Ok lets start talking w/a controversial topic!

I've just finished reading this WHOLE thread and went back and fourth for a while about whether or not I'd add my two cents since religious conversations often get very ugly....but this one seems to be pretty open and level one so I'll give it a go.

I was raised Roman Catholic. I was baptised, i recieved communion and I was confirmed. There was a period in my life where I was very religiously conflicted (for reasons that will go unstated). I was very attached to my religion but spiritually, it wasn't fulfilling to me any longer, I needed something to fill the void in me that my lack of faith in Christianity had left. Although I did believe that Jesus exited, I could no longer bring myself to believe that he was the son of god, because I wasn't sure I believed in god in a literal sense. How could a man be the son of nothing? My search for something to fill this void took years. I don't want to be one of those people who says they lost their faith, found it in something else and how thinks their religion is better then anyone elses so I'm not even going to name it, however, I did find what I was looking for, and it works very well for me.

The point is, after my search was over, there was never a question that I would continue to celebrate Christmas AND Easter due the their place in the history of the world and in my family. Christmas and Easter are two holidays that are older in tradition then the birth of Christ, and just because a religion mandated that the birth of Jesus be celebrated on Dec. 25th to make it easier for the masses to convert, doesn't mean that it HAS to be celebrated as religous. Originaly they were pagan holidays of the Winter and Spring. Death and Life. As was previously stated, most of the modern 'Christmas Decorations' originate from Pagan beliefs and traditions, so if the Christans had no problem adopting these traditions as their own, neither do I. As for Easter, eggs, bunnies, chicks, these are all old symbols of fertility and rebirth that originated before the birth of Christ as well so, that said, I also have no problem celebrating a time of year when the Earth comes to life again. I do not however celebrate the religious aspect of these holidays any longer but I do recognize that Christmas is a religiously observent day in some peoples lives and I respect that. It is celebrated as a religous holiday for those who do believe that Christmas is the observed day for the birth of Christ but I see no reason why people should be angry that their fellow man would want to share in the joy and giving of the season. It's all relative to what you feel and believe.

BUT here's some food for thought, even if you are not religious, why not celebrate the day in which a man was born who effectively changed the world? Son of god or not. We celebrate Washington's birthday and Martin Luther King's Birthday, and I myself celebrate the birth of Siddhartha Gotama, I feel this is no different and that 'Christmas' can be celebrated and observed in many, many ways.

Hope that didn't make anyone too angry.

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Posted by TGs Lady 22908

I've just finished reading this WHOLE thread and went back and fourth for a while about whether or not I'd add my two cents since religious conversations often get very ugly....but this one seems to be pretty open and level one so I'll give it a go.

I was raised Roman Catholic. I was baptised, i recieved communion and I was confirmed. There was a period in my life where I was very religiously conflicted (for reasons that will go unstated). I was very attached to my religion but spiritually, it wasn't fulfilling to me any longer, I needed something to fill the void in me that my lack of faith in Christianity had left. Although I did believe that Jesus exited, I could no longer bring myself to believe that he was the son of god, because I wasn't sure I believed in god in a literal sense. How could a man be the son of nothing? My search for something to fill this void took years. I don't want to be one of those people who says they lost their faith, found it in something else and how thinks their religion is better then anyone elses so I'm not even going to name it, however, I did find what I was looking for, and it works very well for me.

The point is, after my search was over, there was never a question that I would continue to celebrate Christmas AND Easter due the their place in the history of the world and in my family. Christmas and Easter are two holidays that are older in tradition then the birth of Christ, and just because a religion mandated that the birth of Jesus be celebrated on Dec. 25th to make it easier for the masses to convert, doesn't mean that it HAS to be celebrated as religous. Originaly they were pagan holidays of the Winter and Spring. Death and Life. As was previously stated, most of the modern 'Christmas Decorations' originate from Pagan beliefs and traditions, so if the Christans had no problem adopting these traditions as their own, neither do I. As for Easter, eggs, bunnies, chicks, these are all old symbols of fertility and rebirth that originated before the birth of Christ as well so, that said, I also have no problem celebrating a time of year when the Earth comes to life again. I do not however celebrate the religious aspect of these holidays any longer but I do recognize that Christmas is a religiously observent day in some peoples lives and I respect that. It is celebrated as a religous holiday for those who do believe that Christmas is the observed day for the birth of Christ but I see no reason why people should be angry that their fellow man would want to share in the joy and giving of the season. It's all relative to what you feel and believe.

