Christmas without Christ? Huh?

[herringbonekid]

growing up non-christian (as i did) christmas was about getting presents and putting up a tree with lights on, and eating a large meal and having the relatives around for drinks. easter was about chocolate eggs and bunnies.

the real meaning behind the celebrations was only mentioned in school, but more out of a sense of obligation on the part of the teachers (i was never convinced by any of the religious conviction of the teachers anyway, and it meant nothing to me).

 

[olive bleu]

Maybe, i didn't express very well what i was actually trying to say.

All i want to know is, why are my kids ONLY singing about Frosty the Snowman, and not at ALL about Jesus?

 

[Avalon]

Marc, don't forget about Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey. He carried Mary to the stable in Bethlehem.

I was raised Roman Catholic, but have been Pagan for many years now. However, Christmas is still the birth of Christ, and I have the utmost respect for people who openly display it as such. I still keep a creche under my tree.
Losing the story of Christ's birth from this season means losing a rich, multilayered part of our history.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Maybe, i didn't express very well what i was actually trying to say.

All i want to know is, why are my kids ONLY singing about Frosty the Snowman, and not at ALL about Jesus?

My wife is the director of a Lutheran based early childhood education center and they sing about Jesus all the time! In fact, every year, their Christmas play is about the birth of Christ, making time to point out that it's NOT only about presents and trees and Frosty.

I have neighbors that, for twenty + years, have a GIANT tractor trailer rig that they decorate and fill with folks who drive around our neighborhood in North Hollywood on Christmas eve singing Christmas Carols - religious and secular alike!

Please, I beg of folks, don't look for a slight where there really isn't one! Yes, there are the few loonies that go to the extreme - on ALL sides. But it is especially important to remember, despite what people WANT us to believe, they are the exception, not the rule.

Christmas is alive and well and, quite frankly, isn't it up to us to sing carols with the kids that are not about Frosty?

 

[Matt Deckard]

.

Has it come down to the exchanging of gifts, the partygoing, and the holiday bonuses?


.

Yes... yes it has.

 

[olive bleu]

My wife is the director of a Lutheran based early childhood education center and they sing about Jesus all the time! In fact, every year, their Christmas play is about the birth of Christ, making time to point out that it's NOT only about presents and trees and Frosty.

I have neighbors that, for twenty + years, have a GIANT tractor trailer rig that they decorate and fill with folks who drive around our neighborhood in North Hollywood on Christmas eve singing Christmas Carols - religious and secular alike!

Please, I beg of folks, don't look for a slight where there really isn't one! Yes, there are the few loonies that go to the extreme - on ALL sides. But it is especially important to remember, despite what people WANT us to believe, they are the exception, not the rule.

Christmas is alive and well and, quite frankly, isn't it up to us to sing carols with the kids that are not about Frosty?

Well, Mr. Lucky. You are very lucky, indeed.I assure you we do not enjoy the same experience here.

 

[Kim_B]

I think it has a lot to do with being PC these days; making everything so general to avoid offending someone. Most stores don't view Santa, Trees, and snowflakes to have a religious overtone, and stick with those. They are the ubiquitous signs of Christmas. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I'm just thinking of an explanation....

I don't really know where I stand on the issue, to be completely honest; I'm glad that we live in a country where we can choose what to celebrate and how.

 

[Jack Scorpion]

I'm sorry, but Christmas just isn't a religous holiday to me. Good Friday-Easter is a powerful celebration of Jesus and I'll always treat it as such. But Christmas? Christmas will always be a silly hallmark holiday to me. He was a great guy, I'm sure, but he's got his time of year already. Leave Christmas for the children and colorful lights.

 

[Weston]

I sure hope this comes off right!

Well, as a Chaplain and future pastor, the fact that this conversation exists warms my heart. Here's my two cents.

I know it is distressing to some folks that our obvious Christian symbols seem a little more rare these days and that it may seem commercialism is rampant.

However, when Christ was here on earth, he preached to us how to live, regardless of what other people would say or think. We (meaning Christians) must not rely upon the Wal-Marts of the world to define our holiday. It is not their job, nor do they do a good job at it. We are to live a certain way, no matter if it is popular or not, as it certainly was not for centuriues.

To those who decry a loss of public Christianity: it is sad to many, but Christianity is not a popularity contest.

To others, who are not Christian: if they celebrate this holiday, and are moved to a changed (even for a time) state of mind, where they love their fellow man a bit more, or give him extra consideration, this might be all the love of Christ they can receive or give all year.

Ultimately, I don't think anyone celebrates Christmas wrong, they just might not get as much of the meaning as they could.

 

[Elaina]

Well taking my son's school for an example, there's no mention of it because there are an equal number of non-Christians in school now.

We had a Spring Festival last year. Out of 5 parents that were helping, I was the only Christian. Easter is indeed a Christian holiday (and they don't get Good Friday off either now here), but if all things are equal as they're supposed to be, then wouldn't it be something akin to denying basic rights granted to personal freedoms in this country? How fair is it to the little boy in my son's class, Hamir, if he is forced to listen to a sermon based in Chistianity? He's not one, and he is a good boy that tried to lead, what I consider, a good Christian life: he's kind to others, he's respectful of his parents and other adults, and he is compassionate toward all beings great and small. How mad would you be if your child came home in February wanting to burn joss for the dead? Or if he came home and asked why a turtle carried the world on his back?

