The war on Christmas

[Farnhamia]

As an atheist, I celebrate Christmas because it's an old pagan festival with a different name.

And if my parents make me set up the nativity scene this year, next year I'm replacing all the angels with little plushies of video game angels....

It's actually not, you know. Some aspects of it were pagan in origin and the timing is, but Christmas really is about the birth of Jesus. You can't celebrate it without him. Unless you're Bluth, I suppose.

[Galloism]

As an atheist, I celebrate Christmas because it's an old pagan festival with a different name.

And if my parents make me set up the nativity scene this year, next year I'm replacing all the angels with little plushies of video game angels....

It's actually not, you know. Some aspects of it were pagan in origin and the timing is, but Christmas really is about the birth of Jesus. You can't celebrate it without him. Unless you're Bluth, I suppose.

If it was about the birth of Jesus, they probably should have put it on or around the time he was born according to their own holy book, IMO.

[The Realm of God]

As an atheist, I celebrate Christmas because it's an old pagan festival with a different name.

And if my parents make me set up the nativity scene this year, next year I'm replacing all the angels with little plushies of video game angels....

It's actually not, you know. Some aspects of it were pagan in origin and the timing is, but Christmas really is about the birth of Jesus. You can't celebrate it without him. Unless you're Bluth, I suppose.

Naturally Bluth would celebrate his own birthday.

[Farnhamia]

It's actually not, you know. Some aspects of it were pagan in origin and the timing is, but Christmas really is about the birth of Jesus. You can't celebrate it without him. Unless you're Bluth, I suppose.

Naturally Bluth would celebrate his own birthday.

Naturally.

[The Realm of God]

Naturally Bluth would celebrate his own birthday.

Naturally.

He seems to have an Ayn Rand like messianic belief (he is, according to him the only true Christian ever).

[Farnhamia]

Naturally.

He seems to have an Ayn Rand like messianic belief (he is, according to him the only true Christian ever).

Our Bluth once was a great fan of Ayn Rand. Indeed, he used to be one of the champions of Objectivism in these parts. He still may be, but using his own definition. Bluth does like to go by his own definitions of things.

[Ifreann]

He seems to have an Ayn Rand like messianic belief (he is, according to him the only true Christian ever).

Our Bluth once was a great fan of Ayn Rand. Indeed, he used to be one of the champions of Objectivism in these parts. He still may be, but using his own definition. Bluth does like to go by his own definitions of things.

Keep mentioning him and he'll be in here explaining that they're not his definitions, they're the definitions or something.


Actually, never mind, that might be more fun than the war on Crimbo.

[Farnhamia]

Our Bluth once was a great fan of Ayn Rand. Indeed, he used to be one of the champions of Objectivism in these parts. He still may be, but using his own definition. Bluth does like to go by his own definitions of things.

Keep mentioning him and he'll be in here explaining that they're not his definitions, they're the definitions or something.


Actually, never mind, that might be more fun than the war on Crimbo.

His current flag does remind me, just a little, of Michael Keaton in "Beetlejuice."

[Ifreann]

Keep mentioning him and he'll be in here explaining that they're not his definitions, they're the definitions or something.


Actually, never mind, that might be more fun than the war on Crimbo.

His current flag does remind me, just a little, of Michael Keaton in "Beetlejuice."

Great flick. Had it on tape back when that was a thing.

[EnragedMaldivians]

Our Bluth once was a great fan of Ayn Rand. Indeed, he used to be one of the champions of Objectivism in these parts. He still may be, but using his own definition. Bluth does like to go by his own definitions of things.

Keep mentioning him and he'll be in here explaining that they're not his definitions, they're the definitions or something.


Actually, never mind, that might be more fun than the war on Crimbo.

No. Oh God, no. I have never come across anything more annoying on the Internet than Bluth's "stop confusing Christianity for the cult of Jesus and Jehovah' nonesense. Seriously. Never.

[Farnhamia]

His current flag does remind me, just a little, of Michael Keaton in "Beetlejuice."

Great flick. Had it on tape back when that was a thing.

It actually caused a minor revival of interest in Harry Belafonte's music. I went out and bought some from iTunes after seeing it.

[Dyakovo]

It's actually not, you know. Some aspects of it were pagan in origin and the timing is, but Christmas really is about the birth of Jesus. You can't celebrate it without him. Unless you're Bluth, I suppose.

If it was about the birth of Jesus, they probably should have put it on or around the time he was born according to their own holy book, IMO.

That would make sense...

[Dyakovo]

Keep mentioning him and he'll be in here explaining that they're not his definitions, they're the definitions or something.


Actually, never mind, that might be more fun than the war on Crimbo.

No. Oh God, no. I have never come across anything more annoying on the Internet than Bluth's "stop confusing Christianity for the cult of Jesus and Jehovah' nonesense. Seriously. Never.

