Pagan Holidays, Like Christmas And Easter.

[WrongWay 0]

Last night on Dr. Phil his topic was "Is this normal"? First two sets of guests had serious issues. Guy liked to tell details of sex life to the patrons of the bar he owns... which made his wife uncomfortable. Next couple, the lady was a serious hypocondriac.3rd lady... Mid-20s. Her family is upset because she no longer wants to celebrate Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and Valentines Day. All of which have Pagan origins and have become WAY too commercialized.She was fully informed, knowing that the winter solistice celebration was around for many thousands of years before the Christians tried (very successfully) to usurp it. Evergreens, Yule, holly, chestnuts, silver bells, flying raindeer, snowmen, the red and green colors, candles.... all of it WAY pre-dates Christianity.She knew of Ostara, the pagan celebration of the return of Spring, which the Christians like to pretend has something to do with the resurection of Christ.Halloween originally had NOTHING to do with "All Saints Day". Another invention of the Christians in an attempt to usurp (this time less sucessfully) a pagan holiday.Valentine's Day? Just so happens that a martyr was killed for performing Christina weddings.... on the same day that pagans had been celebrating Juno, goddess of love for a couple thuosand years... Yeah right. Another pagan holiday stolen by the Christians.Thanksgiving? Celebrating the slaughter of Indians and the stealing of their land?Anyway, it was the contention of this lady that God would be very unhappy with Christians that celebrate pagan holidays, even if they were using a different name in the celebration.Dr. Phil's conclusion was that anthing is abnormal if it causes problems, and since this was causing probelms with the young lady's family, it was not normal. She should back off her religious convections and just go along because these holidays are fun and it would be easier to get along with her family.She also objected to the over commercialization of these holidays, which Dr. Phil happend to also dilike. Not the giving of gifts, but the preasure to buy gifts for so many people and to spend so much on them.As an Atheist, I have no problem celebrating the fun aspects of the pagan holidays. I know there is no fat man coming down my chimney, no bunny delivering eggs, and that the dead do not come back alive. But it is fun decorating a tree, getting and giving presents, decorating eggs, giving and getting a basket of candy, dressing up and going to a costume party (my grilfriend and I were Jack Skellington and Sally this year).I also know that the winter solstice celebration has nothing to do with the birth of Christ, that Easter is about spring not a reseruction, that Valentine's day has nothing to do with a martyr, and that Halloween has to do with the coming of winter and the darkness and death that comes with it....So, how do all you Christians feel about the pagan holidays? It is abnormal to choose to not celebrate them?

[Loismustdie 0]

As a kid we never did. Christ never said I had to fit in, actually the opposite-" A peculiar people, a royal priesthood." I applaud her efforts to call bullshit just what it is. Dr. Phil, while a smart tool, is still a tool.

[Zealous Donkey 0]

I know there is no fat man coming down my chimney, no bunny delivering eggs.

Dr. Phil, while a smart tool, is still a tool.

So, how do all you Christians feel about the pagan holidays? It is abnormal to choose to not celebrate them?

" When in Rome do as the Roman's do." This would apply somewhat here as Pagans were converted to Christianity some of their traditions continued and other Christians began to participate until they evolved into what they are. Honestly, I think it depends on how individuals celebrate these holidays which determain whether or not they honer God. I would certainly think that disrupting ones family such as this women appears to be is selfish and probably a symptom of deeper problems. I would agree with Dr. Phil on this one.