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raeanna74 · 12-13-2005, 08:37 AM

I was raised conservative, protestant, Christian. There were times that we had no tree, exchanged no gifts, and we NEVER pretended, or acknowledged Satan, I mean Santa, except with distain. We infact did not even wrap gifts with paper that had images of Santa on them.

As an adult, and parent, I took my daughter to see Santa. I will take my daughter to the Christmas program at church. There are many different religions and cultures who celebrate this time of year for many good reasons and I see no reason to throw out the whole celebration of a certain culture or religion simply because I don't agree with all of it.

I normally say Merry Christmas because that is what I grew up with and am most comfortable with. Even though Christ-Mass was considered a 'pagan' celebration by my religious peers. Protestants do not hold mass of any sort. But I celebrated it as a Christ centered holiday so called it by the most common name. I am not offended by someone saying Happy Holidays because it does acknowledge other celebrations as well and I am not going to take someone else's celebration from them simply because I don't PERSONALLY celebrate it.

The debate about having a Christmas tree here, I found interesting. A Christmas tree is not a purely 'Christian' image used in Christmas celebration. Christmas (as well as Halloween) has elements of many other religions. The Catholic church merged a few 'pagan' traditions into it's celebrations in hopes of making the pagans more comfortable with worshiping with the Catholic church.
Growing up my parents (in particular my mother) had a problem with putting up a tree of any kind and in the end allowed us to put one up so long as we did not put ANY gold or silver decorations on the tree. She based her belief on the reference in Jeremiah 10:2-5 where it refers to 'heathen' putting up a tree and worshiping it. "For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; theyfasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." So in some areas of the protestant faith, people believe that a Christmas tree is an idol and image that us pagans 'worship'. I ask you - how many of you have bowed down to your Christmas tree lately or prayed to it??

Happy Holidays? - go ahead and say it but don't you dare complain if I still say "Merry Christmas".

12-13-2005, 08:37 AM	#23 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	I was raised conservative, protestant, Christian. There were times that we had no tree, exchanged no gifts, and we NEVER pretended, or acknowledged Satan, I mean Santa, except with distain. We infact did not even wrap gifts with paper that had images of Santa on them. As an adult, and parent, I took my daughter to see Santa. I will take my daughter to the Christmas program at church. There are many different religions and cultures who celebrate this time of year for many good reasons and I see no reason to throw out the whole celebration of a certain culture or religion simply because I don't agree with all of it. I normally say Merry Christmas because that is what I grew up with and am most comfortable with. Even though Christ-Mass was considered a 'pagan' celebration by my religious peers. Protestants do not hold mass of any sort. But I celebrated it as a Christ centered holiday so called it by the most common name. I am not offended by someone saying Happy Holidays because it does acknowledge other celebrations as well and I am not going to take someone else's celebration from them simply because I don't PERSONALLY celebrate it. The debate about having a Christmas tree here, I found interesting. A Christmas tree is not a purely 'Christian' image used in Christmas celebration. Christmas (as well as Halloween) has elements of many other religions. The Catholic church merged a few 'pagan' traditions into it's celebrations in hopes of making the pagans more comfortable with worshiping with the Catholic church. Growing up my parents (in particular my mother) had a problem with putting up a tree of any kind and in the end allowed us to put one up so long as we did not put ANY gold or silver decorations on the tree. She based her belief on the reference in Jeremiah 10:2-5 where it refers to 'heathen' putting up a tree and worshiping it. "For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; theyfasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." So in some areas of the protestant faith, people believe that a Christmas tree is an idol and image that us pagans 'worship'. I ask you - how many of you have bowed down to your Christmas tree lately or prayed to it?? Happy Holidays? - go ahead and say it but don't you dare complain if I still say "Merry Christmas". __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.