It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The wonderful holiday season where we all come together and deck the shit out of our halls and jingle all the way. Because if you’re gonna’ jingle why half ass it? You jingle all the way damn it! But most importantly, Christmas is the celebration to mark the birth of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Wrong. Everything you think you know about Christmas is wrong. And now to prove it!
I don’t know why the truth angers people so much, especially when it comes to religious beliefs and customs but I explained what I am about to explain to you to a few “Christians” last year and it was not well received. Even though they had no evidence to the contrary. I had been questioning whether to write this or not for the past few weeks but when I got a text from my sister today asking when Jesus was really born, I figured that was my call to spring into action. To make it easier for all parties, I’ve even taken the measure of breaking it down into sections for you. Let the games begin.
WHAT IS CHRISTMAS, REALLY?
Let’s start with the easy stuff. Like the fact that nowhere in the good book(Bible) does it ever on any page mention the following things as they relate to the birth of JC: the word Christmas, Christmas trees, hanging ornaments, winter, snow, December, three wise men(more on them later), the exact day, date or year Jesus was born, a drummer boy, egg nog, mistletoe, colorful lights, candy canes, Santa Claus, parties, drinking, the colors red and green, cookies, presents, or anything else you would typically associate with Christmas as we know it today.
Contrary to what you may think, Christmas wasn’t even a widespread holiday celebrated in colonial America. American settlers in the seventeen and eighteen hundreds didn’t celebrate it. Even more interesting, Jesus lovers in American and England passed laws making it illegal to even observe Christmas because they believed it was an insult to God to observe a day that was born out of…wait for it…wait for it…ancient paganism! Also known as NOT the Bible. Did you know Christmas was banned in Boston from 1659 to 1681? No? You also knew on December 25th, 1789 which was the first Christmas under the new American Constitution, Congress was actually in session right? And that Christmas wasn’t made a national holiday until 1870? OK good I’m glad you’re up to speed.
The truth is, Christmas and all of its glorious paganism date back thousands of years, even predating the birth of JC himself. Don’t believe me? Google it. Christmas is historically noted as the ancient pagan practice of honoring the sun god in late December as the days become longer after the winter solstice. In ancient Rome this time of year was known as Dies Natalis Invicti Solis which means “the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.” People would have banquets and parties where they would exchange gifts in late December for the festival known as Saturnalia, named after the heathen god Saturn. Over the span of hundreds of years those celebrations of the sun god became mixed with the worship of the “Son of God” and thats how customs and traditions never endorsed by the Bible that you celebrate today were mixed with Christianity.
One of the best examples of this is the Christmas tree. The term gets zero mention in the Bible. In fact, very few people today who put up the trees in their homes could tell you where the tradition comes from or can provide you with a biblical reason for doing so. What you should know though, is it’s pretty safe to say God hates Christmas trees. Why? Because it’s also the work of the pagans. And he makes his feelings about christmas trees and decorating them known in Jeremiah 10:2-5:
Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are worthless: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. The deck it with silver and with gold; the fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
How come no preacher or pastor ever mentions this verse, let alone anywhere near Christmas time? The book of Jeremiah, believed to be written some 500+ years before the birth of Jesus clearly shows God’s disdain for the pagan custom of tree decorating. God gave some pretty good details on cutting down, shaping, and trimming a tree and he’s not cool with it.
WHO IS SANTA CLAUSE?
Santa Claus is actually one of the newest parts of the Christmas celebration. Santa or St. Nick as he’s often called evolved from sketches of a young elf like man in a red and white suit from the late 1800′s and somewhere along the way we decided to make him obese for no apparent reason. However the fact that the obese man in the red and white suit became the standard issue image of Santa can be attributed to the Coca-Cola company.
The company created a marketing campaign in the early 1900′s for Christmas to remind the public that coke wasn’t just a drink for cooling down in hot summers and in 1931, Coke used the images of jolly fat Santa created by Haddon Sundblom in its marketing campaign for Christmas and the image of jolly fat Santa in the red and white suit was spread amongst the world. So how’s Santa tied to Jesus? Well his other nick name you may know, Kris Kringle is how the fiction again weaved its way into Christianity. Kris Kringle was derived from the word Christkindl, which in German translates to “Christ Child.” And now to the grand finale…
JESUS AND CHRISTMAS = WATER & OIL
They don’t mix. Jesus and Christmas, no matter who you are and what you believe, do not mix. He was not born on December 25th. But first let’s discuss the three wise men because they play a very important part in dispelling this myth.
