the birth of Jesus as the great culmination of God’s steady revelation and redemptive purpose incarnated into one man. Jesus Christ. Born, from the womb of a virgin, sinless, without the taint of Adam’s err, Jesus Christ was destined before the very foundations of this earth, to die for humanity and her sin.

Born to a family, in the darkest conditions, on a cold, cool night, when the stars had no veil the King of Kings and Lord of Lords entered into this earth in the fullness of his glory, demonstrating the greatness of his humility.

Fulfilling prophecy declared by the prophet Isaiah more than seven hundred years prior, the birth of Christ was witnessed by the meekest and the greatest of men. Shepherds bowed, angels who worshipped and travellers from the east gave gifts rejoicing that their search was over.

Bathed in the light of a shining star, Christ, lay in his mothers arms, crying, destined to live as we had lived to fulfil all rightness (righteousness).

This boy grew into a man, learned and impressive in his knowledge and wisdom. Baffling his teachers, assuming the same position as the meekest of the poor, Jesus Christ began his earthly ministry at the tender age of thirty years.

He never travelled more than two hundred miles from his home, yet he impacted thousands. Preaching the coming of the Kingdom of God, Jesus healed many, he gave great and mighty teachings, as well as rebukes towards the great injustices he had laid down.

He experienced temptation, but was never tempted. He experienced anger, but never hated. He experienced love, but never lusted. He experienced tears but never depression. Jesus lived as we do, experienced the temptations we do, but never did he succumb to them. Enduring even to the spilling of his own undeserving blood.

Handed over to his enemies, Jesus suffered a mock trial, enduring senseless malice and torture from the people he came to save. Crucified overlooking the city of Jerusalem Jesus wept.

Bearing upon his shoulders, an eternity of hell for all those who would believe in him, Jesus gave his last breath, yet death did not, nae could not hold him. This boy, born thirty two years prior, in the crisp cold of a dark night, rose from death after three days defeating it.

Many saw the risen Christ, many heard and believed. Accounts were written, and the authorities of the day found themselves powerless to deny the reality of the wonders in their midst. Jerusalem was aflame in jubilance that now, the sins of mankind were lain low and relationship, living everlasting relationship was now available for all, through Jesus Christ.

Christmas time, for Christians is a time where we remember, celebrate, rejoice, worship, pray and give thanks, for our saviour, our Lord, our King of Kings. We each express our thanks in different ways, but it is a day, which will be remembered for all time.

Christmas is also a time, where many who do not celebrate Jesus, but instead find themselves helpless in wonder at the great questions that shape our worldviews. What is the point in life, what will happen when I die, why is this world so messed up?

Christians all over the world, in their rejoicing will tell many on December 25th of the great deeds that Christ has done, is doing and will do in the future. Many on this day will receive presents of worldly wealth, but others will also gain the greatest gift of all. Jesus Christ. Free of charge.

For all, on this forum at this time of year who would like to ask questions or discuss Jesus Christ, I invite you to an open and friendly discussion.

Oh, Ralphie Parker, only wanting "an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle (BB Gun) with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time.", while his mom tells him that he'll "shoot his eye out". Ah, northern Indiana of the post World War II, Willy Loman era, forties, the coveted lag lamp in a box labeled "Fra-gee-lay, it must be Italian", slicking frozen flag poles, and giving your hot teacher a fruit basket for a Christmas gift. The good old days when Santa said "hao hao hao" and when your Christmas dinner was ruined, you could always to to the Chinese restaurant for Chinese Christmas dinner "it's smiling" and the waiters caroling for you, "no no no, not ra ra ra, la la la la la". Those were the days

Oh, the Christmas story, with the wise men, frankincense, gold, and myrrh, the manger, a bright star, Herod's Massacre of the Innocents, and Joseph, never mind.

So, why do you take someone else's holiday and claim it's yours? Isn't that, you know, stealing?
Only in the sense that the English language 'stole' words from Latin.

Only in the sense that the English language 'stole' words from Latin.

That was more shoved there by the filthy Normans.

Oh how I loathe you for your ability to chill me out.:p

Aw. You're so cute when you're cowed by kindness. Seriously, though, it just isn't worth it, more often than not.

No, they massacred it.

Right. Whatever it takes to make you feel better about yourself. You can't prove that, and I can't disprove it. So how's about we leave it alone?

Only in the sense that the English language 'stole' words from Latin.

Yes, because one language gradu... wait.. deja vu time !
As I said: plagiarism :p

That was more shoved there by the filthy Normans.

Filthy? Uh...the Normans cleaned up the trough that was England in the 11th century.

Filthy? Uh...the Normans cleaned up the trough that was England in the 11th century.

Do you understand the history of England at all? King Harold was an excellent king. He crushed the Welsh, defeated the Vikings and was voted into power. How is that bad at all?

Do you understand the history of England at all? King Harold was an excellent king. He crushed the Welsh, defeated the Vikings and was voted into power. How is that bad at all?

I was refuting "filthy" not "good kings". Do you understand English at all? Sheesh, pal, get off the defensive bandwagon and relax.

Right. Whatever it takes to make you feel better about yourself. You can't prove that, and I can't disprove it. So how's about we leave it alone?

Yeah, let's leave it alone.

It was awesome, At midnight on Yule, I did my own Yule Ritual and at 9pm, I did a ritual with the pagan group that I'm a part of. We then had cake, egg nog, and mead, and sat around and talked. It was really awesome and dare I say it...I may become more sociable in the local Pagan Community! :)

This was the Yule alter that they set up, which I thought was nicely done.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v73/PAY5353/1221082108.jpg

Cool. Is this the beginning of a new social and freindly Wilgrove? :)

Cool. Is this the beginning of a new social and freindly Wilgrove? :)

Social maybe, but I pride myself on being non-user friendly dammit! :p

Don'tr forget the part where they plagiaraize christmas from a pagan holiday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule)...

Christmas! Buh humbug, thank God that it's over for another year.