BUT here's some food for thought, even if you are not religious, why not celebrate the day in which a man was born who effectively changed the world? Son of god or not. We celebrate Washington's birthday and Martin Luther King's Birthday, and I myself celebrate the birth of Siddhartha Gotama, I feel this is no different and that 'Christmas' can be celebrated and observed in many, many ways.

Hope that didn't make anyone too angry.

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i like what you said about easter - now i wont feel guilty when i have kids and we have easter and the easter bunny but dont teach them about jesus - im sure the thought of that makes some of you nuts!

but more seriously, i liked your post
very well said

lol I think we fairly successfully got our opinions across without an all out brawl! this is amazing!

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Posted by Soon2beAlberti

lol I think we fairly successfully got our opinions across without an all out brawl! this is amazing!

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I gotta think about what the next discussion topic should be...

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Posted by Mimacat

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Posted by Soon2beAlberti

lol I think we fairly successfully got our opinions across without an all out brawl! this is amazing!

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I gotta think about what the next discussion topic should be...

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if we continue to do this regularly then debating topics will become more normal on here and it won't turn into drama, we can all just state our views and thats it.

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by Mimacat

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Posted by Soon2beAlberti

lol I think we fairly successfully got our opinions across without an all out brawl! this is amazing!

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I gotta think about what the next discussion topic should be...

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if we continue to do this regularly then debating topics will become more normal on here and it won't turn into drama, we can all just state our views and thats it.

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I think its a great way to excercise our brains. Once you're out of school you don't get MUCH opportunity to have educated discussions like this.

i agree ladies.....i was not offended at all by anyone and i hope i didnt offend anybody either!

it was interesting to talk about - i didnt even realize that people felt so differently about the holidays - i never really thought about it before!

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Posted by Mimacat

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by Mimacat

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Posted by Soon2beAlberti

lol I think we fairly successfully got our opinions across without an all out brawl! this is amazing!

---

I gotta think about what the next discussion topic should be...

---

if we continue to do this regularly then debating topics will become more normal on here and it won't turn into drama, we can all just state our views and thats it.

---

I think its a great way to excercise our brains. Once you're out of school you don't get MUCH opportunity to have educated discussions like this.

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Indeed. FH and I debate over religion (and other stuff) all the time. It's fun....sometimes it will actually provoke you to look something up and learn something new (ya know.....to prove FH wrong )

no, but seriously, debate always makes me want to know more about certain things so I can debate with more knowledge behind me (so FH can be proven wrong more eaisily )

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Posted by TGs Lady 22908

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Posted by Mimacat

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by Mimacat

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Posted by Soon2beAlberti

lol I think we fairly successfully got our opinions across without an all out brawl! this is amazing!

---

I gotta think about what the next discussion topic should be...

---

if we continue to do this regularly then debating topics will become more normal on here and it won't turn into drama, we can all just state our views and thats it.

---

I think its a great way to excercise our brains. Once you're out of school you don't get MUCH opportunity to have educated discussions like this.

---

Indeed. FH and I debate over religion (and other stuff) all the time. It's fun....sometimes it will actually provoke you to look something up and learn something new (ya know.....to prove FH wrong )

no, but seriously, debate always makes me want to know more about certain things so I can debate with more knowledge behind me (so FH can be proven wrong more eaisily )

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Sometimes when I debate with FH, I make up random things and pass them off as facts just so I can win

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Posted by Espo22

Very well said TG and very informative.

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yes and nice to know that you celebrate The Enlightened One!!!

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Posted by Future Mulligan

i agree ladies.....i was not offended at all by anyone and i hope i didnt offend anybody either!

it was interesting to talk about - i didnt even realize that people felt so differently about the holidays - i never really thought about it before!

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i know! its like i just always thought of it the way that i was raised and how everyone around me celebrates so this is so interesting


and while i DID say that i was offended earlier - it was just a misunderstanding

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Posted by Mimacat

BUMP B/C I LOVE CHRISTMAS AND JESUS

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i'm chillin w/ jesus friday night