Ask anyone how many wise men were at the manger at the time of JC’s birth and what will they say? Three. And they would be wrong. The correct answer from the Bible? Zero. No scripture in the Bible shows or depicts the presence of three wise men at the manger when Jesus was born. If you want to take it a step further, the New Testament indicates that the wise men didn’t show up until over a year after JC was born! Here’s another factoid for you, the Bible never even says how many wise men actually showed up when they did. It could have been three or 30. But you can probably attribute the idea of their only being three wise men because of their only being three gifts mentioned, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
So how do we know Jesus wasn’t born December 25th besides the fact zero scriptures in the Bible mention a date, month, or year? Well consider this, as most biblical historians have, Luke 2:8 where he tells his account of the birth:
“And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night”
What does it mean? This verse suggests that it was either spring, summer, or even fall for that matter, but not winter when Jesus was born. It was too cold and wet in the winter months for the shepherds of Israel to be in the fields with their flocks out at night which means the birth would have had to have taken place no later than October. Hey Drake, maybe Jesus could be in you OVO(Octobers Very Own) clique? Anyways, According to Luke, the shepherds came to Bethlehem, found sweet baby Jesus in the manger, and then returned to their fields and there was still no mention of three wise men.
In fact the first time the wise men see Jesus it takes place in a house not a manger:
“And when they come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him”(Matt. 2:11)
So how old was Jesus when they found him? Based on scripture he could have been up to two years old. The wise men who were suppose to return to King Herod to tell him of Jesus were told by God in a dream not to return and this pissed him off:
“Then Herod when he saw that he was being mocked of the wise men, was exceeding with wroth, and sent forth, and slew all children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.”
This means the wise men could have seen Jesus anywhere from one day to two years old, but they definitely weren’t at the manger. All seven references to Jesus in the book of Matthew that involve the wise men refer to him as a “young child” which means he was most likely a bit older.
So there you have it. The truth about Christmas spelled out for you as plain as day. Everything I’ve said here can be proven with a simple Google search, picking up your Bible, or this book(highly recommended), which contains tons of stuff you probably want to know if you’re a Bible fan. Some may ask why am I doing this or why am I trying to take the joy out of Christmas? I think it’s quite the opposite. Why would you rather mix and believe your sacred religious figure is associated with something God clearly wanted nothing to do with? Wouldn’t you rather know the truth? I would.
Do I expect people to stop celebrating Christmas the way we have for the last hundred years or have parties for JC’s birthday in the summer when it most likely occurred? of course not. But at least when this time comes around next year, you’ll actually know what you’re participating in and what you’re teaching your children and then you can make an informed decision on whether you want to continue doing those things. I love Christmas and this time of year. There’s nothing better than giving and spending time with your family and everyone taking a month out of their lives to be nice to each other. Until January rolls around. So Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and yours. Take the truth and spread it amongst your people.
Follow @TravonOriginally Written Wednesday Dec 22th, 2010
Christmas, truly is not a christian celebration but a satanic one.
Like King Arthur…and THAT whole story
Right you are, Travis! And don’t even get me started on Easter (Ostara) LOL Seriously, though, if unfamiliar, try googling it – I look forward to a lovely Easter article from you! Love your stuff!!!
Actually. There are very compelling arguments saying that a “historical jesus” never existed.
http://nobeliefs.com/exist.htm
There is nothing new in this article. This information has been around for years! If your goal was to upset Christians I am sorry to inform you that you failed miserably.
It upset you enough to post that. ha.
Hi there,
Great article, but as a child of bi-cultural upbringing (English and Dutch) I have some extra information regarding Santa Claus. You might also know Santa as Saint Nick or Saint Nicholas. In The Netherlands and also Belgium we celebrate on the 5th of December the birthday of Sinterklaas, which originates from Saint Nicholas, a Byzentine Priest who did something to save children sometime during the early middle ages. On the 5th of December, all the children who believe in Sinterklaas (Old guy with a long white beard dressed in red cloaks) receive presents, if they have been good that year (sound familiar?). This tradition is centuries old and when the Dutch settlers came over to America, they brought the tradition with them, and from Sinterklaas grew Santa Claus and he became fat, though that might have made him more American (sorry
). The Kris Kingle originates from the Reformation in Europe in the 16th and 17th century, when they wanted to get rid of anything Catholic, like Saint Nicholas.
