Comments on: Pagan Holidays, Pagan Traditions, Bah -Humbug!

By: David T

David T — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 03:15:49 +0000

I love the pagan touches! Sauce for the goose, as Mr. Spock would say.

By: M to tha O

M to tha O — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 03:35:47 +0000

Actually, my sister in law, a self described pagan, has more in common with my beliefs than any of my friends from other faiths.
And let’s face it, western society has completely destroyed the original meanings of holidays, so it’s really a moot point.
To me it’s a wonderful time expressly set aside to spend with my family to celebrate the true spirit of giving and in rememberance of Christ.

By: Bret

Bret — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:22:07 +0000

You’re still upset that you had to throw an employee Christmas party, aren’t you?!:P

Sam gives the best explanation here. There’s NO WAY you’re going to get away from un-godly symbols. Just because they’re not from God doesn’t mean they’re evil, either. Every family, every person, has their own traditions (you, for example have the tradition of watching movies on your half day off every Thursday. Is that not a pagan ceremony?>:) They help us and hurt us in many ways. Quit letting the world tell you what everything symbolizes and do it yourself!:)

By: Jacob M

Jacob M — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:13:51 +0000

So why do we do this?

1. It’s fun.

2. It’s harmless. Buying evergreen trees isn’t a religious ritual that we are participating in. We don’t make any covenants by drinking eggnogg. So, no harm, no foul.

3. It’s a time we spend with our family. Any reason to do that is worth it, in my book, and I think the Lord thinks the same way, too.

By: Jacob M

Jacob M — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:12:45 +0000

So why do we do this?

1. It’s fun.

2. It’s harmless. Buying evergreen trees isn’t a religious ritual that we are participating in. We don’t make any covenants by drinking eggnogg. So, no harm, no foul.

3. It’s a time we spend with our family. Any reason to do that is worth it, in my book, and I think the Lord thinks the same way, too.

By: Sam B.

Sam B. — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:58:53 +0000

Don,
It’s not that we, personally, always get to imbue symbols with meaning. It’s a cultural and collective exercise, one that generally takes time. (Which, to some extent, would be my response to LL, too.) For all I know, you (or anyone else) personally equates pine trees with sacrifice to idols; that means nothing to me, because, your idiosyncratic view to the contrary, that’s not the symbolism it has in my culture.

At the same time, if I were to venture into a culture inimecal to pine trees, I wouldn’t flaunt my Christmas tree, by any means (although I may still have one, because it would still mean something in my culture).

It is very possible that, in 1500 years, pine trees will have some other cultural meaning, unrelated to what we, as Westerners in the early 21st century, attribute to them. If that’s the case, it’ll be a poor argument for Kang and Kodos to argue that, no, the pine tree doesn’t represent the subjugation of the human race because, way back when, it was a Christian symbol of redemption and eternal life.

But, like Tracy said, some symbols seem to have a way of transcending a whole lot of cultures, so there’s no guarantee, either, that Kang and Kodos won’t see it the way we do.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:56:35 +0000

Eggs equate a new birth. That would fit in with the Resurrection. Being alive again and such…

I don’t think we have to justify them. Why should we have to? What’s wrong with taking pagan symbols and making them our own? Do they own them? I think most of us do a pretty good job of making Christ the center of our Christmas celebrations. The rest of it is fun and harmless. Very few children will grow up pagans because of it.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:47:08 +0000

Tracy,
Eggs=fertility, yes but what does that have to do with the resurrection? Celebrating Easter with it’s easter eggs is a great example of a pagan holiday that we christian justify in keeping because of tradition.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:42:42 +0000

Sam,
So if we can attach whatever we want to symbols, like making Christmas trees etc. acceptable, where do we draw the line? I kind of doubt the German’s (or whoever stated the Christmas tree “symbol”) went out looking for a symbol of the resurrection and said WOW the evergreen tree with candles and popcorn garlands sure reminds me the resurrection. (sorry – probably a bit too sarcastic).

Which foolish traditions of men do we ignore and not practice and which ones do we hold dear to us?

By: Don

Don — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:28:46 +0000

Geoff,
of course I care if you do…I don’t want a good man like you going off practicing and believing in these foolish traditions of men…I’m here to protect you from such babel from Babylon. (Ok, I’ll take the tongue out of my cheek).