Gould is 100% correct on this one.

When Constantine put the early Church of Rome under the State's wing, the
flies captured the flypaper.

From the Pagan festival of the winter solstice, to the spring fertility
celebrations, early Christianity adapted much of the trappings of Pagan
Europe, in order to more easily win over "converts".

While the historical date of the ressurection is aligned with Passover, the
date picked for Christmas was to usurp the winter solstice festival. Most
scientists agree Jesus of Nazareth was born in Oct, I believe. And Easter
still bears most of the trappings of the pagan spring fertility festivals of
the equanox.

It always cracks me up when Christians focus in on Halloween as being the
problem. ALL the Christian holidays are very polluted with outside
influence.

-W (A Christian, but not a moron)




"Gould 0738" wrote in message
news:20031223121748.15210.00001749@mb-

Do you think Christians own December 25? The celebration of Christmas was
placed during this week to make it easier for Constantine to impose
Christianity on
the conquered nations of northern Europe.
(It was easier to officially announce that the festivals were in honor of
Jesus' birth than to try to ban one of the most important celebrations of
the
year).

The birth of Jesus isn't even mentioned in two of the four biographies of
Jesus
in the Bible. Unusual, since most of the other (often somewhat less
miraculous)
events are mentioned in at least three. Nevertheless, it could have
happened
exactly as the old texts stated.............
but it would be very unlikely that it happened in the last week of
December.

"There were shepherds keeping watch over
their flocks by night......"

Shepherds didn't sleep outdoors in Judea until spring. Too cold. Sorry
about
the date, but that doesn't make the story any less beautiful, any less
symbolic, or any less important to millions upon millions of Christian
believers.

**** you, Gould. You really stepped over the line.

Last I checked, Christianity is one of the simplest religions of all.
There are
only two
unbreakable rules. 1) Love God with all your heart and soul. 2) Love your
neighbor as much as you love yourself.

Based on you comment, whatever sensibility I accidentally offended it
certainly
couldn't have been Christian.

Your thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and philosophies are not a threat to me,
nor do
I find them offensive. (Your behavior? We won't go there).

I am sorry, for you, if your universe is so small and dark that only those
who
agree with your every perspective have a place in it. While you might be
likely
to condemn me to hell after death, being stuck in a world of hatred only
means
that you get to experience it while still alive. Too bad.

Merry Christmas, Wally. :-)