St. Nicholas bought child slaves and either set them free or took care of them and taught them a trade. Slavery was a big part of his culture at the time and people were often forced to sell their children to pay off debts. St. Nicholas heard of a man who was in danger of having his daughters taken from him because of a debt he owed and they most likely would be forced into prostitution by their new owners. Knowing that the man was desperate but too proud to ask for help St. Nicholas waited until night and had a friend lower him down the mans chimney and left gold pieces in the shoes of the family. That is where the tradition of candy in the shoes on St. Nicholas day comes from, and also the story about coming down the chimney.
While talking about slaves, lets not forget that an important part of the Sinterklass celebration are the Zwarte Piet, “Black Peters” representing the slave children…cant imagine a Macy Day float with Sinterklass surrounded by a bunch of white children in blackface going over too well – but that is still celebrated that way in Holland, my wife is dutch and we go over every couple of years…
I like Christmas because of its commercialism. No, seriously. As much as I despise “corporate America” I can’t help but be just a bit cheery this time of year simply because of all the colors, music, presents, warmth indoors, great food, etc. And we can thank the greedy money makers for all of it. Though, I didn’t know that Coke literally created Santa. Fantastic.
Also, over-the-top Christmas decorations help to keep the door-knockers away.
Where’s the Zeitgeist dude saying Jesus is a total myth and a mimicry of every deity of the Sun that ever existed in ancient times. Where’s the part about the entire birth sequence of Horus, Buddha, and several other thousand Gods and Godessess that were born at the exact same time, some even by birth of a virgin.
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com
Actually, anon, you got it backwards. Every “deity of the Sun that ever existed in ancient times” are both a total myth (not really gods but demons/fallen angels posing) AND mimicry of the TRUE JESUS CHRIST. As a called out follower of the Truth, I can tell everyone here that most who call themselves “Christians” especially seminary trained (Rockefellers own seminaries/Rockefellers are Satanists) are NOT true Christians but goats as the Bible refers to them or tares, take your pick. The churches you see on every street corner topped with Nimrod’s phallic symbol (aka “steeple”) are controlled by Freemasons (Luciferians). They are also 501c3 (unequally yoked via a corporate agreement/tax exemption) with the Beast (government). Jesus said you can’t serve two masters but they erroneously think they do. ChristMASS is an abomination to God. So is Ishtar (easter) the pagan fertility/child sacrifice requiring goddess (demon). Horus, Buddha and the “several thousand other gods” you mention are all fallen angels and demons who deceive mankind with their ancient mimicry of the Truth (the Real Jesus Christ) who they knew from the beginning, unlike ignorant and deceived men who swallow their lies, hook line and sinker, thereby using that as a convenient excuse to discredit Jesus and call Him a liar. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes on Judgment Day! I hope you come to your senses before then.
Your god judges you?! Sounds like a real jerk. My god loves me.
Wonderful piece Travon! If people would just open their eyes… I’m forwarding this to my husband, he’ll love it too
Wow, the above article gave me more information that I did not know, information is a wonderful thing. Though it does not matter how much evidence is given to those of the blind faith society, they will never see it. It seems they would rather hold fast to their way of thinking. I do not disrespect anyone and their beliefs, but I just wish they would take the time to know what exactly they are believing in.
