How far does one go?

[Elijah John]

The Puritans of New England, and the Jehovah's Witnesses of today forbid the observance of Christmas, as being "of pagan origin".

To be consistent, hadn't one ought to rename the days of the week?

In English,

Sunday = Sun day.
Monday = Moon day.
Tuesday = Tiw's day.
Wednesday = Woden's day.
Thurday = Thor's day
Friday = Freya's day.
Saturday = Saturn day.

The English days of the week were all named after gods of the pagan Norse pantheon, with a few Greco-Roman planet names thrown in.

For debate, how far should a good Christian go to purge paganism from the culture?

Or should we all just "lighten up" and observe Christmas as well?

[marco]

And when people celebrate the Nativity of Christ they are NOT celebrating anything to do with paganism. They are no more guilty of celebrating a Pagan feast than you are when you accept January.

Jeremiah 10:

[2] Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
[3] 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.
[4] They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

Looks like God prefers atheists on this point.

You are beautifully succinct to the point of obscurity. Jeremiah, of course, is the last person to ask for advice on any type of celebration.

To destroy an old custom and utilise the space for a new Christian one is wisdom not idolatry.

[Talishi]

To destroy an old custom and utilise the space for a new Christian one is wisdom not idolatry.

Our culture is focused on year-over-year same store sales on Black Friday, the first day of the Christmas Season, where people trample each other to get the last iPhone 7. So it's idolatry all right, and the god in question is named Mammon.

[marco]

To destroy an old custom and utilise the space for a new Christian one is wisdom not idolatry.

Our culture is focused on year-over-year same store sales on Black Friday, the first day of the Christmas Season, where people trample each other to get the last iPhone 7. So it's idolatry all right, and the god in question is named Mammon.

This is a completely irrelevant generalisation since such details were unknown to those who decided to celebrate the birthday of Christ on December 25. Obviously people abuse things for it is the mark of human nature so to do. There are also millions who attend church services and duly honour the Nativity.

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 5 by JehovahsWitness]

Well not in their opinion granted. As long as they leave me to feel differently and accord me the respect of not obliging me to join them, then everyone's happy. It's all a question of respecting other people's religious sensibilities.

As long as people don't come knocking on my door and try to ram a pamphlet into my hands, I don't have a problem with their believing anything they like... let them read their own pamphlets and leave me ALONE.

It's bad enough that some religious people post links to pamphlets in here.

Atheists have sensitivities too, you know.

[2timothy316]

[Replying to post 5 by JehovahsWitness]

Well not in their opinion granted. As long as they leave me to feel differently and accord me the respect of not obliging me to join them, then everyone's happy. It's all a question of respecting other people's religious sensibilities.

As long as people don't come knocking on my door and try to ram a pamphlet into my hands, I don't have a problem with their believing anything they like... let them read their own pamphlets and leave me ALONE.

It's bad enough that some religious people post links to pamphlets in here.

Atheists have sensitivities too, you know.

https://freeatheism.org/download-printa ... nd-tracts/

These are printed a pasted all over college campuses and left on car windows at large churches...so it seems everyone has a message they want to declare.

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 15 by 2timothy316]

!

[center]
In atheists we distrust[/center]

These are printed a pasted all over college campuses and left on car windows at large churches...so it seems everyone has a message they want to declare.

It's a FACT that for centuries, atheists had no voice, or suffered horrible consequences for using it.

So, now, you are right.. some atheists are saying "Hello, we are here, and there is an alternative to religious beliefs." I will talk for myself right now and state.. DECLARE if you will, that if it wasn't for religious oppression, I would not feel the need to fight propaganda with propaganda.

IF there were no theists, there could BE no atheists.
Atheism is a reaction TO theism ...

Counter-apologetics is a reaction TO religious apologetics.

What we do not want is a return to "Believe this or die".
And if you don't think that kind of thinking is a possibility in our modern world, take a look at Syria and what ISIS is doing there.

So, we should all fight against religious propaganda.
Once THAT stops, atheist propaganda should dwindle a bit.

What theists don't want is that atheist force their NON beliefs onto them, either.

But I think that what I was objecting to is when a Christian assumes that a MAJORITY religious position is being "oppressed" by us non believers. We constitute a MINORITY position... not a majority one.

