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Originally posted by Frankidealist35
What's so bad about the holiday of Christmas not being like the way it was intended to? Things change over time. If you knew how much Christians in
the past have changed and reshaped their religion to fit their needs you wouldn't feel so upset over the Christmas holiday.
[edit on 5-12-2008 by Frankidealist35]
That is the point I was trying to make. It doesn't matter if you are a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, if a "leader" changes the tenets of the
faith from it's original meaning just to be more "inclusive" by changing dates and times for example or substituting (in this case) pagan
symbolism and deities for the original, the false substitute dilutes and misleads followers and undermines the foundation for future generations.
It's like rewriting the history books to suit your own ends.
I was going to save this for the next show, but let's talk about the Christmas tree. Just about every Christian I know puts up a Christmas tree this
time of year. As a matter of fact, I can't think of anyone (save some Jewish friends) that don't. Even churches have them in their lobbies to
celebrate the Christmas season. But exactly where did this custom come from:
Since the earliest times the fir (Christmas) tree has been worshiped as a phallic symbol, representing sexual potency, reproduction, and fertility.
The pagans of old brought these trees into their houses and set them up as symbolizing life and fertility.
But what does the bible say about it?
Jeremiah 10:1-8 “Hear the word that Yahweh speaks unto you, O’house of Israel. Thus says Yahweh, 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 vain. For one cuts a tree out of the
forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with gold and silver, they fasten it with nails with hammers, that it
move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not; they must needs be borne, because they can not go. Be not afraid of them. For they
can not do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. For as much as there is none like unto thee, O Yahweh, thou art great, and they name is
great in might. Who would not fear thee O King of nations? For to thee doth it appertain. For as much as among the wise men of the nations, and
in all there kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. But they are altogether stupid and foolish. The tree is a doctrine of vanities.” Sounds
a lot like the Christmas tree.
-Don Esposito
If your were to tell a Christian that, most would look at you like they had never heard that before, or tell you that you were nuts. Truth is, not
all, but a lot Christians do their "duty" and go to church on Sunday, especially Christmas and Easter and accept whatever is shoveled into their
minds as "gospel" without ever giving it a second though. That is probably why there is no discernible difference between people in the secular
world and some of those proclaiming their faith. (Not bashing here, just relaying observations of others and myself) Please don't take this as a
broad generalization either.
So to answer your question, "What's so bad about the holiday of Christmas not being like the way it was intended to?" If you are not a Christian, I
guess nothing.
(Playing in the back of my mind:
Tevye singing, "TRADITION!")
edited for spelling
[edit on 5-12-2008 by Spencer Tracy]
ATS MIX: 