I have to agree with you and the persuasive logical points of difference have radically flipped my mindset upside down and therefore I have to admit that I never I have to say that never before in my life have I or anyone else read such an informative bit of prose What I want to declare is that never before in my life have I read something so fantastic and enlightening I am just your avarage schizophrenic girl that has a limited mind and that will never even in trillion years reach your skill with language and I’m definitely confident that a weak human being like me will never be able to compose anything as reasonable and humorous as what you just have written I mean that I never before discovered such a great deal about the industrial life just from one post and that I simply couldn’t ever create something so wonderful It’s astounding how wonderful what you written is. In my entire existence, in which I worked in the commercial market for a long time I have never read anything so informative and intelligent What I am trying to say is that I initially functioned as a traveling beggar and salesman of assorted items (including but not restricted to: filthy toothpicks , dirty water , dead pets I picked from the street and I really worked my butt off and never accomplished anything I never was so encouraged by anything in my life YES from this day on I make a promise that I will transform my life for the better I can now see that I really am not so bad, and that I can actually experience something other than anguish and that I will strive to achieve excelence and earn a lot more money I can now wake up in the morning and say to myself “I am not a commercial sell out who will never achieve anything” and the only person I can attribute this to is you Really this post has been a lifesaver If you think I kind off bable right now and that my post isn’t really related to what you have published you should recognize that I am under the influence of some quite powerful prescription drugs. Including but not limited to: lorazepan, opium, dope, and glue . Your post has inspired me so much that I will observe this site twenty four hours a day and if for some strange reason (I would never imagine why you would ever do that, but oh well) you would not approve or delete this remark I would most likely commit suicide , I have tried it numerous times before, as is expected from a shit pig like me, who could never be compared to your greateness
Is it just me or does anyone else not see that the bible is full of contradictions? “eye for an eye…” so if someone kills another becasue they killed someone arent they violating the commandment that says “Thou shall not kill”? The bible is “Gods word” but it was written by man. Man is fallable, God/Jesus are not. We dont live in a perfect world and therefor our holidays and customs are going to be far from perfect too. Everyone celebrates something according to their own beliefs, if it goes against the bible, Koran, OT, NT or whatever book is the word of your personal creator then thats their deal not mine. You cant change a belief but sometimes you can change an opinion and those are like assholes, everyone has em. LOL Good Luck folks, Happy (or not) whatever holiday or belief you have. To each his own and Im gonna say that if we all did more of minding our own business maybe we wouldnt feel the need to butt into everyone elses. Were all adults, lets see some folks actually behave like it. LOL Good luck everyone!
The command to not kill means to not MURDER. Exection OF A MURDERER is just law. The Bible is not full of contradictions, it only seems that way to those without the Spirit. Other than the appointed feasts in the OT, which is not mandatory under the NT, worldly “Holidays” are an abomination to God because they are ALL of pagan origin and all required human blood sacrifices (and still do in secret, by secret luciferians socieitys). You are very naive if you believe otherwise. “What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination to God.” Luke 16:15 Can’t be any clearer, can He? Go ahead and make your excuses all you want. Only those who have a love of the truth will enter the kingdom of heaven. (2 Thess 2:11)
ExeCUtion, sorry.
What you’re selling actually??….
In text you declare that you have good intentions — separate what’s authentic Christianity from what’s false/fake, but (!) between the lines (LITERALLY) you put profane images! This is rather an indirect (and dishonest) attack.
I am not Christian, though I received some education from my parents and grand-parents.
-from Romania, Europe
I hope to God that the 3 gift categories mean that there were only 3 wise men. Because if two showed up with the same present, that would’ve been really embarrassing. Have you ever been at a gift exchange that’s all Starbucks gift cards?
The wise men’s “gifts” signified a “KING” or KINGSHIP, not “birthday.” If you will carefully read the scriptures, you will see that some time had passed from the birth of Christ to the time the wise men found Him and gave Him the gifts. He was a “young child” and living in a “house” with His mother and Joseph, not a “babe in a manger.” Furthermore, if you would stop swallowing the lies you’ve been fed from day one by brainwased pastors and your brainwashed parents and do a little finger pecking on the computer, you would see that in all of history, never have shepherds in Israel slept out in the fields with their flocks in the dead of December. NEVER. Only in spring, summer and fall did they do this. Jesus was NOT born on December 25, however King Nimrod’s incestuous son by his mother Ishtar (Easter/Semiramis/Osiris) WAS. Tammuz the “sun god” is who deceived Christians have been celebrating and worshiping via pagan idolatry all these years. And did you know that “ChristMass” (Mass is a Catholic DEATH ceremony) was ILLEGAL in the U.S.A. until 1836? Because Christians then weren’t so dumbed down and brainwashed then. They actually READ their Bibles rather than pretentiously hold them in their laps during “church” service while some brainwashed “pastor” spoon feeds them his cherry picked version of “truth.”
