I've often wondered why Christians celebrate the holidays (holy-days) they do. Don't get me wrong, I hold no ill will. I used to be a Christian. A big one. And I am about to probably piss off a lot of people when I say, the Bible is a good History book. There are verifiable occurrences. Isn't that what a history book does? Tell you about an event that you can verify?
I agree with the basic principle of Christianity- love all. Do good.
But I must wonder at the masses when they insist on events occurring at a certain time when they did not, or certain phrases being important they way they are spelled.
For instance, most people believe christmas is December 25. But why do we celebrate it on that day? Most will tell you it is the anniversary of Jesus' birth.
But it is not.
Several clues in the Christian bible tell you Jesus was not born on December 25th. We do not know the exact day, but we know it is in the Fall. One of the better explanations I have run across can be found here.
So why is christmas celebrated on December 25th? Can it be that they early church wanted to cover up the pagen holiday called The Worship of the Sun and Winter Solstice? Probably so. Pagens called Dec. 25th the Worship of the Sun because every day after this day gets longer.
The early church wanted to counteract and cover up Pagen celebrations. Behind every Christian celebration, you can find a Pagen one. Usually. The link I gave is a substandard information site, but it gets the point across.
I find it funny that the early church did everything within it's power to cover anything not like them. They still do to some extent today. I just do not like the dissemination of misinformation. I don't care that Christians celebrate christmas, just do not stand on laurels that are untrue or dig in heels on inaccurate information.
I must admit though, that I do love the holidays. It is a time for family and friends and food. No matter your belief system, it is a special time. And even though I am not a Christian (nor Pagan, btw), I think the overall validity of christian teachings is sound- do good, love thy neighbor, do not covet, etc etc.
Sounds good to me.
preaching to the choir
ReplyDeletehappy saturnalia!
Actually, I have always heard he was really born in the Spring, late Spring. Early Christians were horribly persecuted, so they coincided their celebration of his birth to hide their celebration... with the Pagan holiday.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mary was not deemed a Virgin until about 500AD. For some reason most Christians don't know this, but true Christian scholars (not your average preacher) are very aware. It was not unheard of for the Catholic Church to deem women they thought important as Virgins.
Everyone ignores that fact too.
When I decided to become Episcopal, after years of atheism (I'm more... of a deist now), my priest gave me a book called something like "So you say you're not a Christian. A thinking man's book to the bible." (I'll find the real title eventually.) It is absolutely fascinating. For instance, Thomas Jefferson has a bible written for him that had anything that 'smacked of magic' taken out of it. That would be... the resurrection, the Virgin birth, etc. Some things there are legitimate explanations for, others are stories.
As the priest at my sons' school asked me once, "Why is it that Protestants take things so literally? The book is stories for you to relate on how to live the proper life..." He's a very educated and well studied priest, a scholar. I tell him I don't have the answers for that. Many Catholics are the same way, but not in his 'flock'.
In religion class in school, my boys are often taught that these are parables... not things to be taken literally, but to be learned from. He's a good priest.
Spring is the second guess. I have seen arguments both ways, Fall and Spring. By far, the most convincing being a September birth.
ReplyDeleteI would be interested to read the book you mentioned, though.
OK, this is the book. So you think you're not religious? A think person's guide to the church. By J Adams. Its more of an introduction to Episcopalian. There is a reason I chose that denomination. I found this in a review " . . or, as the Episcopal priest of a friend of mine told him, "A good Episcopalian is an athiest two days a week." It is somewhat in that spirit that James Adams' SO YOU THINK YOU'RE NOT RELIGIOUS was written. It's for people who think they're not conventionally religious but who like the idea of belonging to a faith community (a local church), or who have some religious beliefs but not, they think, to the extent their church would demand. If you would feel like a hypocrite standing up and reciting the Apostles' or Nicene creeds ("We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus his only begotten Son . . ."), then this book is for you."
ReplyDeleteYou can find it on Amazon, but your library might have it.
Thanks Bou. I will go look it up. I am already reading three other books, but I don't see the harm in adding one more. I like interesting topics and my brain must switch gears constantly to stay engaged.
ReplyDelete