Christians To Blame For Secular Christmas

Bravo!! Beautifully written and right on spot.

Not everyone has forgotten. In Maynard, Massachusetts the Methodist, Congregationalist, and Catholic churches united to present a (free) Christmas Cantata as their gift to God and the community. It was well attended and well received.

We must, as Christians, reach out to ourselves as well the rest of the community. We must walk the walk, not just talk the talk. We, and people of all faiths, must recognize that some people will be offended by any display of religion. While we can recognize their problem, and even sympathize with their annoyance, it comes down to a basic right. We can wish them a "Merry Christmas" and they can wish us what ever is appropriate for their holiday or a jolly "Bah! Humbug!" if they are so inclined.

And, yes, I'm going to get the Creche and set it up. Thanks for the well deserved kick.

I agree with this writer too. My father is dying from Cancer, and I have only had interest in the religious aspects of "Christmas", even though he may not make it to Christmas. The shopping, spending money foolishly, when so many of us can't really afford it. I would much rather listen to "silent night" which is my fathers favorite, or be together as a family, and talk about the Nativity and what Christmas really is all about. I'm so glad they decided to have the Nativity Scene at the White House. I would have been very discouraged otherwise. Merry Christmas!

The writer is right and so are you.

Someone please show me when and where the White House "Christmas" decorations ever reflected a Christian point of view. Tell me when they showed ant religious references? The Obama's are actually putting a title on it where in other administrations have not. I have watched every White House decoration show that HGTV ever aired. Not once did I see a manger or a menora. I am Catholic. I hold my beliefs though different from the Church, close to me. I do decorate my home with the Pagan rituals of holly, trees, lights etc. I do not see anything wrong with the Obama's comments on a non religious holiday. Every other president has done the same thing.

JESUS is the REASON for THIS season!!! PERIOD....

I couldn't agree more with this writer. My family and I are not Christian. Christians, along with any other religious group, should never be shamed when celebrating their traditions and rituals. This great mosaic, albeit complicated at times, is what truly makes America, "America." My family and I find it fascinating to learn and enjoy other cultural and religious traditions whether it be from Judaism, Islamism, Buddhism or Christianity. As far as Christmas is concerned, from an outsider looking in, the holiday does seems to have lost virtually all traces of religious significance. Is Christmas even a religious holiday any longer? Only Christians can decide. For those of us non-Christians, we can simply enjoy the season with all of its wonder.

I have had it up to hear with people saying Christians should make
Christmas more Christian . READ and LEARN . Just as other holidays are MAN MADE so is CHRISTMAS .

NOW if you want to talk about the SPIRIT of CHRISTMAS , lets ..... IF WE WOULD CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG INSTEAD of just for a MAN MADE MONTH or so maybe this world would be a lot better off .


Was Jesus born on December 25?

Was Jesus born on December 25? There is no evidence for this date. So then, who decided that Jesus' birth would be celebrated on that date? The early Christian church did not celebrate Jesus' birth. It wasn't until A.D. 440 that the church officially proclaimed December 25 as the birth of Christ. This was not based on any religious evidence but on a pagan feast. Saturnalia was a tradition inherited by the Roman pagans from an earlier Babylonian priesthood. December 25 was used as a celebration of the birthday of the sun god. It was observed near the winter solstice.

The apostles in the Bible predicted that some Christians would adopt pagan beliefs to enable them to make their religion more palatable to the pagans around them. Therefore, some scholars think the church chose the date of this pagan celebration to interest them in Christianity. The pagans were already used to celebrating on this date.

The Bible itself tells us that December 25 is an unlikely date for His birth. Palestine is very cold in December. It was much too cold to ask everyone to travel to the city of their fathers to register for taxes. Also the shepherds were in the fields (Luke 2:8-12). Shepherds were not in the fields in the winter time. They are in the fields early in March until early October. This would place Jesus' birth in the spring or early fall. It is also known that Jesus lived for 33.5 years and died at the feast of the Passover, which is at Easter time. He must therefore have been born six months the other side of Easter - making the date around the September/October time frames.

Other evidence that December 25 is the wrong date for the birth of Jesus comes from early writings. Iranaeus, born about a century after Jesus, notes that Jesus was born in the 41st year of the reign of Augustus. Since Augustus began his reign in the autumn of 43 B.C., this appears to substantiate the birth of Jesus as the autumn of 2 B.C. Eusebius (A.D. 264-340), the "Father of Church History," ascribes it to the 42nd year of the reign of Augustus and the 28th from the subjection of Egypt on the death of Anthony and Cleopatra. The 42nd year of Augustus ran from the autumn of 2 B.C. to the autumn of 1 B.C. The subjugation of Egypt into the Roman Empire occurred in the autumn of 30 B.C. The 28th year extended from the autumn of 3 B.C. to the autumn of 2 B.C. The only date that would meet both of these constraints would be the autumn of 2 B.C.

John the Baptist also helps us determine that December 25 is not the birth of Jesus. Elizabeth, John's mother, was a cousin of Mary. John began his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. The minimum age for the ministry was 30. As Augustus died on August 19, A.D. 14, that was the accession year for Tiberius. If John was born on April 19-20, 2 B.C., his 30th birthday would have been April 19-20, A.D. 29, or the 15th year of Tiberius. This seems to confirm the 2 B.C. date, and, since John was 5 months older, this also confirms an autumn birth date for Jesus.

