What do you call Christmas without Christ?

1. 59

   Bianuposted 14 years ago

   With all the de-emphasizing of the reason for the season, what do you call a christmas with no celebration or memorial of  Jesus Christ?
   

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   1. 60

      Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Shopping at Walmart!

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         lovelypaperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Sadly, that's all it is anymore.

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   2. 61

      qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Xmas...:
      Qwark

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         kerrygposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Xmas isn't really Christmas without Christ. The X stands for Χριστός, the Greek word for Christ.

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            qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            It stands for "X" him out for me...
            Qwark

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            1. 57

               lovelypaperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               You do know that Jesus is the only way to Heaven and you can't get in by being "good"?

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                  prove it!posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Jesus is the only way to get into Jesus' Heaven.
                  
                  Qwark obviously doesn't want to buy a time share in Jesus' heaven. Maybe he's got other ideas.... a condo in Nirvana? A bungalow in Jannah? Perhaps a floating cloud in a swirling mist of oneness? 
                  
                  One last thing lovelypaper:  If you're bad your whole life, but then you go to Jesus, repent & accept him as Lord before you die...do you go to heaven? And what if qwark dedicates his life to others, serving the poor and forgotten, but he's not a follower of Christ...does he go to hell?  Actually, I know the answer to these questions. My parents were devout born-again Christians and reared me as such. 
                  
                  Logic is not a pre-requisite for the Jesus-is-the-only-way path.

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               2. 58

                  A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Very true, dishonesty is not considered a characteristic of being good, hence I would rather not spend an eternity in Heaven with dishonest Christians but instead be elsewhere with those who are just good.

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                  1. 59

                     Bianuposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Where exactly is that. How do they weed out the dishonest ones?

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                     1. 58

                        A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        Easy. They are the ones who deny/refuse the discoveries, characteristics and properties of the physical world and promote their beliefs as reality.

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            psycheskinnerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Christianity managed to renaim the feast, that doesn't mean they own it.

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               prove it!posted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Well said.

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      2. 69

         CarolineVABCposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         "X" in Greek is a symbol for Christ.  Xmas is another way of writing Christmas, but most Christians believe that Xmas is deleting 'Christ' in Christmas, which is actually a misconception-at least that's what I've learned this past Christmas:-). Christians can actually be called 'Xians.':-)

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   3. 78

      thisisoliposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      hallmarkmas

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   4. 0

      zampanoposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Nice statue
      
      Happy new year to all.

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   5. 63

      Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Economic stimulus, to answer the question.
      
      But even if you're not Christian, it's a nice time of year. There are kinder feelings than usual. There is generosity and a little philanthropy. Not everyone has to believe in Christ to enjoy the benefits and feelings of the season. Having friends around the world that include most every major religion, I find it refreshing to have such a diverse collection of friends who are willing to wish me a "Merry Christmas" when they don't celebrate it at all. Reaching out, regardless of belief, is a good thing. It brings us together.

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   6. 51

      BeckyAposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I would call it sad.  Your picture is beautiful. 
      
      The good thing is that Christianity has survived so many attempts to eradicate it!  Truth will not be denied.  Keep the faith.
      
      Merry Christmas!!

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   7. 78

      thisisoliposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Christmas is Christmas even without Christ. Just because most people don't care about the religious side of it any more does not mean we suddenly have to go and change the name of it.  The meaning of words ahve often changed over time, they evolve.

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   8. 67

      Greek Oneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      you call it 'Hanuka'

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      1. 59

         Bianuposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I love this term 'yuletide'. What does it mean

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         1. 73

            Reality Bytesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I seem to be redundant but:
            
            
            Symbols of Yule:
            These are common items  that people decorate with during the Yuletide season. A Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.
            
            Yule or Yuletide ("Yule-time") is a winter festival that was initially celebrated by the historical Germanic people as a pagan religious festival, though it was later absorbed into, and equated with, the Christian festival of Christmas. The festival was originally celebrated from late December to early January on a date determined by the lunar Germanic calendar. The festival was placed on December 25 when the Christian calendar (Julian calendar) was adopted.