I forgot to mention that NOWHERE in Scripture do Christians celebrate “birthdays”. Birthdays are the “highest holy day” of Satanist and pagans. The only birthday celebrations mention in Scripture are the Pharoah, who beheaded his baker, Herod, who beheaded John the Baptist and Job’s wayward sons and daughters, who were destroyed by the Devil. It behooves me to see just how Jesus Christ, the Most High Son of God, could EVER be honored by celebrating His (supposed) birthday on the WRONG DAY, which also happens to be the ANtichrists (Tammuz/Sun God’s) birthday! “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
Good article. Christmas is 2 holidays for non-Christians. It’s 3 for Christians. Both groups use the holiday for honoring warm, fuzzy feelings like giving, friends, love, etc. Both groups are tempted to use Christmas to pay extra honor to consumerism and materialism. They’re gods for some folks. The Christians also celebrate Jesus’ birthday. It takes conscious effort to focus on the Jesus part. But every day, the world offers distractions from all my important relationships.
After reading all the posts, I feel that if we: all got along, let each other do there own thing, what ever, Where is this going? Why so much debate? Live and let live. If all you can do is follow the pack I’m outta here. Bashing other people, spinning your own song, well when you grow up and realize that everyone, yes everyone, has their “own world view” and changing it is not for you or me or anyone but themselves. Good Ivy schools.
I agree, but when we have the religious crowd pushing their beliefs about the homosexual community and evolution on others, its nice to push back. I was raised Christian and make it no issue of anyone’s religion, but as soon as the try to force it on others, I take offense. Our society would be in a much better place, both scientifically and diplomatically if we removed religion and the divided force it brings.
The problem with America today is they have forgotten the christian, yes christian principles the nation was founded on. When you are not taught right from wrong you will get what you now have.
The reason you view them as “Christian Principles” is because you’re Christian. If you were Jewish or Muslim, you’d say they are the principles of your religion. Most religions have nearly identical moral values. Why? Because what’s wrong to one person is wrong to most people (I say mos due to some specific cases) due to Kant’s Law of Universality. Look it up, it basically says that an action can be right only if it were okay for everyone in the world to commit this action. I am an atheist, but can understand that killing people is wrong, not because I have some all-knowing deity tell me, but because I wouldn’t want someone killing me. Get it? You aren’t special because your Christian and your values are not what this country was founded on. It was mostly founded because of persecution BY Christians that people wanted to come here, so our countries founding fathers included some Christians, yes, but also Pagans and Atheists. Please realize that your comment is incorrect and, in a way, insensitive to your fellow man, and do research before spewing lies. Thanks.
I learned in my religions class that the constitution was not based on any christian or religious belief. They made sure to NOT include religion in the constitution of course being the principles the nation was founded on.
My husband and I were raised in two different sects of Christianity. Neither of them celebrated Christmas, because (1) it was not authorized by god anywhere in the Bible, (2) came from pagan roots, and (3) violated the New Testament command to not observe special days (Galatians 4:10). My church specifically, the Church of Christ, considered it wrong to celebrate the holiday in any religious fashion. Members celebrated it in a secular fashion or not at all. I’m not a theist any longer, but I find it interesting when I see Christians defend that they know it’s not Biblical, but celebrate it as Christian, regardless. Some Christian groups see those who celebrate Christmas as Christian, as going too far and authorizing things on behalf of Jesus/God that were not supported or sanctioned or authorized by God or any of His subsequent authoritative entities (such as apostles or scripture). If God wanted people to celebrate the birth of Jesus, He easily could have instructed it. As he didn’t, those who celebrate it as though it’s religious, can explain to their God, if they ever meet Him, upon whose authority they presumed to robustly engage in tying Jesus to pagan rituals?
Hi Admin, it’s urgent. Please get in touch with me as soon as you can.
Love it. Some sanity in the midst of everything insane right now, namely Newt, Monsanto patented seeds, and HR 1540 provisions 1031 & 1032. It’s overwhelming to gulp down truth, but maybe like nasty medicine in the end it will do us all good. Stay true kid.
I’m about fucking sick of divisive born again fundamentalist manipulative inflammatory intolerance of ANY perspective. Drop it already.
