Pagan Christmas - The Rest of the Story (512 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 1.42 on 15 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by FLAK <yo yo mama> (View user info) at 2007-11-15 16:42:22 EST
***I reposted this from a rating comment I made earlier today in hopes of hearing a bit of discussion. If you don't like that then suck it.***
To say that Christmas is a pagan holiday is somewhat true but a simplistic notion at best. That statement is usually used by anti-Christians who are simply looking to discredit the holiday. I do agree that Christmas is blatantly over-commercialized in America, but hey, it's America, everything is over-commercialized.
So why do we always here this argument? It stems from the fact that the holiday falls near the Winter Solstice which is nowhere near the probable date that is likely the actual birthday of the historical figure Jesus. Whether or not you believe that Jesus was the son of God, most scholars agree that a man and religious leader called Jesus did exist.
So why the disparity?
All of the major world religions incorporated so-called pagan or indigenous holidays and traditions to aid in the conversion of local populations. I guess that by using the popular party days they could avoid physical torture and the like. Since most ancient religions were based on worship of the physical world, a major holiday on the Winter Solstice made good sense.
One example in Islam is the use of holy places in and around Mecca. For instance, during the Haj many pilgrims touch or kiss Black Stone. If they can't reach the stone as they circle the Kaaba, they at least gesture to it. This back stone was revered and considered holy long before the emergence if Islam. Islam merely incorporated it into its cosmology. So one could say that the Black Stone is a pagan stone. Try saying that to a Muslim and you'll likely be beheaded.
When Buddhism spread into Tibet via the spice routes, many of the indigenous customs were incorporated into what is now Tibetan Buddhism. For instance, the use of small sacrificial flour cakes known as Tormas is actually an incorporation of the human and animal sacrifices that were made in the region prior to Buddhism. If you told the Dalai Lama that breast shaped torma is actually a living being he would probably smile and agree with you.
These are merely a couple of examples off the top of my head. Suffice it to say that if you want to start a religion with the aim of spreading it around the globe, you'd better be ready to adapt to the traditions that are already in place.
So to say that Christmas is a Pagan holiday is not as much a slam on Christianity as it is an acknowledgement of the religion's worldwide success.
User Reviews
Submitted by Flak (user info) at 2007-11-16 15:13:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
There is a slight difference in the spelling. Flack v. Flak. I'm an uber-virgin again. I used to hang out here a few years ago. I got a wild hair the other day and came back.
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2007-11-16 05:00:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
There are two Flacks? I am assuming you are not the hot one?! Tee hee. What Berty said I agree, btw.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2007-11-16 04:50:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Meh, bank holidays, religious holidays, national holidays are all bollocks. We should scrap the lot and give everyone more general holiday entitlement.
Submitted by woolfe (user info) at 2007-11-16 04:27:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2007-11-15 23:06:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Update: I am going to go poop, and it will be great.
Godspeed in all your ventures, good sir.
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2007-11-15 23:04:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oops. I guess the whole "functional" bit is just my twisted perception. And I just got bbq sauce on my $2 tshirt! Fuck!
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2007-11-15 23:02:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
"...it's America, everything is over-commercialized."
Not sexuality - at least we still hold that sacred.
I lol'd a little at the Dalai Lama bit. Ah, what the fuck, have a +2. It would have been a +1 but I'm rocking a really cool/very functional high while eating a bbq roast beef sub with a 32 oz. soda and all is right with the world.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2007-11-15 20:40:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This hālig should have been "holgen"
No idea how that happened.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2007-11-15 20:38:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by BranDo (user info) at 2007-11-15 20:07:14 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Where does the name 'holiday' come from?
Thor
------------------
It is a contraction of Holy and day. Holy come from old english hālig, which was the name for the holly tree that was sacred in old celtic religions.
Doesn't have fuck all to do with Thor.
I like this post. If you dig deep enough in any religion they are motly adopted from old religions.
Submitted by TechnoRatty (user info) at 2007-11-15 20:28:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Xmas is a special time that insists that you spend all of your money on your unappreciative children, and then to encourages you, to order your children to point and laugh at the kids who got 'shitty' presents, thus leaving you with a warm fuzzy feeling inside
Submitted by BranDo (user info) at 2007-11-15 20:07:14 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
So to say that Christmas is a Pagan holiday is not as much a slam on Christianity as it is an acknowledgement of the religion's worldwide success.
Religion can't be a success it can have followers and can incorporate all the 'heathen' crap they want but it will always remain a belief. Over-commercialized or not.
Where does the name 'holiday' come from?
Thor
Submitted by forensicgirl3 (user info) at 2007-11-15 18:32:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Thanks for the post.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2007-11-15 18:16:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
STFU FOOLPROO--
oh wait.
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2007-11-15 16:51:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by triangle_man (user info) at 2007-11-15 16:49:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
If you travelled over the hill where they worship jacaranda trees and you wanted them to believe in your god. You would incorporate jacaranda trees into your doctrine and assimilate the over the hill people, eventually.
If your Juju is strong enough.
just an example