debdodd

Not everyone gets to "wake up" ready to rip packages open, takes 5 minutes to wrap 'em and 3 seconds to rip the paper off ... parents have usually been up all night with the stupid "some assembly required" instructions and haven't been to bed yet ... then there is the whole meal to prepare and clean up after ... bah humbug .... I hate holidays ... unless it's summer cookout time!

__________________
"Ubi dubium ibi libertas."

"We are all lone souls. It pays to know humility, lest the delusion of control, of mastery, overwhelms. And indeed, we seem a species prone to that delusion, again and ever again ....."

jaej

Not to sound crass, but you are wrong. The symbology (boondock saints, anyone? lol), or to be gramatically correct the symbolism, in Christmas is of god giving the gift of his son (Jesus) so we as humans would be saved from our sin. The wise men giving gifts to baby jesus was an illustration of that.

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Chapstiquelova

well what you said sounds even better anyway so KEWL

__________________
Fool for Christ - 1 corinthians 4:10

1 Timothy 4:12
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.

John 15:18-21
http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm

sisterX

I didnt mean the celebrating of Jesus was unecessary, but the comercialisation of christmas is unecessary and it is losing its spiritual meaning.

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"But as for me (I believe) that He is Allah, my Lord, and I shall associate none as partner with my Lord." Surah Al-Kahf verse 38. Holy Quran

Chapstiquelova

and you are right

__________________
Fool for Christ - 1 corinthians 4:10

1 Timothy 4:12
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.

John 15:18-21
http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm

lauraclay

Yes, it lost its spiritual meaning, but as a non-Christian, I have no problem with that. People who are truly devout still celebrate it religiously. But mainstream, it has new meanings. And I think the message is prolific. Maybe it's different around you, but every Christmas special I see is about giving. And maybe my house is different, because we don't mind wrapping as much. I personally love wrapping presents and giving them. And we love cooking the meal. It's awesome family time because we spend hours on it, and then you get to eat. Eating is great.

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The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish,
and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.

The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits.
When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.

The purpose of words is to convey ideas.
When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.

Where can I find a man who has forgotten words?
He is the one I would like to talk to.

jaej

Yes. Unnecessary. As a former christian I sort of have an issue with a religious holiday being taken by society and raped, though I'm not sure why. There's no reason for such a commercial explosion. IMHO, it's a religious holiday and should stay one.

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sisterX

Jaej, presuming you have devout christian parents, how do they feel about you leaving christianity?

__________________
"But as for me (I believe) that He is Allah, my Lord, and I shall associate none as partner with my Lord." Surah Al-Kahf verse 38. Holy Quran

jaej

They've never really said anything to me overtly about it, but now and then they'll say some sort of snide comment. Also, they often talk to me like I'm still a christian, like 'we hope you go on to do great things for god' or whatever. They don't approve by any means, but they respect the fact that it's my decision and haven't really ever confronted me openly about it.

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debdodd

with my parents I have a strict don't ask don't tell policy ... they are old and why fight with them ... in all these years I haven't been able to convince them that I know more than they do about anything. Let 'em die in peace ... I just delete all the "God" emails my Dad sends me and leave it that.

I don't feel an overwhelming need to rain on anyone's parade or enlighten them unless they specifically and sincerely want to know what I think, feel or believe. Other than here I try not to discuss religion with the masses .... I have had bad experience with that .... actually have had people "pray" for me and my confusion at work!!! It was horrible ... I lasted 6 months with those snake charmers and their Baptist bible beating ways before I had my own form of "come to Jesus" with them ... wasn't pretty and didn't win me any brownie points with management when I told them what I thought of their so called God and their praying for me ... of course I used my own version of "shock" therapy on them .... it wasn't pretty ... I won't use that place as a reference

As democratic or free as we want to believe we are in the States, the reality is if you are an atheist you are frowned upon most the time ... if you declare yourself agnostic ... they just think you are confused and they pray for you .... in some instances it's safer if you just let them pray for you rather than face their scorn and get scorched! I think that many more people would declare their disbelief if the opposition didn't make it so uncomfortable for them. There would never be a politician voted in if he/she declared themselves as atheist! No way in hell!

__________________
"Ubi dubium ibi libertas."

"We are all lone souls. It pays to know humility, lest the delusion of control, of mastery, overwhelms. And indeed, we seem a species prone to that delusion, again and ever again ....."