(12-19-2012 06:49 AM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(12-18-2012 08:55 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  Happy Yule, Saturnalia, Alban Arthan - the Winter Solstice. We are a few days away from the solstice, but we are in the Saturnalia festival period. So happy solstice! It is the reason for the season.

Petty trolling, from the pseudo-academic.

You are right he is petty and trolling but he may also partially correct. From all I've read Jesus was likely born in the Spring or early Summer but certainly not on December 25th. We can calculate Easter via the lunar calendar but the birthday of Jesus is unknown.

(12-19-2012 07:05 AM)Mr. Peanut Wrote:  

(12-19-2012 06:49 AM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(12-18-2012 08:55 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  Happy Yule, Saturnalia, Alban Arthan - the Winter Solstice. We are a few days away from the solstice, but we are in the Saturnalia festival period. So happy solstice! It is the reason for the season.

Petty trolling, from the pseudo-academic.

You are right he is petty and trolling but he may also partially correct.

Understood, but that's not what he wrote.

What's actually worth asking is whether celebrations are on the decline. My own observations are that overt decoration and celebrations have ebbed significantly, and this year seemed like a big decline.

If that's the case then even more evidence that the secular festivals are not the reason for the season. They just don't play.

(12-19-2012 12:05 AM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  

(12-18-2012 10:41 PM)dfarr Wrote:  

(12-18-2012 09:58 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  

(12-18-2012 09:46 PM)Paul M Wrote:  F*ck Kwanzaa.

Why?

Because its a fictitious, racist, socialist "holiday" made up by a black nationalist in 1966.

I looks like you've got a "War on Kwanzaa" going. And Kwanzaa is no more fictitious than Christmas, Christ is a very socialist character, and many who profess to be Christians are incredibly racist. So you must have very negative feelings about Christmas is you're honest with yourself. Of course, that's highly doubtful.

No, Christmas actually celebrates something, the birth of Jesus. Kwanzaa was made up out of thin air by a black nationalist bigot in 1966, so it is substantially more fictitious. The fact that many who claim to be Christian has nothing to do with the holiday itself. It'd be like me saying that all Memphis fans are complete idiots because you are one.

Merry "whatever you believe in"!!

For those that don't believe in God because you think it's fantasy do you tell your kids Santa isn't real? Not trolling, just asking.

BY READING THIS POST YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IMATY IS THE LAST GREAT CRUSADER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE SO HELP YOU GOD.

(12-19-2012 08:58 AM)VA49er Wrote:  Merry "whatever you believe in"!!

(12-19-2012 12:05 AM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  

(12-18-2012 10:41 PM)dfarr Wrote:  

(12-18-2012 09:58 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  

(12-18-2012 09:46 PM)Paul M Wrote:  F*ck Kwanzaa.

Why?

Because its a fictitious, racist, socialist "holiday" made up by a black nationalist in 1966.

I looks like you've got a "War on Kwanzaa" going. And Kwanzaa is no more fictitious than Christmas, Christ is a very socialist character, and many who profess to be Christians are incredibly racist. So you must have very negative feelings about Christmas is you're honest with yourself. Of course, that's highly doubtful.

someone get Faux News! the war on Kwanzaa has begun!!!

Saturnalia seems like a pretty fun holiday.
http://www.volokh.com/2012/12/17/happy-saturnalia-6/

(12-19-2012 09:00 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  For those that don't believe in God because you think it's fantasy do you tell your kids Santa isn't real? Not trolling, just asking.

BY READING THIS POST YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IMATY IS THE LAST GREAT CRUSADER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE SO HELP YOU GOD.

most people tell their kids when they are old enough to form logical thoughts...santa, the easter bunny laying eggs, a fairy that pays you for teeth...these things don't make sense.

(12-19-2012 11:44 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(12-19-2012 09:00 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  For those that don't believe in God because you think it's fantasy do you tell your kids Santa isn't real? Not trolling, just asking.

BY READING THIS POST YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IMATY IS THE LAST GREAT CRUSADER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE SO HELP YOU GOD.

most people tell their kids when they are old enough to form logical thoughts...santa, the easter bunny laying eggs, a fairy that pays you for teeth...these things don't make sense.

Do you have kids?

BY READING THIS POST YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IMATY IS THE LAST GREAT CRUSADER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE SO HELP YOU GOD.

(12-19-2012 11:45 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(12-19-2012 11:44 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(12-19-2012 09:00 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  For those that don't believe in God because you think it's fantasy do you tell your kids Santa isn't real? Not trolling, just asking.

BY READING THIS POST YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IMATY IS THE LAST GREAT CRUSADER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE SO HELP YOU GOD.

most people tell their kids when they are old enough to form logical thoughts...santa, the easter bunny laying eggs, a fairy that pays you for teeth...these things don't make sense.

Doesn't you have kids?

BY READING THIS POST YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IMATY IS THE LAST GREAT CRUSADER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE SO HELP YOU GOD.

no I'm in my 20's I don't want any kids yet...I'm telling you how I found out...I brought up these facts to my parents (i was 8 I think) and they said "you're old enough to know"...then I found a lot of kids in my class knew...by the next year, everyone knew.

Sorry for the typo, auto correct. 8...that's sad.