Another interesting fact comes from Elizabeth herself. She hid herself for 5 months and then the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary both Elizabeth's condition and that Mary would also bear a son who would be called Jesus. Mary went "with haste" to visit Elizabeth, who was then in the first week of her 6th month, or the 4th week of Dec., 3 B.C. If Jesus was born 280 days later it would place his birth on Sept. 29, 2 B.C. Some scholars interpret the 6 months to be in line with the Hebrew calendar or the August-September time frame. Since Mary's pregnancy commenced a little before the sixth month around July, Jesus would be born somewhere around March-June. But does it matter if Jesus was born on the spring, the fall, or on December 25? Does it matter, theologically, when Jesus was born? What do you think, does it matter what day we celebrate His birth?

Sifrina, The reason it is wrong for the Obama's to not recognize Christmas as Christ's birth is because they claim to be Christians. People need to understand we all have our own things or Gods we worship and we should do it with conviction not timidity. We all know we can't please everyone so at least have the guts to support what you believe in. The Obama's obviously are gutless!

I certainly do not think this Rachel was correct....We Christians are not the cause of the lack of Christianity in this world......and yes, most of us do have a nativity scene in our homes., I have at least 2 ....I certainly know what Christmas is all about...I could care less what the man who resides at the White House does, but I do care what he believes, if this is to remain a Christian nation...He is supposed to be a representative of our country and what a representative he is!!!! There are going to be a lot of people out there who voted for this person who are going to live to eat their votes......they are going to be so shocked when we no longer have a nation........So I end this with not Happy Holidays, but certainly MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

The writer is 100% correct, please let us stop both extremes, truly ignorant. Everyone should celebrate their beliefs. But we also must remember that Christmas is a Christian celebration to recognize and honor the birth of Jesus Christ. The only real reason for the holiday.

I'm not a "Christian". I'm not religious.. I find it hilarious that early eastern roman christians chose to plaster their most sacred holiday overtop the traditional a rival religion's holiday in an attempt to out-celebrate them. In fact, if the story of christmas is true - mary & joseph heading back home for the census and to be taxed would have coinsided with the grain harvest.. therefore jesus most likely was born closed to June 25 than Dec 25th..... still, i totally agree with this article. I am an Obama supporter, but I totally disagree with this non-religious representation. This country is about celebrating our differences, not hiding them. Are jews asked to remove their yamikahs? Or muslims told to shave their beards? No, their faith is displayed. The current traditional Christmas, no matter how it was divised or how its celebrated, is a Christian holiday. Again, I'm not christian.. but that doesnt stop me from saying "Merry Christmas." These traditions should be practiced and expanded upon.. not minimalize or forgotten. If you are offended by someone displaying a nativity scene.. the problem isn't the christian overtones of the display or whatever.. the problem is you. America is about accepting and celebrating differences.. not reducing or excluding them. Christians.. for once you and I agree.

I most certainly agree, and I'm glad that I get to share a tiny bit of my point of view.

Faith come from within, and it is never served by argueing, but by showing love and compassion.

Celebrate Christmas. Don't fight over it. Live your life, showing others your love and faith. Let all those people out in the world see Christ, and Christmas through you.

Let all of us who believe be the Christmas star for the people who would seek Him today.

Merry Christmas, and a Joyful New Year.

We really NEED to get back to celebrating Christmas as a family holiday and an opportunity to reflect on the significance of this holy-day.
Actually I would like to have Christmas behaviour every month. At least people would consider being kinder and thoughtful of others, rather than waiting for just once a year. We need a little more Christmas!

The act of giving gifts by a mysterious man who comes at night is not an event that is exlusive to the Catholic church...In fact, St Nicholas was a real person who was from the region where Turkey is located...France used to celebrate on Dec.5 and then the Catholics got involved and grabbed St Nick and made it a religious holiday...In fact, even Xmas trees are not a Christian tradition, there's no religious linkage..So why do people get so caught up with it..Perhaps because the Catholic Church wants full credit...I personally don't care and celebrate the spirit of the holiday with my family and friends and know in my heart that this holiday transcends religion..Too bad some people cannot see the obvious.

Don't worship in a church. Worship at Wal-Mart, inter alia. Shop where Jesus would shop.

This is just like the rest of the world, Rachel - marganilizing Christians by telling them to take their Christianity inside of their own home.

If a retailer wants MY dollars for CHRISTmas shopping, then he better be FRIENDLY to CHRISTmas.

Your article is definitely not a wake-up call for everything that Christians are doing wrong.

So, Obama wants to celebrate CHRISTmas by EXCLUDING all elements of CHRISTianity? This is just the next logical step from including all the other "holidays" so as to marginalize CHRISTianity. Now were not only marginalizing CHRISTianity, but we're eliminating it entirely.

I am so thankful that someone had the audacity to say what all Christians should be saying. Thank you for standing up for what is right and emphasizing the importance of Christmas. It is time that we take a stand and not let politically correctness destroy us. We do not have to be ashamed of our God and faith because it bothers others to hear it. No one thinks about what bothers Christians. Christmas is pointless without Jesus as the center of it. Ironically, Jesus was rejected from the moment of his birth by humans and gave his life for us. I hope that more and more Christians don't allow anyone to infringe on their right to pray, mention Jesus or anything else related to our faith. God bless the writer and anyone who reads this.

Great comment:

Like your perspective.