I have...

[Risottia]

I think he's considered a saint in the Orthodox Church.

Well, true, but then his title would be St.Constantine Emperor. Calling him "Holy Roman Emperor" makes him more of a descendant of an illiterate Frank, and subject to the Papal authority...

[EnragedMaldivians]

No. Oh God, no. I have never come across anything more annoying on the Internet than Bluth's "stop confusing Christianity for the cult of Jesus and Jehovah' nonesense. Seriously. Never.

I have...

By itself, I agree, I've seen worse. It's just the amount of times he keeps posting it.

[Farnhamia]

If it was about the birth of Jesus, they probably should have put it on or around the time he was born according to their own holy book, IMO.

That would make sense...

They may not have known when that was, especially since the census that caused Joseph and Mary to journey to Bethlehem never happened and anyway, Joseph and Mary didn't live in Roman territory is it did. I have no problem with the Early Church using the best marketing techniques they could come up with to gain adherents. It's what you do. I never kept any of my people from becoming Christians. I just told them that I would prefer they worshipped off site, as it were, unless the weather was very bad, and that any attempt to convert me would be looked upon with great disfavor.

[Risottia]

... and that any attempt to convert me would be looked upon with great disfavor.

If they had known you as I do, that would have sent them running for their lives.

[Farnhamia]

... and that any attempt to convert me would be looked upon with great disfavor.

If they had known you as I do, that would have sent them running for their lives.

I'd mellowed by then. Punishment was denial of my presence. It worked very well.

[Tekania]

That's what it means to Christians. It, however, is not what it means to neo-pagans.

The number of neopagans is a negligible, so, to me and the majority, it means Christmas.

Then why so much controversy over people using perfectly legitimate terms such as that, winter holidays, or holiday season?

[Dyakovo]

That would make sense...

They may not have known when that was, especially since the census that caused Joseph and Mary to journey to Bethlehem never happened and anyway, Joseph and Mary didn't live in Roman territory is it did. I have no problem with the Early Church using the best marketing techniques they could come up with to gain adherents. It's what you do. I never kept any of my people from becoming Christians. I just told them that I would prefer they worshipped off site, as it were, unless the weather was very bad, and that any attempt to convert me would be looked upon with great disfavor.

One thing that can be determined is that, if it even actually happened, it did not happen in the middle of the winter.

[Farnhamia]

The number of neopagans is a negligible, so, to me and the majority, it means Christmas.

Then why so much controversy over people using perfectly legitimate terms such as that, winter holidays, or holiday season?

Christians have come to think they own certain things, like winter holidays and marriage. Or at least the word "marriage." They used to be more humble. Now they're humble like Uriah Heep was humble.

[Dyakovo]

The number of neopagans is a negligible, so, to me and the majority, it means Christmas.

Then why so much controversy over people using perfectly legitimate terms such as that, winter holidays, or holiday season?

Because if you acknowledge that other holidays exist in December, he won't be able to maintain faith in his 'god'.
*nods*

[Tekania]

Then why so much controversy over people using perfectly legitimate terms such as that, winter holidays, or holiday season?

Because if you acknowledge that other holidays exist in December, he won't be able to maintain faith in his 'god'.
*nods*

Wow, his faith hinges on my acknowledgement of the existance of other's holidays? Oh well, he's screwed then.

[Srboslavija]

Cool. I assume you have also renounced the Christian based calendar, which will signify the start of 2013 AD on January 1st.

Which year (and when) will you guys be celebrating so I can prepare gifts and greetings?

I assume you have renounced this system for numbering years, since while AD means 'anno domini' and BC 'before Christ', Jesus was not born in 1 AD. Surely if you want things properly based off Jesus you restart your years based on the best guess on his actual birthday and number the years on the best guess of the year he was born?

I'm content with the fact that on Dec 31st the world rings in the new year - not based on the Jewish, Islamic, Japanese Era, Mayan or Atheist etc calendars - but rather the one based on the [estimated] life and death of Jesus Christ - our Lord and Savior.

Indeed, have a very happy new AD year.

[Tekania]

I assume you have renounced this system for numbering years, since while AD means 'anno domini' and BC 'before Christ', Jesus was not born in 1 AD. Surely if you want things properly based off Jesus you restart your years based on the best guess on his actual birthday and number the years on the best guess of the year he was born?

I'm content with the fact that on Dec 31st the world rings in the new year - not based on the Jewish, Islamic, Japanese Era, Mayan or Atheist etc calendars - but rather the one based on the [estimated] life and death of Jesus Christ - our Lord and Savior.

Indeed, have a very happy new AD year.

As, even by best estimates, the year is way off at this point... and the convention remains more out of its wide spread use than what it's original intended relevance was... I'm more inclined to side with those using CE and BCE nomenclatures for the year.