h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I must be getting old, I have only just got over the last one, and the Christmas tat is already in the shops again.

I don't suppose many people now believe the Catholic myth that Jesus was born in December etc. I am sure most know that it is nothing to do with God, or His glorious Christ. But why bother with it?

It is a nice family time of year for some, and for most a time of drunkeness and debauchery. Like all Christians I would be very glad to see the back of it, (the nominals won't know why, of course).

This season, of all times, has to be one of the worst for cauing anguish in the hearts of many. Memories of lost loved ones; memories of heartbreaks; memories of sad childhoods; all capped with a pseudo-jolity.

Thankfully I can avoid most of it. But I rather wish it would go away.

HI JUSTIN,i rather like christmas myself, and im a christian!

Miniemouse,

I don't mind the family/friends thing myself.

What sort of 'Christian' are you? Which definition are you using?

Justin

I am aware that the December thing is a rediculous hoax--it was an attempt to turn the Roman Saturnalia and various winter solstice holidays into a "Christian" holiday, although I'd agree that it isn't usually practiced in a very Christian way, however you define Christian (God's definition or the one that almost everyone else uses).

Frankly, I find the whole season a bit annoying, especially the advertising.

It's my humble opinion that Christmas, as with anything, is exactly how an individual makes it for themselves.
It is a time to share with family and friends, if that sharing takes a commercial form rather than a religious form we only have ourselves to blame.
Christmas is not provided for us, it does not come in a package.
Personally I can ignore the shopping tat.
Christmas is in the heart not the shopping trolley.
If a person decides that it is a miserable occasion, they have the choice to turn that around for themselves.

hi justin,i dont have a denomination,just faith!what about you?

RDO,

Ah, a man after my own heart! But I must contend that Christmas is not conducted in a remotely Christian way, as it is everything that the Lord God hates.

The advertising is pretty sick, but as we threw TV out of the house many years ago I don't get to see much of it. However, the wretched 'Christmas music' that is everywhere in supermarkets etc., I find really annoying!

Moth,

I agree with much of what you say, but, as it is a family/friends time ever so many are acutely reminded of pains of the past.

Minniemouse,

(Sorry I misspelled your name first time)

I am a free church minister, and I don't belong to a denomination structure, though I do belong to a professional association, though I sometimes wonder if I should bother!

I was soundly born again several years ago.

Justin
We can centre on the pains of the past, or attempt to remember any joy we also may have had.
We can see pain as a gift or a curse. Both bring us to who we are now. Through suffering there can be salvation, it depends on how we approach the looking backwards.

Moth,

I agree.

There is no salvation in anything or anyone but Christ, though. But I assume you don't mean it quite that way. I take it you mean catharsis?

hi Justin, you ole humbug!

I love Christmas. Though I have never really thought of it as a religious event. I am not a Christian but I believe that the myth of Jesus represents the birth of compassion amongst mankind. And so for me, celebrating Christmas as the birthday of Jesus says that, as it is a time of giving and sharing and loving our fellow man, we are also celebrating the birth of compassion in the world.

Many people say that we should love our fellow man all year round, not just during Christmas, and I agree. But I still think it is nice to have a special celebration to remind us.

Of course Christmas has become very commercial and empty for a lot of people, but I don't let that dampen my enthusiasm.



az

Justin
It seems very possible to me that salvation through Jesus can be provided by the gift of carthesis.

Does it now, Moth!

Almighty God,whom I serve, begs to differ.

Azahar,

I see!

Hi Justin ,

See there are things we can agree about. The commercialisation of the Christian myth of Christmas is a real sadness to me.

If you christians want to move it back to a little after the Passover that suits me fine. Then perhaps we pagans can have our Midwinter Solstice celebrations back .

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

OK! Who put Justin back on moderation?

Could someone please come down here from the Office and let me know why my friend is once more being denied his free speech?

Yes he is bigoted, and yes he is prejudiced, and cares not for the consequences of what he believes his divine mission leads him to say. However, if we cannot interact with him in real time it becomes very difficult to show him, and others where he is fundamentally wrong. It becomes nigh on impossible to dig down to the sources of his anger and self-righteousness.

All you do by moderating Justin is to give credence to his belief that as a 'real christian' he will be persecuted and unable to speak freely. You are proving his point to both him and others, who may begin to believe other things he says, and that is scary.

I call upon all h2g2'ers who believe in free speech to rally to Justin, again.

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

Not afraid to Justin friend.

Justin
I propose that like all things, carthesis is a gift from a loving God.

Moth,

Why? I am a pretty good Bible student of some years standing now, and I know of no such spiritual principle; and I would know it if it existed.

You seem to not understand that apart from the general gift of God of life and basics no human being other than His people are being actively 'worked on', if I can put it like that. They are separate from Him; do not know Him; have never heard Him speak to them; and would tear Him to pieces if they could get their hands on Him, and it was in their power.

Justin because everything comes from God in the beginning