Just stop knocking at my door expecting me to graciously accept a pamphlet. There is enough proselytizing going on in this forum.

You DO realize that atheists are the least trusted people in the US, don't you?
How do you think that would make us feel as individuals?

GOOD?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... -distrust/


Why should ANYONE tolerate religiously motivated bigotry?

[2timothy316]

[Replying to post 15 by 2timothy316]

!

[center]
In atheists we distrust[/center]

These are printed a pasted all over college campuses and left on car windows at large churches...so it seems everyone has a message they want to declare.

It's a FACT that for centuries, atheists had no voice, or suffered horrible consequences for using it.

So, now, you are right.. some atheists are saying "Hello, we are here, and there is an alternative to religious beliefs." I will talk for myself right now and state.. DECLARE if you will, that if it wasn't for religious oppression, I would not feel the need to fight propaganda with propaganda.

IF there were no theists, there could BE no atheists.
Atheism is a reaction TO theism ...

Counter-apologetics is a reaction TO religious apologetics.

What we do not want is a return to "Believe this or die".
And if you don't think that kind of thinking is a possibility in our modern world, take a look at Syria and what ISIS is doing there.

So, we should all fight against religious propaganda.
Once THAT stops, atheist propaganda should dwindle a bit.

What theists don't want is that atheist force their NON beliefs onto them, either.

But I think that what I was objecting to is when a Christian assumes that a MAJORITY religious position is being "oppressed" by us non believers. We constitute a MINORITY position... not a majority one.

Just stop knocking at my door expecting me to graciously accept a pamphlet. There is enough proselytizing going on in this forum.

You DO realize that atheists are the least trusted people in the US, don't you?
How do you think that would make us feel as individuals?

GOOD?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... -distrust/

Welcome a world ruled by man. There is no group you can be part of that someone will not like or trust you for your beliefs...so there's people that don't trust atheists, oh no what a nightmare!!

DECLARE if you will, that if it wasn't for religious oppression, I would not feel the need to fight propaganda with propaganda.

It's like children fighting, 'well he started it!' So oppression for oppression is the answer? Also, is this why you are fighting with propaganda in threads that have nothing to do with your post?

[catnip]

To destroy an old custom and utilise the space for a new Christian one is wisdom not idolatry.

Our culture is focused on year-over-year same store sales on Black Friday, the first day of the Christmas Season, where people trample each other to get the last iPhone 7. So it's idolatry all right, and the god in question is named Mammon.

Here in the US, I think it has become more a secular holiday than a religious one. It isn't the wholesale greed, the tree or the decorations that is the focus of the Christian celebration--at least not among the more catholic among us. It is in the church, especially midnight mass or, in other words, for the Anglicans among us: Christ's Mass.

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 17 by 2timothy316]

Welcome a world ruled by man.

Is there any other kind of world?
( I suppose when you say MAN, you also include WOMAN, right? )

There is no group you can be part of that someone will not like or trust you for your beliefs...so there's people that don't trust atheists, oh no what a nightmare!!

I think your derision is misplaced.

Atheists are the LEAST trusted group in the USA.
Not just one of the ones not trusted, but the LEAST trusted.

In the pile of religious BIGOTRY, atheists are placed at the very BOTTOM.
Your derisive attitude is a demonstration of the hateful attitude.

DECLARE if you will, that if it wasn't for religious oppression, I would not feel the need to fight propaganda with propaganda.

It's like children fighting, 'well he started it!' So oppression for oppression is the answer? Also, is this why you are fighting with propaganda in threads that have nothing to do with your post?

So, not only am I subject to your derision, but I am expected to tolerate being compared to a CHILD. Why should I tolerate such an indignity ?

My post was in response to a religious person's plea to be left alone and be respected. I don't feel respected either. In fact, I am in a group that happens to be the LEAST respected in America.

So, it's a bit ironic to me to read a Christian plea for respect of HIS darling religious beliefs. I was just trying to present a more balanced view of respecting other people's beliefs. Not everyone is a theist.

Atheists should be respected too. And we aren't. We are the least trusted group in America. And that's wrong, it's a sure sign of religious intolerance, and it isn't ATHEISTS who distrust the atheists. IS IT?

[2timothy316]

[Replying to post 19 by Blastcat]

Seriously, this tantrum has nothing to do with the thread theme.