tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31066305.post116351498944263437..comments2022-07-10T15:51:21.325+01:00Comments on my kind of messiah: jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08867127907867733027noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31066305.post-1165520329896096562006-12-07T19:38:00.000+00:002006-12-07T19:38:00.000+00:00Redemption is one of the defining features of Chri...<I>Redemption</I> is one of the defining features of Christian theology. I think it applies nicely to Christmas. I agree that there is certainly strong evidence to suggest that Winter Solstice was hijacked by the early church calendar to become the Christmas festival. But this is redemption in action! Perhaps the church took something pagan and converted it into something Christian. <BR/>God redeems people in a similar way. He takes<BR/>natural, earthly people and turns them into spiritual, heavenly people. <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph%201:7;&version=50;" REL="nofollow">Ephesians 1:7</A>jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08867127907867733027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31066305.post-1165085072815105872006-12-02T18:44:00.000+00:002006-12-02T18:44:00.000+00:00Don't forget the tree, the Roman-era vestige from ...Don't forget the tree, the Roman-era vestige from the orgiastic Saturnalia, when pine boughs were hung for their scent and slaves were given temporary freedom. And never mind that the only surviving historical records suggest Jesus was born in the Spring (shepherding in Winter?). Or that the date selection was a Church political tool. Or that the modern holiday was basically developed by American entrepreneurs. Christmas was just as "religious" when it was a bunch of Nords crouching in the snow to hide from Oden. More so, if you ask the Puritans. So: You guys have 364 other days on which to be holy-rollers. Let Christmas be for us, those who just want to spread some cheer, give a little to charity, see family and old friends (and maybe get a little drunk) and therefore don't need to concern ourselves with the intermingling of business and somebody's second coming.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com