um...wow...

[Jangler]

Just a little too far...

http://www.bosscreations.net/

[Samuel L. Jackson]

It's not just a tree, it's a movement!!!!

[Zod]

Not tacky at all!

[Cat]

I would be more appropriate if they had a baby in the tree. Christmas is about baby Jesus. Not dead Jesus.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

The tree itself is a pagan ritual...

But leave it to Christians to take something they don't like, conquer it, and make it theirs...

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Jeremiah 10:2-4: "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. 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. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." (KJV).

All those Christians are a bunch of goddamned heathens!

[Sultan33g]

All those Christians are a bunch of goddamned heathens!

God I love that word

[Sultan33g]

All those Christians are a bunch of goddamned heathens!

God I love that word

[shinner]

Just a little too far...

http://www.bosscreations.net/

Eesh....yeah, a bit too far.

The tree itself is a pagan ritual...

Let it go already, Johnny Appleseed....cripes!

[Sultan33g]

Let it go already, Johnny Appleseed....cripes!

he is right tho...just sayin

The following are some of the major symbols taken from pagan rituals observed at Christmas:

* The Christmas tree was meant to honor Odin, the Norse God. It would have been hung with the sacrifice of nine animals. The tradition of the tree was co-opted by Marin Luther, and later brought to the New World.

* Kissing under the mistletoe was one of the pagan rituals observed around the winter solstice. Mistletoe is associated with peace and love.

* Holly and ivy are symbols of rebirth and the promise of spring. Decking the halls with boughs of holly is now interpreted as the coming of Christ’s birth, and the spring of Christianity.

* Santa Claus may have once been Odin or Thor, who was thought to visit once a year and leave presents for good children, in their shoes. However, the exchange of gifts at Christmas is also closely tied to the visit of the kings. In some countries, Epiphany, or Three Kings Day on the sixth of January remains the traditional time for exchanging gifts.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Hey! I'm not a pothead!

[shinner]

he is right tho...just sayin

I know...EVERYONE knows...guess there's always one in every Christmas thread though. The Pagans around the world must really be hurt by the lack of props they get. They should probably be allowed to open up some casinos as restitution.

[Sultan33g]

I know...EVERYONE knows...guess there's always one in every Christmas thread though. The Pagans around the world must really be hurt by the lack of props they get. They should probably be allowed to open up some casinos as restitution.

do not say casino....it makes me sad about the good old days when I used to go to vegas on the regular...now im broke and cant go!!:sad:

[Delhomeboy]

One of the great strengths that Christianity used to have, as it were, was its ability to synchronize with the beliefs of others in different parts of the world.

Now, unfortunately, that idea has been lost due to the chest-beating, overly CHRIST-mas crowd such as jangler is referencing.

But, historically, when Christianity was spreading to all parts of the globe, the people preaching it from Paul to St. Patrick were able to use the pagan religions as a jumping of point to bring people to Christ. There's the famous example at Areophagus where Paul used a statue of a Pagan god to launch into his message. And, of course, there's the Christmas trees and the wreaths and such...things that allowed the pagan followers to become Christians, but still keep some of their traditions--which, of course, made this new belief more appealing. And of course there's the famous example of St. Patrick who, legend has it, used the pagan symbol of the three-leafed shamrock to illustrate the Trinity to Celtic groups in Ireland.

Like I said, it was a great strength of Christianity that they were able to do these things in the beginning...but now people have become so set in their ways that they disdain anything remotely approaching synchronization, to the detriment of spreading Christ's message.

And that's my long post for the day.