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               Valerie Fposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Interesting that in the Scandinavian and Gaelic languages, the words Jul and Nollaig refer to both Christmas and the pagan solstice observances. So all Scandinavian Christmas is Jul, but not all Jul is Christmas. (But you can't wish someone a good Christmas in Norwegian without saying "God." God Jul!)

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2. 60

   ediggityposted 14 years ago

   Sad.

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3. 59

   Mark Knowlesposted 14 years ago

   The Winter Solstice. Death of the Sun, when it reaches the lowest point in the sky, but after 3 days, it begins to rise up to the heavens so it is all good from now on in.

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4. 84

   Nell Roseposted 14 years ago

   Christmas without Christ? Mas! lol it's a bit like an igloo without the ig, at least you are left with the loo!

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   1. 59

      Bianuposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Very funny. But really I live in a country with mixed faiths and everyone rushes around in the holiday spirit.
      
      if they don't believe in Christ, what exactly are they celebrating?

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      1. 60

         LookingForWaldenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Life, family, good times, honoring the dead, remembering the past, thinking of the future and all it's possibilities, etc
         
         It's pretty standard for the millions of heathens who celebrate Christmas.
         
         Also, Jesus wasn't born in December, so you might be doing it wrong.

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         1. 61

            Captain Redbeardposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Hey buddy, I thought I would drop in and give you a link to a video that I own that really kind of shook me abit.
            
            http://www.bethlehemstar.net/
            
            I highly recommend watching it. I don't know of anywhere you can view it for free online or I would give you that link. Anyway I hope you check it out. It's very interesting.

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5. 61

   Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years ago

   
   
   It's called Christmas.  If you think Christ is indeed the "reason for the season", you should read and understand history prior to the time of Christ.
   
   Christmas stopped being a religious holiday to the vast majority of people long ago; welcome to the world of knowledge and reason.

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6. 83

   Midnight Oilposted 14 years ago

   Commercialism - we need to return to the spirit of Christmas and all it stands for...

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      china manposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Commercialism was all it ever stood for - thanks to Charles Dickens and Disney mainly, Oh yes and Prince Albert pretty much started it as a gift giving thing for his kids - before that it was just another feastday on the christian calender, that before was the same celebration of the winter solstice or whatever occurs at that time in Europe and is still celebrated all over the world.  Here in China it is around mid-February (where it should be) as they still use the lunar calendar for this kind of thing - and they call it the Spring festival which is at least more accurate and honest.

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7. 57

   foreignpressposted 14 years ago

   The way it is supposed to be as foretold in the Bible. Christianity, and all things related to God, will take a serious beating in the coming years. And we're already seeing this happen. There will be mass migrations of people all over the world and a merging of countless cultures; there will be no right or wrong as everybody has "rights"; God will become a dying entity as designer religions take root. Mass confusion. And then -- the antichrist.

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   1. 61

      Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      People having rights is an afront to God?  No wonder he only has morons as followers.

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         qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         ...thumbs up Ron!!!  :
         Qwark

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            Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I hope you don't mean that literally...

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            foreignpressposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Thumbs down, Qwark. You were saved recently. You need to show more appreciation.

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         arbposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         obviously, the morons are not confined to His followers!

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      3. 57

         foreignpressposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Nice piece of sarcasm. Problem is, everybody's personal wants -- i.e., "rights" -- can not be met. No government, no entity on this planet, can accommodate everybody's personal whims. Still, people like Obama, the leftist Labor Party in Britain, and other liberal elements will try. And that will be the downfall of this planet. Now Obama is strongly considering giving "reparations" to American Indians -- which will likely cost hundreds of millions of dollars. And for what? A temporary feel-good tingle? Good job, libs. You're certainly moving this country forward.

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            Pcunixposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            We are trying. Trouble is, we keep getting dragged backward by conservatives.

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      Information Ninjaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      mass confusion.  is that stated in the bible?   if so where?  Very curious.

