That's IT I have HAD IT with PC (Not Personal Computing either) CHRISTmas

[JoelMartin]

Gary; I agree with you 100%.

 

[CRuth]

Stuff like this grinds me!#@$%! If a Jew were to wish me Happy Hanukah, why would I be offended? I would take it as what it is--someone taking the time to wish me well. It is the spirit of the holiday (any holiday, any religion) that is important. I may not believe the same things they do, but it's nice to be thought of.



As for Santa, my 10 year old started the hard questions. I told him that Santa is an idea, if not an actual person. Santa is the spirit of giving and as long as he believes, there WILL be a Santa. I feel bad for your nephew. Santa is one of the wonderous things that children have to look forward to that us older folks should look forward to also! Leaving the cookies out, cracking the fireplace screen, making sooty marks on the carpet (not with your CTD!) all so your kids are EXCITED and loving life. PC will drag this country down the toilet until we are no better than some 3rd world cesspool.



Merry Christmas!! If you don't like it, lump it.

Very well said. I don't believe the holidays somehow "dilute" religion. Nor do I believe being religious somehow means we can't have fun on the holidays. Now the commercialization of the holidays, that a whole nother thread.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

What is and has been happening over time here is that the "Melting Pot" has come close to a simmer. With that all the ingredients including faith, and time told tradition have also become a very diluted phenomenom. With dilution comes sterilility.



What we are left with is a grouped together opaque verion of all holidays combined in this age of making everyone happy in a simple gesture. Why has it become commonplace even against many opposing origionalist people? It comes down to ingeredient A: commecrialism , and B: having the "Masses" that do NOT speak out in opposition but rather silently accept the change. This aquisittion of an accepted practice is simply assumed and is not accepted by all as shown in this thread.



You see I for one take this whole thing to heart as MY ROOTS go directly to William Brewster . Brewster became the church's Elder, responsible for seeing that the congregation's members carried themselves properly, both helping and admonishing them when necessary.



When Brewster and other members of the Pilgrim community emigrated to America in 1620 on the Mayflower, their pastor John Robinson remained behind in Leiden. In the absence of an ordained minister, Brewster was the much-loved and respected religious leader of Plymouth Colony.





Yeah that is kind of heavy to whip out in a thread like this but it warms me to see that many are on the same side of the fence.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

A large percentage of today's "Protestant Christians" will only attend church on "high days" - Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. They like the warm fuzzy feeling that random. rare attendance provides - and do little in terms of religion or personal Spirituality the vast majority of the year, yet if asked, will proudly state as to the fact they ARE "practicing Christians".

Ask that bunch what they do with the first 10% of the monthly income... ... that's gross income?



Jim

 

[Mike Ellis]

Gary wrote:

So yeah, SOME of the more traditional, Protestant Christians who DO recognize and accept what the true meaning of Christ's death, resurrection and sacrifice means, get sorta concerned to see all that deeper meaning diluted with Santa Claus, Christmas trees (another ancient heathen worship device) and candy canes - or bunnies and eggs...



Those are the ones suggesting we put "Christ" back into Christmas - after all, Christ saves - "Santa" does not...

I am in my 40's, and in all my years in a Southern Baptist pew Jesus has never been "out" of Christmas, even amidst the Santa Clauses and candy canes and snowmen and Christmas trees. Then again, I am not one to let the trappings of a celebration dictate my beliefs. Perhaps others are more easily led astray.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Gary wrote:







Jesus has never been "out" of Christmas, even amidst the Santa Clauses and candy canes and snowmen and Christmas trees. .

Umm and to firm that up 'Tiz the reason for the season!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Gary wrote:







I am in my 40's, and in all my years in a Southern Baptist pew Jesus has never been "out" of Christmas, even amidst the Santa Clauses and candy canes and snowmen and Christmas trees. Then again, I am not one to let the trappings of a celebration dictate my beliefs. Perhaps others are more easily led astray.

AS an experiment, ask several 9-10 year olds out on the street what Christmas makes them think of - chances are it will be Christmas presents - mostly those they want and hope to RECEIVE, and Santa, the tree and other related commercial aspects of the Holiday - and for that matter, chances are, a high percentage of their parents and other adults will give the same reply.



