Xref: utzoo alt.flame:1147 talk.religion.newage:1346 talk.origins:926
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!ihnp4!gargoyle!oddjob!matt
From: matt@oddjob.UChicago.EDU (D 1 4 U 2 C)
Newsgroups: alt.flame,talk.religion.newage,talk.origins
Subject: Re: Theological Debates
Message-ID: <14199@oddjob.UChicago.EDU>
Date: 4 Jan 88 03:49:43 GMT
References: <4032@uwmcsd1.UUCP> <14193@oddjob.UChicago.EDU> <4062@uwmcsd1.UUCP>
Organization: Koyaanisqatsi
Lines: 27
Keywords: Holiday

Mark William Hopkins (who did something totally idiotic to the
headers on his article) writes:
) Wrong, fool!  The Church grafted their commemoration of Christ's
) birthday onto an already pre-existing holiday.  Since a HOLIDAY
) consists of a time of celebration, and a ritual (and a purpose) it
) was the HOLIDAY that the Church took and not just the DATE ... 

Good going pea-brain.  You think the church kept the original ritual
and purpose, as well as the time?  I can hardly believe that anyone
could be so dense.  But it's obvious that I'm not overestimating your
stupidity, because you quite clearly repeat yourself in the next
paragraph:

)      Christmas is not an EXCLUSIVELY Christan Holiday, nor was it
) ever.  Even the Romans celebrated with a feast and gift-giving at
) this time of year, before Christ. The Germanic peoples celebrated
) at this time of year before their conversion.  It's THEIR holiday
) that we inherited, just as Halloween was inherited directly from
) the Celtic pagan ritual.

And all those Romans and Huns and Teutons and Goths called their
celebration "Christmas"?  No, I'm sure that not even you believe
that, Mark.  If Easter took a wrong turn one year and fell on
Mother's day, would they be the same holiday?  No, they'd be two
holidays on the same day.  If I am born on July 4th, does the whole
country celebrate my birthday?  No, you dolt, they celebrate
something else.