Intolerance is infectious. And it’s so easy to let intolerance transform into hate. (Tolerance doesn’t mean you can’t point out their crazy parts.)
http://biblelight.net/christmastree.htm
This explains the verses in Jeremiah that you claim point to a Christmas tree. Most Christians already know that Jesus was not born on Dec. 25. The date was picked by Roman Emperor Constatine in 313AD to complete with the pagan solstice celebrations. Yes, the pagan religions existed just as long as the Israelites (Hebrews) belief in Yahweh – actually longer considering that the first man, Adam, walked and talked with God. But taking a few verses out of context to try to disprove Christmas is, frankly, rather comical.
Whoever wrote that page doesn’t seem to be able to follow the story line. The topic changes at verse 6 to other topics related to pagans. Decorating a tree is a pagan custom, but that’s not what the whole chapter 10 is about.
Isn’t it fun? Arguing over a fictional book, I mean.
Excellent piece, but there’s one tiny mistake: “heathen god Saturn” is incorrect. Saturn was a Roman god from the Hellenic pantheon (greek name Cronus). Heathens were Germanic/Norse and would be much more likely to worship Odin.
A “christmas tree” orginally started out as an ancient babylonian fertility symbol. I can see the connection from that to modern day, as Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, who was born to the Virgin Mary. Fertility at its finest!
Great article! I follow you on twitter but hadn’t read any of your articles. It’s sad that a lot of people don’t have the right information about what they are celebrating. And most of them don’t take the time to find out. So many of the Christian/Catholic celebrations are based in pagan traditions. This is how they were able to make the “natives” more open to the idea of the religion in the first place. They appropriated the names of their gods along with their traditions. So many of the pagan celebrations revolved around the seasons, which is why they coincide from one country to the next. I love Christmas time because of what it represents in my family. A time to be together, to appreciate one another, and to give thanks for being here for another year. It’s just always better to know what it is your celebrating. Thanks again for the article.
I agree with what you have written here. I have spoken with some people before who say ‘how do we know that Jesus was born on December 25th?’ I say, ‘we don’t know when He was born, but we know THAT He was born.’ That is what I and my family celebrate – we have made it personal. Don’t get me wrong, I’m into the tree and decorations and gift giving – but Christmas – as it is celebrated in the US has absolutely NOTHING to do with the birth of our Savior just like ‘EASTER’ has nothing to do with His resurrection. Thank you for sharing.
Millions of people in the U.S. celebrate Christ’s birth at Christmas. So I don’t really know what your talking about. Christ’s resurrection is celebrated on Easter. I don’t really understand your narrow-mindedness. If you have a problem with the modern customs associated with those holidays or the secular aspects of them then why not say so without the dragging down the spirit of their original intention ?
I have been saying these same things for years, people regularly attempt to tie me to stakes in the town square (thankfully they chicken out at the last minute).
Christmas is a great holiday, families get together and if they aren’t too dysfunctional they might actually spend two or three days without killing each other. They share food, wine and song; catch up on each others lives and go away with another set of wonderful memories. Why we have to be bombarded every year with the ridiculous and idiotic over the top every 5 minute “I am putting Christ back in Christmas” messages on every social media site is beyond me. I stopped commenting that he was never there in the first place years ago.
Thanks again for this one.
Maybe one reason people are being “ridiculous” and “idiotic” is that people like you are being “practicle” and “logical” by suggesting that Christ was never a part of Christmas. I’m surprised Just because he wasn’t born on that date does not mean there’s anything wrong with celebrating it on that date. Christ has been in Christmas for a very long time now. Maybe a second look at the name of the holiday might remind you of that. The reason we have to be “bombarded” with those messages every year is that people are responding to the kind of insensitivity that you exhibit. Maybe Christ left your Christmas or was never in it. But that doesn’t mean that’s true for everyone.
Christmas is about Christ as Catholicism is about Cathol.
I found this after reading your piece on Newt. Kudos on both pieces! I live in Alabama and would probably be stoned to death if I posted it! So sad that these hyperChristians are so damn righteous and judgemental! …and when they can’t explain something, that something doesn’t matter. I think I will print this out and take it to the family Christmas dinner, shall make for some great conversation. Thank you!
haha thank you for reading it. people sometimes think its bashing christmas but to the contrary its removing the veil of lies that surround it because I got tired of people who claimed to be very well biblically educated tell me all these things to be true that werent and would in turn get mad at me for telling them they were wrong. It’s all in love, I think everyone deserves to know the truth!
