What is the Atheist/Agnostic justification for Holidays?

[QUOTE="Planet_Pluto"]

LOL at all the wanna-be intellectuals who smugly say something along the lines of, "Christmas is/was a pagan holiday."

Really? Pagans celebrated the birth of Jesus? No.

While the date of December 25th was significant to them (and was cannibalized by Christianity for several reasons), it had nothing to do with Christmas (the birth of Jesus). It's not too unlike how we, here in the United States, 'celebrate' Washington's birthday on the third Monday of February each year. It isn't always the 'actual' birth date on which people celebrate.

tenaka2

Do you have to sound so insulting and arrogant to everyone? Christianity did exploit the traditional pagan holidays, just accept it and move on, no need to be so condescending.

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

[QUOTE="Planet_Pluto"]

LOL at all the wanna-be intellectuals who smugly say something along the lines of, "Christmas is/was a pagan holiday."

Really? Pagans celebrated the birth of Jesus? No.

While the date of December 25th was significant to them (and was cannibalized by Christianity for several reasons), it had nothing to do with Christmas (the birth of Jesus). It's not too unlike how we, here in the United States, 'celebrate' Washington's birthday on the third Monday of February each year. It isn't always the 'actual' birth date on which people celebrate.

Planet_Pluto

Do you have to sound so insulting and arrogant to everyone? Christianity did exploit the traditional pagan holidays, just accept it and move on, no need to be so condescending.

You didnt address anything, you just had a little rant and ended with unfounded bulls*hit, so no change really.

Why Were These Pagan Holidays and Festivals "Christianized"?

The Christianization of Pagan holidays began about the fourth century A.D. when the Roman Emperor Constantine, became (or feigned becoming) a Christian. In order to consolidate his rule, he incorporated the Pagan holidays and festivals into the church ritual - attracting the Pagans, but he gave the holidays and festivals new "Christian" names and identities - thus appeasing the Christians. Over the centuries, this practice has continued until the present time where we find the two systems, Paganism and Christianity, almost indistinguishable.

This is the Adversary's clever deception - Paganism dressed up in Christian clothes! It's still nothing more than Paganism, but the Christian churches have wholeheartedly embraced this deception.

[QUOTE="Planet_Pluto"]

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

Do you have to sound so insulting and arrogant to everyone? Christianity did exploit the traditional pagan holidays, just accept it and move on, no need to be so condescending.

tenaka2

You didnt address anything, you just had a little rant and ended with unfounded bulls*hit, so no change really.

Why Were These Pagan Holidays and Festivals "Christianized"?

The Christianization of Pagan holidays began about the fourth century A.D. when the Roman Emperor Constantine, became (or feigned becoming) a Christian. In order to consolidate his rule, he incorporated the Pagan holidays and festivals into the church ritual - attracting the Pagans, but he gave the holidays and festivals new "Christian" names and identities - thus appeasing the Christians. Over the centuries, this practice has continued until the present time where we find the two systems, Paganism and Christianity, almost indistinguishable.

This is the Adversary's clever deception - Paganism dressed up in Christian clothes! It's still nothing more than Paganism, but the Christian churches have wholeheartedly embraced this deception.

Thank you for the morning chuckles.

Yipee!.... a copy/paste to basically say what I said to begin with regarding December 25th (with a bit of an anti-Christian theme.... Constantine, despite what HE wrote/spoke about himself"feigned becoming a Christian".... LOL). :lol:

Thank you for the morning chuckles.

Planet_Pluto

So your saying you now agree that that all the major christian holidays were originally pagan? Good boy.

If it means paid time off of work, I'm in. If you take issue with the religous significance of some holidays, feel free to work them, O' high and mighty people. As for me, I'll take whatever holiday vacactions I can get - be it budhists, taoists, christian, norse, etc.

[QUOTE="Planet_Pluto"]

Yipee!.... a copy/paste to basically say what I said to begin with regarding December 25th (with a bit of an anti-Christian theme.... Constantine, despite what HE wrote/spoke about himself"feigned becoming a Christian".... LOL). :lol:

Thank you for the morning chuckles.

tenaka2

So your saying you now agree that that all the major christian holidays were originally pagan? Good boy.

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

[QUOTE="Planet_Pluto"]

Yipee!.... a copy/paste to basically say what I said to begin with regarding December 25th (with a bit of an anti-Christian theme.... Constantine, despite what HE wrote/spoke about himself"feigned becoming a Christian".... LOL). :lol:

Thank you for the morning chuckles.

Planet_Pluto

So your saying you now agree that that all the major christian holidays were originally pagan? Good boy.

Your just skirting the issue, why was it convenient? The same applies to Easter btw and most other 'Christian' holidays.

[QUOTE="Planet_Pluto"]

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

So your saying you now agree that that all the major christian holidays were originally pagan? Good boy.

tenaka2

Your just skirting the issue, why was it convenient? The same applies to Easter btw and most other 'Christian' holidays.

Don't worry about 'em Tanaka, he's just jealous that Saint Nicholas never got a decent comic book. [spoiler] [/spoiler] Baconbits2004

Here ya go (although I'm not sure if this is exactly flattering for jolly old St. Nick). :?

Planet_Pluto

He is getting stuffed by superman, he looks happy enough :P

[QUOTE="Planet_Pluto"]

Here ya go (although I'm not sure if this is exactly flattering for jolly old St. Nick). :?

tenaka2

He is getting stuffed by superman, he looks happy enough :P

Ever hear of Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny?

Dec 25th is no more or less important to me than any random Sat or Sun; except of course for the non-religious Santa Claus and that is for my daughter more than anything. Easter means an excessive chocolate long weekend. There is nothing to justify.

The fact that religious and non-religious people get the same days off from a business point of view is just a matter of economic convenience for the system as a whole.