re: other religions celebrating Christian holidays

Quoting The Master:" ah but the christmas tree is basically to worship Santa ... who is based off Odin who flew over the ... [snip!] ... the children who gifted his mount with sugar on their doorsteps. So every Christmas tree is in fact an idol for a pagan god."

No, it stands symbolic for life within death. It's not really considered an object of worship in norse beliefs. Santa is based off a lot of concepts, odin is POSSIBLY one of them.

Quoting MysticWitchKat:" No, it stands symbolic for life within death. It's not really considered an object of worship in norse beliefs. Santa is based off a lot of concepts, odin is POSSIBLY one of them."

I am aware, being a Norse Paganist and all, I never said anything about the tree being Norse just that its seen more as a symbol towards modern Santa (being for the presents and all). In my family we don't speak of Santa but of Odin, and the modern idea of Santa yes is an emalgumation of many different gods and mortals. Most recently its a guy off of a 1960's (I believe) Coca Cola advert.

<blockquote><b>Quoting The Master:</b>" ah but the christmas tree is basically to worship Santa ... who is based off Odin who flew over the ... [snip!] ... the children who gifted his mount with sugar on their doorsteps. So every Christmas tree is in fact an idol for a pagan god."</blockquote>




Lol. No.
The Christmas tree is a pretty and traditional decoration.
Easter eggs are a pretty and traditional decoration.
My huge bowls of citrus are pretty and traditional decoration.

Christmas trees are actually based from Egypt when on the shortest day of the year they would bring in palm fronds to symbolise lifes neverending cycle.

But I like the Odin one way better.

I don't agree with what your family stated. God is not a Christian God or God of any other particular religion but is universal and is not for or against how we choose to practice or celebrate. I am not Christian either but Christmas is still my favorite holiday because it brings families together and I don't see issues with buying gifts. It certainly helps the economy if only just a little

Christmas was stolen by the Christians from the pagans so in my eyes that makes it fair game. Steal it back, change it up, do as you wish.
If someone stole a car then ran to police when someone stole their stolen car from them the police would laugh..... before arresting them. So steal that stolen holiday and do as you like   I do!

Quoting Emmiboo:" Christmas was stolen by the Christians from the pagans so in my eyes that makes it fair game. Steal it ... [snip!] ... car from them the police would laugh..... before arresting them. So steal that stolen holiday and do as you like   I do!"

Stolen? Just because they liked a certain aspect of celebrating and incorporated that into their traditions it's considered theft?
I "stole" a jewish tradition for my wedding.
I have "stolen" other aspects from different cultures. Am I a thief?
How about all those ideas i get from Pinterest and Houzz. Am i guilty?

Quoting TheNuge:" Stolen? Just because they liked a certain aspect of celebrating and incorporated that into their traditions ... [snip!] ... other aspects from different cultures. Am I a thief? How about all those ideas i get from Pinterest and Houzz. Am i guilty?"

They didn't do it because they "liked" the certain aspects of celebrations. Christians didn't even really have a winter holiday but then they used Yule/pagan traditions to capitalize on their selfish cause of wanting to convert everyone to Christianity. So yes they stole basically the entire holiday for the purpose of trying to force people to follow their religion.

Quoting Tarynosaurus Rex:" They didn't do it because they "liked" the certain aspects of celebrations. Christians didn't even really ... [snip!] ... So yes they stole basically the entire holiday for the purpose of trying to force people to follow their religion."

lol.
you have some warped opinions.

Quoting Tarynosaurus Rex:" They didn't do it because they "liked" the certain aspects of celebrations. Christians didn't even really ... [snip!] ... So yes they stole basically the entire holiday for the purpose of trying to force people to follow their religion."

Actually she is correct tare bear. Native beliefs being fused into christian beliefs was done out of convenience of making conversions easier to handle. Christmas was being celebrate long before yule aspects were added to it.

Quoting The Master:" I finally came out to my family as a non-Christian yesterday and even though everyone seemed cool with ... [snip!] ... face to God if I even so much as invited Christmas into my house. I was just wondering what other people thought about this?"

think it depends really, i mean Saint Nick was a nice guy, so its cool in my book if you do the santa thing, and in America, unless you are going to mass and observing all of Christmas and pretending to pray and mock anything then no, i would say dont..

but just the family and Santa thing? Go for it! Just dont tell your kids your celebrating Jesus by giving them gifts  

PLus, Christmas is about Jesus for Christians, Santa is just an extra..

Quoting Glo♥:" WTH?... Do people not know Christmas it's not really a Christian holiday it's pagan... Its not Jesus birthday. To us is about being with family. Presents are a plus  "

That may be how it originated, doesnt mean that its not the symbolic birthday of Jesus.

Quoting The Master:" To a degree I found it funny because 99% of the Christian traditions actually came from my belief system over a 1000 years before the birth of Christ"

Well, we couldnt just evangelize our religion without offering something fun!

I mean, your religion is full of fun, ours, is kinda serious.. gotta give it that sparkle somehow! haha.

Quoting 624582:" But, I don't invite Christ into my home. I invite that fat smurfing bastard in a red suit who totes around ... [snip!] ... God. We also celebrate Easter. Do you know why? Because I thoroughly enjoy dying eggs and eating a smurf ton of jelly beans."

Thats not celebrating Easter. So its alllllll good.

Quoting Kayla [ ]♥:" Tell them it's a kick in the face to pagans everytime they celebrate it, because christmas is a stolen holiday."

Boohoo.

Its not a stolen holiday, let go of that grudge.