-Caveat Lector- From: Xxx Yyy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Even given that the details you give may be correct
Don't take my word for it, study it for yourself -- it's documented historical fact. >the fact >that there is a time similarity between a solstice celebration and Christmas >doesn't mean that there has been no history of Christmas celebrations over >the last 2,000 years. Actually, 'Christmas' celebrations are much newer than 2000 years; the early Christian church did NOT celebrate Christ's birth, and indeed prohibited Christians from partaking of the pagan celebrations taking place in late December in the various cultures they found themselves in. It was only when the Christian church became the dominant church did it feel secure enough to lift the winter solstice celebration ban and changed it into "Christ's birthday"... >The holiday was kept alive by its association with >Christianity rather than the other way around. The reality is the exact opposite -- people continued their beloved celebrations even when the church prohibited it, so the church decided on a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and adapted the customs to the Christian church; same thing happened with Halloween and Easter, both of which were pagan celebrations which the church usurped for it's own uses. >I really don't think that >those who celebrate the Winter Holidays are calling themselves pagans because >the time frame is there. Of course they dont'; but it doesn't change the FACT that the decorating of evergreen trees, hanging mistletoe, brewing wassail, putting up lights against the dark of the year, flying reindeer, and magical spirits/elves who hand out gifts and edible treats all come from pagan celebrations and have absolutely NOTHING to do with the birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ and never did, except for when the Christian church decided to adapt the customs to itself and therefore put a Christian MYTH to those celebrations (e.g., the star on top of the tree supposedly representing the star of Bethlehem, or a Catholic bishop/saint from Turkey being superimposed onto the pre-existing Yule god)... >Winter Holidays is such a forced, shared ritual. In time >we Jews will be asked why we aren't celebrating Winter Holidays with the rest >of the community? What will our answer be? It certainly has been much >easier for us to answer why we don't celebrate Christmas. I've always wondered why Jews don't hang lights on their houses for Hannukah, since it IS the 'Festival of Lights'... I also think that Jews need to get ornaments/decorations as tacky as "Christians" put up for Christmas, e.g. someone should come up with a bubble-light menorah... (I also think God has a special Hell for people who put up plastic light-up creches; God is going to demand of such people when their time comes: "What?! You really think we all looked that ugly?! Down below with ye!") ;-) <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
