Moderator: Moderators
There were celebrations in various cultures at or around the Winter Solstice -- 'rebirth' of the sun (increasing length of daylight period and increasing sun angle in the northern hemisphere)The first Christians were not concerned with the date of Christ’s birth nor with celebrating it. Origen (d. 255), Irenaeus (d. 202), and Tertullian (d. 220) do not include Christmas or its date on their lists of feasts and celebrations.
The earliest attempts to date the birth of Christ produced various results:
Circa 200, Clement of Alexandria noted that Christians in Egypt believed Jesus was born on May 20.
De paschæ computus, written in 243, notes the some groups of Christians celebrated the feast of Christ’s birth on March 28 and others on April 19/20.
The writings of Theophilus (d.181) and Hippolytus (d. 240) mention that Christ was born on December 25.
Fourth- and fifth-century writings mention December 25 as an ancient and widespread feast of Christ’s birth.
Many ancient writings, especially in the East, place the celebration on January 6 but usually combined with what we now celebrate separately with the Epiphany.
The Church chose December 25 due to its ancient origin and widespread acceptance. No other date was accepted by more Christians for a longer or older period of time. However, we should note that although the Church chooses this date to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it is not declaring de fide that it is the literal date he was born.
https://www.catholic.com
Zzyzx wrote: .
From a Catholic source:
There were celebrations in various cultures at or around the Winter Solstice -- 'rebirth' of the sun (increasing length of daylight period and increasing sun angle in the northern hemisphere)The first Christians were not concerned with the date of Christ’s birth nor with celebrating it. Origen (d. 255), Irenaeus (d. 202), and Tertullian (d. 220) do not include Christmas or its date on their lists of feasts and celebrations.
The earliest attempts to date the birth of Christ produced various results:
Circa 200, Clement of Alexandria noted that Christians in Egypt believed Jesus was born on May 20.
De paschæ computus, written in 243, notes the some groups of Christians celebrated the feast of Christ’s birth on March 28 and others on April 19/20.
The writings of Theophilus (d.181) and Hippolytus (d. 240) mention that Christ was born on December 25.
Fourth- and fifth-century writings mention December 25 as an ancient and widespread feast of Christ’s birth.
Many ancient writings, especially in the East, place the celebration on January 6 but usually combined with what we now celebrate separately with the Epiphany.
The Church chose December 25 due to its ancient origin and widespread acceptance. No other date was accepted by more Christians for a longer or older period of time. However, we should note that although the Church chooses this date to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it is not declaring de fide that it is the literal date he was born.
https://www.catholic.com
Zzyzx wrote: .
Wait a minute.
Before comparing the birth date of Jesus to that of other proposed deities, was Jesus born on December 25th?
I am trying to understand how you reached your conclusion for the source you cited. Your source lists five dates; one in January, one in May, one in March, one in April, and one in December. Three of the five dates are nowhere near the Winter Solstice.Zzyzx wrote: .
From a Catholic source:
There were celebrations in various cultures at or around the Winter Solstice -- 'rebirth' of the sun (increasing length of daylight period and increasing sun angle in the northern hemisphere)The first Christians were not concerned with the date of Christ’s birth nor with celebrating it. Origen (d. 255), Irenaeus (d. 202), and Tertullian (d. 220) do not include Christmas or its date on their lists of feasts and celebrations.
The earliest attempts to date the birth of Christ produced various results:
Circa 200, Clement of Alexandria noted that Christians in Egypt believed Jesus was born on May 20.
De paschæ computus, written in 243, notes the some groups of Christians celebrated the feast of Christ’s birth on March 28 and others on April 19/20.
The writings of Theophilus (d.181) and Hippolytus (d. 240) mention that Christ was born on December 25.
Fourth- and fifth-century writings mention December 25 as an ancient and widespread feast of Christ’s birth.
Many ancient writings, especially in the East, place the celebration on January 6 but usually combined with what we now celebrate separately with the Epiphany.
The Church chose December 25 due to its ancient origin and widespread acceptance. No other date was accepted by more Christians for a longer or older period of time. However, we should note that although the Church chooses this date to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it is not declaring de fide that it is the literal date he was born.
https://www.catholic.com
Why do you continue to repeat the claim? It has been refuted, you have not even attempted to address the evidence against it, and even the sources you cite say that your claim has been refuted. Why continue to make the claim?SallyF wrote: The important issue is that the naughty Christian elves STOLE
And passed their stealings off as their own.
FRAUDULENCE
Here ya go …bjs wrote:Why do you continue to repeat the claim? It has been refuted, you have not even attempted to address the evidence against it, and even the sources you cite say that your claim has been refuted. Why continue to make the claim?SallyF wrote: The important issue is that the naughty Christian elves STOLE
And passed their stealings off as their own.
FRAUDULENCE
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Unless it is related to Christmas. In that case, they should have no fun at all.SallyF wrote:
Although we choose not to celebrate Christmas ourselves, we respect each person’s right to decide for himself in this matter. We do not interfere in the Christmas celebrations of others. https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesse ... christmas/