U know, I read the title of this piece and got instantly pissed off, because I’ve been working on a piece all week (researching the factual aspects to the story) for my blog http://www.viewmoreport.com, and what I’ve come up with is near identical to this. Then I had to laugh when i finished reading and noticed that you wrote this a year ago… great minds think alike I guess! I found your site through your newt article (the name doesn’t even merit proper capitalization), keep up the good work man!
Yes… those who claim to know so much, instead are generally just regurgitating the pablum fed to them by their parents, preachers, and other self-described wise people. It is not just Christianity, in all fairness, but probably many if not most groups who seek to separate an “us” from a “them”. Think about all the bovine fecal material fed to us as Americans about some other nations, or the southbound ejecta from a northbound cattle herd fed to people elsewhere over the ages about us… No… America does not have streets paved of gold, and Americans do not go around eating babies.
An interesting deal on the Christianity… a friend of mine is Greek Orthodox, and has read sections of the Bible in what are widely accepted as some of the earliest versions… in the original Greek. It is amazing the discrepancies which have crept in over the centuries, either through editing, or just in simple translation. One reason, years ago, my Bible study group started going through our studies using a concordance, pointing to the original words, etc.
I read your article with great interest. As a Catholic and Christian I knew some of the information but not all. I currently live in an Islamic country where the Christmas tree with decorations and Santa Claus are used to welcome in the new year. I find it interesting to hear the Christian music and see the decorations and realize that it has a completely different meaning for others. Perspective, respect and education about all the different traditions is a wonderful tool to help us all live together. I thank you for your article and honesty. I will be following your writings and am looking forward to see what is next.
Please stop all the profanity! (and I mean everyone, you and the posters) It does nothing to help, and only gives fuel to the fire. I can say what I mean without profanity, Please try it. I would like to let my children read some of these but can not because of all the profanity! Right and Wrong are opinions only. Spin is all I see here, (and I mean everyone, you and the posters) and saying I’M RIGHT, YOU ARE WRONG! Where’s the progress?, where’s the help for any one? I talk TO people not AT them. You attacked Newt (not a supporter) after he attacked you. I walk away from stupid. Try it some time, We’re all so busy yelling that no one listens any more.
Religion is like a penis, it’s ok to have one, it’s ok to enjoy having one. But don’t wave it around in public, and don’t try to shove down the throat of children and strangers.
Can we tackle easter next? I love that someone else is getting down with the facts and flaws of the ‘holidays’ as they’re refered to.
There was a great Southpark episode on easter last night that was pretty funny. Why the bunny? -turns into a whole crazy show…
read up about the pagan march hare.
Which DID come 1st ….the chicken or the Easter egg? ROFL!
Excellent. I had heard or read most of what you’ve said, but you said it all very well. Thank you. None of the celebration particularly bothers me except when I see or hear people loudly complaining about people saying “Happy Holidays” and proclaiming that we are a “Christian” nation, that Christmas is our “American” holiday, and that people should go elsewhere if they don’t like it. Of course, this usually includes things like “I have a CHRISTMAS tree, etc.” I agree, by all means people should have their “Christmas” trees, but they should understand that their pagan neighbors, who have a “holiday” tree, are celebrating with a symbol deeply rooted in THEIR tradition not in Christianity. Well said, so glad I found your blog.
Look, dude, I just give the celebration of Christmas props from the standpoint that Mary stuck with her story and GOT AWAY with it. The fuzzy red suits and fake beards and egg nog–c’mon, Travon, you Scrooge! It’s a party! Why look a gift-party in the mouth?
Haha not at all, I hunk you’ll find my explanation in the comment below to express my motives clearly.
A(NOTHER?) CHRISTIAN’S PERSPECTIVE ON THIS:
This is very interesting. The majority of this info I’ve read before. While I really appreciate your desire to dig down and research the facts, whether or not December 25th is the day Jesus was actually born I really don’t think has any bearing on the meaning of Christmas. We believe Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus and the coming of Christ, our new hope. If we (Christians) picked the wrong day to do it, I don’t think God is pissed at us about it. You’re absolutely right: it doesn’t say in the Bible that December 25th is the day of Jesus’ birth. The point is to celebrate and worship Jesus, not get the exact date correct. So even if that date was inspired by paganism, if you recognize and celebrate that arbitrary date as the birth of our savior, it doesn’t really matter how it was inspired.