After all, that's pretty much the basic teachings most prevalent in the homes today... For many adults, Christmas and Easter are just Holidays - some of the 7 or eight in a year where they get paid to not work, and little else. To others, the Holidays such as Christmas and Easter, are still remembered and observed as the Holy Days they actually are - and the "Gift" most cherished and revered is that of the gift of a life and blood sacrificed for us all - and I trust all here will value and appreciate the true joy and happiness of the season that make all others seem insignificant in comparison!



BEST HOLY DAY WISHES TO ALL! Oo.

 

[Mike Ellis]

Umm and to firm that up 'Tiz the reason for the season!

Absolutely! This fact is amplified in many of the traditional European Christmas carols as well:



- O Holy Night

- We Three Kings of Orient Are

- What Child is This?

- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

- Silent Night, Holy Night

- etc.



Of course, we must remember that many churches frown on singing and music, so those who enjoy these majestic songs are probably headed straight for Heck on a jing-jing-jingling sleigh. If you're in there, be sure to save room for me and a cup of eggnog, because I like those songs and I intend to keep singin' 'em till I die.

 

[JoelMartin]

AS an experiment, ask several 9-10 year olds out on the street what Christmas makes them think of - chances are it will be Christmas presents - mostly those they want and hope to RECEIVE, and Santa, the tree and other related commercial aspects of the Holiday - and for that matter, chances are, a high percentage of their parents and other adults will give the same reply.



After all, that's pretty much the basic teachings most prevalent in the homes today... For many adults, Christmas and Easter are just Holidays - some of the 7 or eight in a year where they get paid to not work, and little else. To others, the Holidays such as Christmas and Easter, are still remembered and observed as the Holy Days they actually are - and the "Gift" most cherished and revered is that of the gift of a life and blood sacrificed for us all - and I trust all here will value and appreciate the true joy and happiness of the season that make all others seem insignificant in comparison!



BEST HOLY DAY WISHES TO ALL! Oo.

Couldn't of said it better!

 

[Mike Ellis]

AS an experiment, ask several 9-10 year olds out on the street what Christmas makes them think of - chances are it will be Christmas presents - mostly those they want and hope to RECEIVE, and Santa, the tree and other related commercial aspects of the Holiday - and for that matter, chances are, a high percentage of their parents and other adults will give the same reply.

We cannot force people to believe in Jesus Christ, unless we become like the Muslims and demand that only people who share a very specific standard of belief should be allowed to celebrate the holiday. Even if we WERE to become like Muslims and stifle all secular Christmas traditions, whose interpretation of what constitutes a reverent Christmas should we follow? There are a thousand different opinions, and a million arguments over who is right and who is wrong.



I do not wish to mar the season with a protracted debate, so this will be my last post on the subject. Merry Christmas to all.

 

[JoelMartin]

We cannot force people to believe in Jesus Christ, unless we become like the Muslims and demand that only people who share a very specific standard of belief should be allowed to celebrate the holiday. Even if we WERE to become like Muslims and stifle all secular Christmas traditions, whose interpretation of what constitutes a reverent Christmas should we follow? There are a thousand different opinions, and a million arguments over who is right and who is wrong.



I do not wish to mar the season with a protracted debate, so this will be my last post on the subject. Merry Christmas to all.

Are we forcing people to believe in Jesus Christ by not joining in with Santa and christmas trees? On December 25 I will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ into the world and hope you do too. Merry Christmas.

 

[JoshPeters]

My thoughts...

I agree with everyone 110%.
I think if the government and these yutzes want to seperate Church and State so much that ALL government workers, Post Office, etc should stay OPEN on those days.

We will then see where the seperation lies.

Merry Christmas EVERYONE!

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Ahhhh yesssss. Ya see I was pleasently supprised at what happened today @ Mass. Rick did indeed do what he has done for the past years. He came out Ho-ing and was dressed in a good ol jolly red and white suit Oo. The kids went bananas. After I asked rick what happeded to the "era correct" Saint Nicholas garb. He said ... . we will just have to wait and see the "Judges" reactions , winked and kept on walkin' :-laf

 

[Mike Ellis]

Merry Christmas gentlemen, I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday and spending time with friends and family in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.