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      1. 57

         foreignpressposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Consider Babylon -- i.e., babbling tongues so disparate that peoples scattered over the globe. In a modern sense, we are seeing cultures merge creating fear, anger, and upheaval. Case in point: Muslims moving to Christian nations. Can this be overcome so we all live in harmony and peace? Not likely. Neither Islam nor Christianity are likely to do either.

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         1. 61

            Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Testify!!
            
            God bless the United White States of America!!!

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               foreignpressposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I will feel eternal shame for being white. Would you like reparations?

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               1. 61

                  Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  No TK, I'm fine.

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8. 67

   psycheskinnerposted 14 years ago

   Winter solstice, like the feast was well before the Christians hijacked it.  If it was really a mass for Christ we would be fasting and worhsipping, not feasting and giving gifts.

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      wildernessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I thought we all worshipped WalMart during the season

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9. 64

   the clean lifeposted 14 years ago

   Without remembering Christ during this season, there is no Christmas.  It seems like some really forget the TRUE meaning of this Christmas Season.
   
   Let us not forget what Christmas truly means!
   

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      qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      ...Wait, that's not Osama!
      Who are ya trying to kid?
      Qwark

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10. 41

    arthurchappellposted 14 years ago

    The Midwinter solstice festival predates Christianity by centuries. Eary Christians commandeered December 25th for its importance to other sects - the Bible gives no clues as to what month Jesus was born in, if ever.  Mammon worship would find other outlets if Christianity faded out - modern Christmas was invented by a combination of Charles Dickens and Coca-Cola

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    1. 84

       Pcunixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Stop trying to confuse them with facts.  They HATE that.

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       1. 84

          Pcunixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          But seriously, in a way, they are right.
          
          Whatever the origins, we shouldn't use "Christmas" when we don't mean it.  My family certainly isn't celebrating anything religious this year, but we do like to decorate our house and we do get together for a family dinner.  No gifts - we all agreed to stop that foolishness seven years ago.
          
          Out of respect for other folks traditions, I really feel that I should say we are having our annual December family party.  I'm serious: you might think it's too much political correctness, but fair is fair:  we are NOT celebrating Christmas and I shouldn't say that we are.
          
          A lifetime of habit is hard to break, though.

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11. 61

    Information Ninjaposted 14 years ago

    Festivus

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12. 0

    Sophia Angeliqueposted 14 years ago

    A relaxing day at home.

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13. 59

    saleheensblogposted 14 years ago

    Christmas without Christ? >spamming for self promotion

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14. 59

    Paul Wingertposted 14 years ago

    Christmas without Christ would be Saturnalia - festival to celebrate the Roman God, Saturn. This is where the present Christmas traditions like caroling, gift giving, late night parties, festive entertainment, givng to charity originated from.

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       Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Exactly!
       
       The Bible does not tell us when Jesus was born. However, we know that the angels announced the birth of Christ to the Bethlehem shepherds in the open fields who were tending their flocks by night.. This fact certainly implies that the birth of Jesus could NOT have been on the 25th of December. "The cold of the night in Palestine between December and February is very piercing, and it was not customary for the shepherds of Judea to watch their flocks in the open fields later than about the end of October." Hislop, A., The Two Babylons, Loiseaux Brothers, Neptune, N.J. pg 91.

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15. 59

    Lita C. Malicdemposted 14 years ago

    Nothing, no meaning at all. It can't be called Christmas.

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16. 52

    wendyfelixposted 14 years ago

    there is nothing as good as avn chirst in ur lives

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17. 63

    Nouveau Skepticposted 13 years ago

    What do you call a person who wants to stop non-Christians from celebrating a feast session that predates Christ?
    
    It is like saying anything other than Nike is not a track shoe.  Just because they slapped there name on it doesn't mean they own it.

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    WriteAngledposted 13 years ago

    Agreed with all previous comments that this is the festival of the Winter Solstice, the rebirth of the Sun.
    
