Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!psuvax1!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: jclark@sdcc6.ucsd.edu (John Clark) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Bigotry? (Re: The Ongoing Inquisition) Message-ID: Date: 22 May 91 04:22:40 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of California, San Diego Lines: 28 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article MNHCC@cunyvm.bitnet writes: +When you say some Christians want to take the "mass" out of +"Christmas" because it goes back to Roman pagan celebrations you +are conflating two issues. The word "Christmas" was originally +"Christ's Mass", a Mass specially celebrated to commemorate the +birth of Christ. Those Protestants who vehemently oppose the +Catholic teaching on the Mass might object to the name for that These 'protestants' were called Puritans, actually Separatists, who wanted to purify the church of pagan influences. This was not 20 years ago or so, but in the 16-17 centuries. There is no reason to beleive that Jesus was born on or around December. There is no 'Jewish' holiday of religious significance in December. I have read hypotheses that Spring is more likely the time, say Passover when all good Jewish families get together for Sader. I believe the Christ's Mass began late in 4-6 centuries. I believe Mithra's birthday was also celebrated on or about 25 December. You may celebrate what you want when you want as far as I'm concerned. But when I hear the 'devaluation of the Holiday spirit' line I usually bring up the Pagan origins of the December Holiday. -- John Clark jclark@ucsd.edu