Why is it that every Christmas, annoying atheists must boorishly point out that Christmas has pagan roots? Oh, the Christmas tree is based on the Roman festival of Saturnalia! And Germans worshiped trees? The pope declared Christmas to be December 25 so pagan converts would celebrate the birth of Jesus rather than the rebirth of the sun. Did you know that? Huh, well did you? See, I’m so smart!!
Yes, you sophomoric idiot, I did know that. I haven’t been a believer for years, but I knew all those things, when I was one. And no, I’m not really going to give you a cookie, or even condescendingly pat your head. EVERYBODY knows that Christmas has pagan roots, and NOBODY cares. It’s still a distinctly Christian holy day. Get over it.
It’s a day. It can mean one thing to atheists, one to pagans, one to Christians, one to you, and one to me. For sure forcing an interpretation on someone isn’t what it’s about. Anyone who doesn’t get that is really missing the point in my opinion.
Which is what, exactly? This thread has nothing to do with forcing an “interpretation”. Nor is this thread about neo-pagans or polite atheists who celebrate family in a secular manner etc. I’m talking about atheists/agnostics relishing their “arcane” knowledge that many Christmas rituals have pagan roots, and taking the opportunity to spout their great wisdom at each and every opportunity.
Which is what, exactly? This thread has nothing to do with forcing an “interpretation”. Nor is this thread about neo-pagans or polite atheists who celebrate family in a secular manner etc. I’m talking about atheists/agnostics relishing their “arcane” knowledge that many Christmas rituals have pagan roots, and taking the opportunity to spout their great wisdom at each and every opportunity.[/quote]
Actually you would be very surprised as to how many people STILL don’t know this. I mentioned this to my collegues at work who were asking about the origin of the Christmas tree and they were floored when I told them christmas had pagan roots! And I live in San Francisco for god’s sake LOL :loco:
Whether or not Christmas has pagan roots is irrelevant, so your response would be a non-sequitur. Even if there were no such thing as Sol Invictus or Saturnalia or Yule or any other pre-Christian winter festivals, and each and every aspect of Christmas were uniquely Christian, without any sort of pagan or Jewish influence, Christmas would still have more significance than celebrating the birth of Jesus. The family getting together, hanging the stockings, decorating the tree, cooking and eating delicious foods, exchanging gifts, etc., would still have meaning beyond the religious aspect.
You add absolutely nothing to the conversation by vomiting out whatever little knowledge you have about Roman/Persian/Germanic winter festivals. You (and I don’t mean you personally, of course) just come off as a smug, irritating little schoolboy with a bone to pick with Christianity. Not the intelligent, clever, knowledgeable adult you mistakenly believe you are projecting.
Whether or not Christmas has pagan roots is irrelevant, so your response would be a non-sequitur. Even if there were no such thing as Sol Invictus or Saturnalia or Yule or any other pre-Christian winter festivals, and each and every aspect of Christmas were uniquely Christian, without any sort of pagan or Jewish influence, Christmas would still have more significance than celebrating the birth of Jesus. The family getting together, hanging the stockings, decorating the tree, cooking and eating delicious foods, exchanging gifts, etc., would still have meaning beyond the religious aspect.
You add absolutely nothing to the conversation by vomiting out whatever little knowledge you have about Roman/Persian/Germanic winter festivals. You (and I don’t mean you personally, of course) just come off as a smug, irritating little schoolboy with a bone to pick with Christianity. Not the intelligent, clever, knowledgeable adult you mistakenly believe you are projecting.[/quote]
Ha…I wrote a response to you but didn’t realize you were responding to someone else’s post.
That’s usually in response to some annoying theist boorishly pointing out that Jeezin’ is the reason for the season. [/quote]Exactly. And they want to emphasise that Jeebus is the original meaning of Christmas. I just can’t help pointing out the flaw and non-truth in that statement.
What’s wrong with making a simple observation? Using all those hateful adjectives doesn’t do anything to actually say why this practice is bad, you know.
I don’t care what the origin of the word dollar is – I think it’s German – all I know is that it’s universally celebrated at Christmas, so that’s good enough for me.
That’s usually in response to some annoying theist boorishly pointing out that Jeezin’ is the reason for the season. [/quote]Exactly. And they want to emphasise that Jeebus is the original meaning of Christmas. I just can’t help pointing out the flaw and non-truth in that statement.[/quote]
Sorry Gao, I’m with Chris and Fluffy. And many people in fact don’t know it has pagan roots. Some Christians show a very annoying ignorance of other religions and of pre-Christian traditions, and boorishly act as if Christianity were the only religion there has ever been or ever will be. Our boorishness is merely reaction to their boorishness, and of course has resulted in your boorish reply and this boorish thread. :boor:
I see that as attempting to force their interpretation of it–they’re most likely not saying that in a pure effort to share some knowledge, but in an attempt to denigrate the Christian meaning of the holiday. The same goes for insisting that it’s a Christian holiday only.
It’s revisionism, it’s Christmas, it’s not yuletide or happy holidays or any of that crap (this is coming from an ex-Christian atheist who enjoys his Christmas)!
