we are definately, in complete, total, almost absolute agreement here I just meant I don't get discouraged that non Christians view the Christmas season purely materialistic. I don't have a problem with that because I don't think their context for the holiday is the same for me.
23rd annual, and now they have a problem with it, this sounds like an all of a sudden case of xenophobia, why wouldn't they even consider taking part of the festivities to create a dialogue between two different religions, people who consider themselves spiritually advanced should have more tolerance and a better understanding of patience, and should lead people out of confusion rather than to contribute to separatists idealism
nods, I will keep that in mind next time I see you post about religion. I actually am not that quite fond of organized Christianity myself. I think we kinda took a really bad turn around 300 AD. Sounds like the difference between a good liberal and a good conservative
See, now I like that. That's exactly what I'm talking about. We need to have dialogue and discussion with people of different faiths. I simply don't support the practice of a different faith in a place of worship for God. But like I said, if the interfaith is limited to just discussion and debate, I really can't see why any Church would be against them holding services there.
if they wanted more publicity they should have had a special guest "Soulja Boy".. A "Soulja Boy" interfaith Thanksgiving where all faiths can do the Soulja Boy. Lots of people would participate in the true spirit of thanksgiving, where sharing, courtesy, and cooperation amongst all people lead to the betterment of the world.
Acts 19- v. 23 About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis.[d] He kept many craftsmen busy. 25 He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 26 But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! 27 Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!” .
1 Corinthians 8 Food Sacrificed to Idols 1 Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. 3 But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.[a] 4 So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. 5 There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. 6 But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life. 7 However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. 8 It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. 9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers[c] by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.
I couldn't agree more, dialogue with different faiths is profitable. Sharing a meal with them is loving and profitable. As long as you are not confusing weaker Christians. Alot of these type issues I believe people should read the scripture study and come to peace in their own heart. Don't judge the actions of others, we are called to serve and love.
I remember this passage as well. This is as close to Paul being a lawyer as I've seen. Plausible deniability.
You are certainly free to feel it is a Christian holiday if you choose except that you have to also consider the historical nature of the holiday. While yes the Pilgrims were thanking their god exclusively they wouldn't have been around to do that without the aid of the Non-Christian natives. That is why the natives were guest of honor and essential to that feast. While I agree the church has every legal right to choose not to invite people of others faith to their Thanksgiving celebration I would say that is a disservice to the historical origin of Thanksgiving. The first Thanksgiving while organized by Christians they specifically wanted non-Christians there who without their aid there wouldn't have been anything to be thankful for. That would be historically fine as there is no evidence of Buddhist being at the first Thanksgiving but there is evidence of non-Christians there so while there is no argument about a Buddhist aspect there certainly is an argument about it being exclusively Christian. It might surprise you then that there is no solid historical evidence for Christmas being the birth of Christ and that what evidence there is points towards sometime in Spring being the birth of Christ. December 25th was declared the birth of Christ by Pope Julius to coopt the Pagan festival of Saturnalia and other solstice related festivals. http://www.history.com/minisite.do?...play_order=1&sub_display_order=2&mini_id=1290
No surprise here. Doubt rhester or Max or anyone around these parts would be either. We know the "church" stole lots of pagan days and "made" them "holy" days. See "Lupercalia" and "St. Valentine's Day" for another example... as well as "Easter." That's mainly why we just celebrate Jesus all year long!
This is extremely common knowledge among Christians. The point isn't the specific day we celebrate Christ's birth...but that we celebrate it.
^ I see I wasn't aware how widely that was known. I have a question, and this isn't meant as a bash but am intellectually curious. If Dec. 25th isn't Biblical why do Christians consider it so important? From the link I supplied it mentioned that the Pilgrims themselves didn't celebrate Christmas for that reason so has there been any more recent movements among Christians do downplay Christmas?
the date or the holiday itself? you're really cupposed to celebrate Him all year long. the date's really just a chance for Walmart to increase its bottom line. I'd say a lot of the reason why some peopel tend to overfocus on Dec. 25 is the Sunday Christian mentality. It's simply another day that they can pretend to be a Christian and feel good about their salvation.
Because the significance isn't the day on the calendar but the meaning of Christmas. The Christmas story is re-told. There is the Advent season...the expectation of the Savior to be born. And then the birth of the Prince of Peace. I think getting hung up on the day is pretty legalistic. How very religious of the Pilgrims.
see I always say the mean things and then Max comes in and says something nice and thoughtful like this. I don't know whether I should hug him or give him my patented look of death.