BY READING THIS POST YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IMATY IS THE LAST GREAT CRUSADER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE SO HELP YOU GOD.

(12-19-2012 11:48 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(12-19-2012 11:45 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(12-19-2012 11:44 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(12-19-2012 09:00 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  For those that don't believe in God because you think it's fantasy do you tell your kids Santa isn't real? Not trolling, just asking.

BY READING THIS POST YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IMATY IS THE LAST GREAT CRUSADER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE SO HELP YOU GOD.

most people tell their kids when they are old enough to form logical thoughts...santa, the easter bunny laying eggs, a fairy that pays you for teeth...these things don't make sense.

Doesn't you have kids?

BY READING THIS POST YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IMATY IS THE LAST GREAT CRUSADER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE SO HELP YOU GOD.

no I'm in my 20's I don't want any kids yet...I'm telling you how I found out...I brought up these facts to my parents (i was 8 I think) and they said "you're old enough to know"...then I found a lot of kids in my class knew...by the next year, everyone knew.

Are you any worse off for believing in them until you were 8? I do not remember when I stopped believing in them, but was not traumatized.

(12-18-2012 09:09 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  That's funny, the ferderal holiday shown on my calendar says we're approaching Christmas.

You need to ask for a politically correct calendar for this Christmas.

(12-18-2012 08:55 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  Happy Yule, Saturnalia, Alban Arthan - the Winter Solstice. We are a few days away from the solstice, but we are in the Saturnalia festival period. So happy solstice! It is the reason for the season.

Enjoy it for the next 2 day anyway.

(12-19-2012 11:44 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(12-19-2012 09:00 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  For those that don't believe in God because you think it's fantasy do you tell your kids Santa isn't real? Not trolling, just asking.

BY READING THIS POST YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IMATY IS THE LAST GREAT CRUSADER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE SO HELP YOU GOD.

most people tell their kids when they are old enough to form logical thoughts...santa, the easter bunny laying eggs, a fairy that pays you for teeth...these things don't make sense.

My kid is a trip... When she was four we explained who Saint Nick was, why he did what he did and how he would probably feel about what Christmas has become.

We still go do the pictures at the mall, I've even dressed up to surprise her but she gets it..

Anyway... Last year walking out of the grocery store we pass a mother and her kid coming in talking about santa... and my daughter (5 at that point) stops, turns, and says loudly "Santas Dead"

I was so embarrassed.. Since then we've told her how to talk about Santa with classmates.

(12-19-2012 12:29 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(12-19-2012 11:44 AM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(12-19-2012 09:00 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  For those that don't believe in God because you think it's fantasy do you tell your kids Santa isn't real? Not trolling, just asking.

BY READING THIS POST YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IMATY IS THE LAST GREAT CRUSADER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE SO HELP YOU GOD.

most people tell their kids when they are old enough to form logical thoughts...santa, the easter bunny laying eggs, a fairy that pays you for teeth...these things don't make sense.

My kid is a trip... When she was four we explained who Saint Nick was, why he did what he did and how he would probably feel about what Christmas has become.

We still go do the pictures at the mall, I've even dressed up to surprise her but she gets it..

Anyway... Last year walking out of the grocery store we pass a mother and her kid coming in talking about santa... and my daughter (5 at that point) stops, turns, and says loudly "Santas Dead"

I was so embarrassed.. Since then we've told her how to talk about Santa with classmates.

Yeah, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing with kids.

We never did Santa w/ our kids, but we explained what the current tradition was. But that talk has be accompanied with "Don't say this to your friends!"

The actual existence of Christ is questionable, and Christmas wasn't even recognized until more than 300 years after his supposed birth and death. Christmas was placed in late December in an effort to supplant the numerous pagan festivals honoring the return of the sun. Anyone who thinks Christmas isn't a "made up" holiday is fooling themselves. This time of year is about the solstice, and as Christianity wanes it will return more and more to being about the solstice, a celebration of winter, and the return of the sun as days begin to lengthen again. For a growing number of people it makes far more sense to celebrate those things.

People should be free to celebrate whatever season they want without others getting butthurt about it. I mean, how in the hell does someone celebrating Christmas hurt a non Christian? Same applies to a non Jewish person getting upset at Hannakua or non Muslim getting upset at Ramadan. If every one would just mind their own business and stop LOOKING FOR A REASON TO BE OFFENDED, this world would be such a better place.

Merry "whatever it is you choose to celebrate" !!

(12-19-2012 05:17 PM)VA49er Wrote:  People should be free to celebrate whatever season they want without others getting butthurt about it. I mean, how in the hell does someone celebrating Christmas hurt a non Christian? Same applies to a non Jewish person getting upset at Hannakua or non Muslim getting upset at Ramadan. If every one would just mind their own business and stop LOOKING FOR A REASON TO BE OFFENDED, this world would be such a better place.

Merry "whatever it is you choose to celebrate" !!

I agree completely. I'm not offended by Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Yule, or any other celebration. I am, however, offended by those who want to pretend that certain celebrations are legitimate and others aren't. In other words, I'm offended by intolerance and bigotry. That's one of the main reasons why I don't care for most of the right-wingers around here, along with their insufferable stupidity. Anyway - merry whatever to you too.