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?

[Blastcat]

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

How far does one GO with religious beliefs.. to bigotry?
Because in all too many cases, it goes that far and further.. into actual violence.

Why is LOTS of religious belief taken as a GOOD thing?
How far should one GO?

[onewithhim]

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?

We are aware of the pagan names of the days of the week. We have no choice but to use them, because if we used some other names no one else in the world would know what we were talking about and things would get confusing very fast.

The same could be said about wedding rings. Most of the world understands that if a person has a band on their left ring finger, they are most likely married. Even though it originated in pagandom, it is a very real protection for people. If we refused to wear a wedding ring, situations could get well out-of-hand rapidly by confused individuals.

Celebrating Christmas is not an example akin to these. The celebration of it started well after the birth of Christ, is not even his birth-date, and is almost fiercely encouraged by the business sector today. It seems every year we start getting Christmas advertizing in the stores earlier and earlier. Why buy into that? It does not truly honor God or his Son, and we can have other gift-giving events for our children.

[onewithhim]

Because typing/speaking/writing in my diary or having the word on my calander is not for me a religious celebration of that thing or a compromising act of adoration.

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.

Have you researched AT ALL the history of Christmas traditions? It is well-known that every tradition involved has come directly from various pagan rituals. I think that most people, even self-professed Christians, think of the Nativity as almost an after-thought. The main attraction to Christmas is the tree and getting gifts. One of my sons, and his wife, say that the religious part of it means nothing to them. They do it for the gifts and the parties and the pretty lights.

Well, gifts and parties can be given on other occasions, and pretty lights can be enjoyed year-round, like I and many of my friends have in our homes.

Christmas is beautiful, true. But beauty can be found elsewhere, without pagan trappings. The clergy, who encourage such celebrations, are "false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:13,14, NASB)

[ttruscott]

, according to the Santa myth no one gets rewarded for lying or coal for telling the truth!

You seem to have the myth backward.

The lie I have been good all year gets rewarded; the truth, Nope I was bad often this year gets coal... encouraging lying as a method for success. See how insidious this scheme is? Even looking at it you can't see the deception.

For Christians to keep Satana connected to the holy-day is perverted.

[onewithhim]

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.

Good point! He does prefer anyone who accepts that point, including Jehovah's Witnesses who are not atheists.

[2timothy316]

, according to the Santa myth no one gets rewarded for lying or coal for telling the truth!

You seem to have the myth backward.

The lie I have been good all year gets rewarded; the truth, Nope I was bad often this year gets coal... encouraging lying as a method for success. See how insidious this scheme is? Even looking at it you can't see the deception.

For Christians to keep Satana connected to the holy-day is perverted.

Yes there are more insidious traps in Christmas too. Such as over working many during that time of year. My wife used to work in the retail sector. Staring in October I would not see her for a whole week. During December, none at all. She hated it too. I was thankful she got another job completely away from the retail work.

Christmas commercialism has given most nations that celebrate it an Achilles Heel. A day to make or break a company called Black Friday. It's called this because it determines if a company will be in the black or in the red in their financial books. A nations whole future financial outlook is based on that day. Those days are spreading too. Now Saturday, Sunday and Monday have been added. Soon it will be Black Week I suppose. A bad Black Friday takes away jobs and can even start or keep a nation in a recession or depression.

[marco]

Good point! He does prefer anyone who accepts that point, including Jehovah's Witnesses who are not atheists.

If one judges by the jollity of innocent young carol singers, God is well pleased. Jesus did say "Allow little children to sing carols if they want to and stop being so rule-driven.
Heal on the Sabbath if you have to - and celebrate my birthday when you see fit!"

Or words to that effect!

[JLB32168]

We have redefined the days of the week and months of the year so that we no longer regard the deities w/any deference at all. The whole idea that the Christmas tree is a pagan symbol of fertility might be of import to me if I were worshiping the deity.

[tigger2]

Blastcat wrote:

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

If you have informed the JWs coming to your door (or the Kingdom Hall itself) that you don't want them coming to your door, and they still come, then you have a point.

However, if you have informed them, they are supposed to put you on a 'don't call' list, and they should not be coming to your door (for a number of months at least).

And if you haven't informed them, the 'problem' is of your own making.

And you certainly don't have to accept anything (graciously or not) from them when they call. A polite "I'm not interested, goodbye" should suffice.

[marco]

Christmas commercialism has given most nations that celebrate it an Achilles Heel. A day to make or break a company called Black Friday. It's called this because it determines if a company will be in the black or in the red in their financial books. A nations whole future financial outlook is based on that day. Those days are spreading too. Now Saturday, Sunday and Monday have been added. Soon it will be Black Week I suppose. A bad Black Friday takes away jobs and can even start or keep a nation in a recession or depression.

Yes, we all moan about the secular take-over of Christmas but it remains largely a children's festival. People have to balance books so if Jesus helps in that area good for Jesus.

We have moved away from deploring the celebration of Christ's birth on 25th December to irritating shopping habits. I suppose Easter eggs are bad too, theologically, and kids should not be seduced by them.