    However, if you wish, you can also see it as the festival of Mithras, who was born in a cave to a virgin mother...

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19. 60

    Valerie Fposted 13 years ago

    Christmas without Christ is a lie. I'm fine with atheists exchanging gifts and sharing in the fun, but be honest that what you're celebrating is not Christmas instead of telling me that Christ's Mass is not a religious holiday. And since paganism encompasses a variety of religions, yes, pagan solstice celebrations are religious.
    
    Insisting that because more than one religion observes different things on the same day that the holiday must not be religious is silly.

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    1. 63

       Nouveau Skepticposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       The Christmas/holiday/solstice/tomato-tomahto season is a time to come together and love one another, not exclude and criticize.

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          Valerie Fposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          It's also not a time for atheists to foist non-religious meanings on religious holidays. What next? Tell Muslims Eid al Adha isn't a Muslim holiday? Tell Jews that Yom Kippur is only a day of non-religious self-denial and introspection? Atheists insisting Christmas is non-religious is just as absurd (and perhaps even as rude) as me celebrating Diwali, but telling Hindus it is a Christian holiday. Christmas and the pagan solstice observances (which aren't the same, because a different meaning makes it an entirely different holiday even if the outward trappings are similar)are religious holidays- though we welcome non-religious guests to our feasts.

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             psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             Um, the winter solstice *does* have non-Christian meaning, and Christmas does have meaning to atheists (family, joy, giving). 
             
             I am not foisting it on anyone else, but you are trying to take it away from me.
             
             So stop worrying about the mote in my eye, and get into the spirit of the season.

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                Valerie Fposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                But Christmas is not the celebration of the Winter Solstice, timing and similarities of outward trappings notwithstanding. To say they're the same is disrespectful, I think, to both pagans and Christians. It certainly reflects a failure to bother with acknowledging the differences that exist- a mentality that, oh, all religions are the same.
                
                Pagans generally celebrate the return of the sun. Christians are forbidden from worshipping the sun, but not from celebrating the birth of a Jewish carpenter even if not on his actual birthday. Different meanings, different holiday spirit, different holiday altogether.
                
                I'm not trying to take anything away from you. All are welcome to celebrate Christmas- just don't call it Christmas, then deny that Christ has anything to do with it. When you participate in a celebration that's not part of your religion, it's like you're a guest in other people's homes. You wouldn't visit a Christian family and bag on their religion- while you're accepting gifts from them and eating all their food, would you? You wouldn't tell Jews there was no great Hanukkah miracle while you're eating their latkes and gelt in the light of their menorah.
                
                It doesn't strike me as honest, courteous, or just plain right to celebrate a holiday according to certain traditions while denying the reason it was designated a holiday by those traditions in the first place.

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20. 73

    Reality Bytesposted 13 years ago

    We call it by it's proper name before it was taken over by the crucifix crowd.
    
    
    Yule!
    
    
    Symbols of Yule:
    These are common items  that people decorate with during the Yuletide season. A Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.
    
    Yule or Yuletide ("Yule-time") is a winter festival that was initially celebrated by the historical Germanic people as a pagan religious festival, though it was later absorbed into, and equated with, the Christian festival of Christmas. The festival was originally celebrated from late December to early January on a date determined by the lunar Germanic calendar. The festival was placed on December 25 when the Christian calendar (Julian calendar) was adopted.

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       Greek Oneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       another symbol of Yul...
       
       

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       Pcunixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Good point.
       
       Hard to get out of the habit, but I am going to try.

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       DzyMsLizzyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Yes indeed!  The holiday was merely an older custom "baptized" by the early church to assist them in their conversion efforts.  Christians do not at all "own" the season...it existed for centuries prior to Jesus or "Christ."
       
       Happy Yule!  Merry Saturnalia!  Happy Holidays!  Season's Greetings!

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21. 70

    waynetposted 13 years ago

    mas....

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22. 59

    Bianuposted 13 years ago

    So in Norway, Christmas wishes have God in them

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    Xenonlitposted 13 years ago

    mess

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