And as far as the traditions coupled with Christmas, those are secondary anyway. The Scripture from Jeremiah is OT, and the Law that was bestowed upon us in the OT died with Christ on the cross. Since the arrival of Jesus, Christians have believed that salvation is found through faith in Jesus’ death on the cross as our atonement to God the Father, not in adhering to the Law of the OT, which was impossible anyway. We try to abide by and adhere to the Word of God and the 10 Commandments, not as the root of our salvation, but as the fruits of it.
I do agree with what I think it is you’re saying, though: the consumerism surrounding Christmas is bullshit and it’s the genesis of a lot of equally bullshit traditions, none of which are Scripture-based. At the end of the day, Christmas is a holiday created by imperfect people to celebrate arrival of the perfect God. As long as the traditions don’t distort the celebration of Jesus and are intended to worship, I don’t think they matter (like a Christmas tree), even if they’re not scripture-based.
But hey, that’s just the opinion of some midwestern dipshit. I enjoyed the read and enjoy following you on Twitter.
Appreciate your comment. And I think you understood my point very well. However it’s aimed a bit in a different direction. I understand the why’s of the celebratory season and to honor the birth or Christ. My argument was and is that we shouldn’t continue to pass down the tradition of misinformation if you’re going to teach your children and family about religion.
We are capable of teaching both the reasons of a holiday season and the truth as it relates to Christianity. My sole purpose for writing this was because I had people are me down who claimed to be everyhing short or a religious PHD but everything they were saying was a complete lie. Once I was told the bible states Jesus was born on December 25th and thats what Christmas is for I had to write this. Because someone severely misinformed her and she’s an adult. I personally believe everyone deserves to know the truth about anything that matters to us and shapes our lives and if I was raising children to be Christian and wanted to truly live my life by the bible I wouldn’t participate in any of the traditional Christmas rituals.
But at the end of the day, to each his own. If people want to be know the truth they seek it. I just don’t like hypocrisy as it relates to religion and this is a huge one. Christians should by all means celebrate their savior, I just find it ironic how they do it tied to a pagan holiday that God denounced and that so many of them don’t know it and continue to miseducate onto their children.
Most of us Christians do know that December 25th is not Christ’s actual birthday. It was the date chosen to celebrate his birth. In A.D. 354, Bishop Liberia of Rome ordered people to celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25. This date was probably chosen because the people of Rome already observed this date as the Feast of Saturn, celebrating the pagan holiday “the birthday of the SUN.” The winter solstice, another pagan holdover was celebrated a few days earlier than the 25th of December — it actually is the 21st of December, the longest night of the year. So that evening and the next day is celebrated as the birth of the Sun King who returned the light and brought about the end of the cold and darkness. This date made sense to the Roman emperor who wanted to make Christianity the favored religion and to get people to celebrate Christ’s birth; what better way to do it than take over the pagan holiday on that date? As an early theologian said during those years, that we hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of Him who made it. Christmas is to celebrate “the birthday of God’s SON.”
The 21st of Dec is Winter Solstice NOW. Back then it was on the 25th.
FYI. In 46 BCE Julius Caesar in his Julian calendar established December 25 as the date of the winter solstice of Europe.
Lets clean that up a bit.
On Dec 22, the winter solstice, the sun sets as far to the south as it will. It now sets in the same place 3 days in a row. It then sets north of that position on the next day, Dec 25. That’s where the story comes from that the savior died, stayed dead for 3 days, and then rose from the dead.
The 3 stars of Orion’s Belt (called “The Three Kings”), on December 25 point directly at the sun. That’s where the story comes from that on the savior’s birthday, he was visited by 3 kings (wise men in the Christian story).
This story has been told by many different religions over the years, and includes the virgin birth, bodily rising to heaven, starting a following near age 30, performing miracles, etc., because its all a personification of astrological events that happen every year.
” My argument was and is that we shouldn’t continue to pass down the tradition of misinformation if you’re going to teach your children and family about religion.”
Agreed, but seems to me, anyone teaching their kids religion who says ‘evolution is a lie’ is passing down misinformation.
I agree with you, but as far as an adult taking someone’s “hearsay” about a book as complete truth without reading it or searching the facts is kinda sad. I meet too many people like that- I don’t think people like that can really be informed, they just believe the last story they remember. to think, some of them actually run our country. Cheers to truth, knowledge, and a better future.