You can't have turkey dinner in a Shiva temple. It's the birth of Christ that is Biblical and what Christians celebrate and consider important. In Ethiopia, for example, Christmas or "ganna" is celebrated on January 7th. "For Christian people no day is as glorious and as joyous as the day on which they commemorate the Nativity of Our Saviour Jesus Christ. On this day each one of us tries to forget his worries and his anxieties and endeavours to alleviate those of his loved ones and friends, and to forgive those who have wronged him, so as only to meditate on the life of Him who is Supreme Lord of All. "From Our early childhood We are struck by the sentiments of unfathomable mystery, simple and yet sublime, which stirs up in us the evocation of the Birth of the Divine Child. "The Mystery of Bethlehem reveals itself in our spirits, more fascinating the more we advance on the path of life, and the more we realise the magnitude of the mission each one of us has to accomplish in this world, be it humble or noble, arduous or thankless. "An unheard of event, expected for more than forty centuries has at last been accomplished: the Son of God is born, He has only a stable for His palace and a manger for a cradle. The hearts of the wise are thrilled by this majestic humility, and the kings of the Earth bend their knees before Him and worship Him. " 'Peace on Earth, goodwill to men,' - this was His first message. In the same manner when He went to the summit of Calvary, there to expiate our sins with the supreme sacrifice, He gave up His last breath invoking forgiveness for His very tormentors: 'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.'" -Rastafari Haile Selassie I http://www.rastaites.com/speeches/christmasspeech.html
Don't wanna pick nits, but I disagree with this. Easter is the most significant day in the church calendar.
And I would disagree with this. Christians are supposed to honor the death, burial, and ressurection of Jesus throughout the year, and especially on the first day of the week, every week. The physical date should carry no more importance than any other day.
Agree completely. Same can be said of Christmas. In fact, I did say the same in multiple posts in this very thread. My point is only that if we're talking about the significant events in Christian history, I would argue the resurrection is the one that carries the most significance. At least to me anyway.
Daddy please hear this song that I sing In your heart there's a spark that just screams For a lover to bring a child to your chest that could lay as you sleep And love all you have left like your boy used to be Long ago wrapped in sheets warm and wet Blister please with those wings in your spine Love to be with a brother of mine How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep wrapped in boxes so tight Sounding only at night as you sleep Brother see we are one in the same And you left with your head filled with flames And you watched as your brains fell out through your teeth Push the pieces in place Make your smile sweet to see Don't you take this away I'm still wanting my face on your cheek And when we break we'll wait for our miracle God is a place where some holy spectacle lies And when we break we'll wait for our miracle God is a place you will wait for the rest of your life Two headed boy she is all you could need She will feed you tomatoes and radio wires And retire to sheets safe and clean But don't hate her when she gets up to leave
If someone hasn't posted this yet... can we please move Christmas back to Christ's actual birthday (during summer)? Think of all that holiday travel without snow-plagued airports and flu-ridden relatives? The early church only moved His birthday to replace Bacchanalia, the Roman winter sleazo-glutton-orgy fest thing.
Man, thanks for bringing that up. No one else had mentioned it before. In fact, I didn't even know that!!! I'm sure glad we have you good ole San Francisco professorial elite types around to lead us to truth. i wouldn't have posted any of that if i thought you took me remotely seriously!
Fair enough, and I agree that Jesus death is more important to Christians than his birth. It's my fault for not reading the entire thread and I apologize for jumping to conclusions. My family and I celebrate Christmas, but as a purely secular holiday without any religious aspect at all.
You could just move to the Southern Hemisphere. Aussies I know celebrate Christmas by going to the beach. Sounds good to me. Lets celebrate that!
Unless they're vegetarians. And I doubt you could hold communion in a mosque. Not sure about praying at the dinner table at an atheist's house- guess it just depends on that particular atheist.
Hey it's not my speech. But you might be picking nits. without the birth there is no death and without the death there is no life. so let's celebrate by giving thanks. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