Having festivals instead Christian holidays makes it where no child is left out. I STILL remember the girl that was a Jehovah's Witness and never being allowed to do anything with the class on holidays, but many of them now get to attend and participate in the festivals. As out world changes and encompasses a wider variety of people, so too must many of our social customs.

 

[Kim_B]

Well taking my son's school for an example, there's no mention of it because there are an equal number of non-Christians in school now.

We had a Spring Festival last year. Out of 5 parents that were helping, I was the only Christian. Easter is indeed a Christian holiday (and they don't get Good Friday off either now here), but if all things are equal as they're supposed to be, then wouldn't it be something akin to denying basic rights granted to personal freedoms in this country? How fair is it to the little boy in my son's class, Hamir, if he is forced to listen to a sermon based in Chistianity? He's not one, and he is a good boy that tried to lead, what I consider, a good Christian life: he's kind to others, he's respectful of his parents and other adults, and he is compassionate toward all beings great and small. How mad would you be if your child came home in February wanting to burn joss for the dead? Or if he came home and asked why a turtle carried the world on his back?

Having festivals instead Christian holidays makes it where no child is left out. I STILL remember the girl that was a Jehovah's Witness and never being allowed to do anything with the class on holidays, but many of them now get to attend and participate in the festivals. As out world changes and encompasses a wider variety of people, so too must many of our social customs.

Thank you for saying what I'd been trying to type, but wouldn't come out right!

 

[scotrace]

Christmas

It is, after all, a Mass for Christ.

Our family tries to pull all we can from the season. We read A Christmas Carol aloud, go out and find just the right tree, do a traditional dinner, gather with family (stock the bar!), put out meaningful family treasures, and gather for services Christmas Eve. After those services, we have a long standing tradition of watching the Mass from Rome (though we aren't Catholic).

I see Christmas as a wealth of opportunities to affirm our priorities, follow our faith, express affection and pass tradions to the next generations. Also a chance to be a kid again.

All in all, really the bestest time of year. But I'm a sap.

 

[olive bleu]

Well, as a Chaplain and future pastor, the fact that this conversation exists warms my heart. Here's my two cents.

I know it is distressing to some folks that our obvious Christian symbols seem a little more rare these days and that it may seem commercialism is rampant.

However, when Christ was here on earth, he preached to us how to live, regardless of what other people would say or think. We (meaning Christians) must not rely upon the Wal-Marts of the world to define our holiday. It is not their job, nor do they do a good job at it. We are to live a certain way, no matter if it is popular or not, as it certainly was not for centuriues.

To those who decry a loss of public Christianity: it is sad to many, but Christianity is not a popularity contest.

To others, who are not Christian: if they celebrate this holiday, and are moved to a changed (even for a time) state of mind, where they love their fellow man a bit more, or give him extra consideration, this might be all the love of Christ they can receive or give all year.

Ultimately, I don't think anyone celebrates Christmas wrong, they just might not get as much of the meaning as they could.

Bravo Weston:eusa_clap :eusa_clap That is some insight that i can swallow.I am really not as militant as i feel i am coming off here. I fear sometimes i have a pretty naive outlook and the world will never really be as open and wonderful as i think it can be

 

[Matt Deckard]

X-mas is coming

 

[Lady Day]

...Good Friday-Easter is a powerful celebration of Jesus and I'll always treat it as such. But Christmas? Christmas will always be a silly hallmark holiday to me. He was a great guy, I'm sure, but he's got his time of year already. Leave Christmas for the children and colorful lights.

Yeah... as far as being the most important of the Christian hollidays, Easter is the SuperBowl of them all. Even as a kid, I wondered why there was so much hoopla over celebrating his birth (not his birthday) and then having the reason for his life and why his is worshiped kind of glassed over.

But I digress...

Christmas has lost its focus, and people will complain about it from now on. I think in this country, Thanksgiving is a perfect gateway holiday for the gathering of family and friends and giving goodwill to others. Its not a religious holiday, and had been extended into the 'holiday season' scope, to add more marketing days for the gift buying. Im sure they want to streach it to Holloween (which is a religious holiday), but they haven figured it out yet. Give it 5 years.


LD

 

[Lady Day]

X-mas is coming

I HATE THAT TERM!!!! :rage:

LD

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Yeah... as far as being the most important of the But I digress...

Christmas has lost its focus, and people will complain about it from now on. I think in this country, Thanksgiving is a perfect gateway holiday for the gathering of family and friends and giving goodwill to others. Its not a religious holiday, and had been extended into the 'holiday season' scope, to add more marketing days for the gift buying. Im sure they want to streach it to Holloween (which is a religious holiday), but they haven figured it out yet. Give it 5 years.


LD

People have been saying the same thing since the Industrial Revolution! And, if Dickens is any indication, prior!

Has anybody watched a Charlie Brown Christmas as of late? It deals with almost the same issues that we are discussing now. AND it was made forty years ago.

Ah, the more things change - the more they stay the same.

 

[scotrace]

It's run by a big Eastern Syndicate you know.










.

 

[Avalon]

It's run by a big Eastern Syndicate you know..

But Charlie won't let that commercial dog ruin his Christmas.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

It's run by a big Eastern Syndicate you know.
.