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halogirl
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Well sorry you found it rude it wasn’t intended that way. You have to expect opinions you won’t agree with and indeed may find offensive on a catholic forum same as I would (as I have ) from atheists.
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Pattylt
Guest
Of course! I don’t expect to be treated with kid gloves at all. I just wanted to point out that it was a bit rude to presume you know another’s reason for any viewpoint different from your own as I would want to know if I was being presumptuous.
Apology accepted. And Merry Christmas (since I’ve been accused by others of refusing to say that!
. Not here, by the way!)
Apology accepted. And Merry Christmas (since I’ve been accused by others of refusing to say that!
. Not here, by the way!)
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halogirl
Guest
I don’t know another’s reason at all in terms of their choices . However That’s my opinion about what’s going on at a spiritual level with all of us. We are all in a tug of war against God or with God. And merry Christmas to you too , it’s great you are here on the forum 
xxx
xxx
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on_the_hill
Guest
What about demigods?
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Bradskii
Guest
You mean the issue of a god and a mortal? Rings a bell.
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ChristMyLife
Guest
From a secular historical standpoint, they’re not entirely wrong. However, saying most scholars believe Jesus was born in spring isn’t accurate, and the connection between winter festivals and Christian Christmas celebrations is far from a settled issue.
Considering this is a holy season for us, saying what they did at this time is wrong and in bad taste.
They should have worded it differently to be less scandalous to Christians, or just wrote a simple note like the one you said.
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ChristMyLife
Guest
Also, if they wanted to give a brief, technical historical overview, they should have just done a copy paste of the wiki article:
The traditional Christmas narrative, the Nativity of Jesus, delineated in the New Testament says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in accordance with messianic prophecies.[21] When Joseph and Mary arrived in the city, the inn had no room and so they were offered a stable where the Christ Child was soon born, with angels proclaiming this news to shepherds who then further disseminated the information.[22]
Although the month and date of Jesus’ birth are unknown, by the early-to-mid fourth century the Western Christian Church had placed Christmas on December 25,[23] a date that was later adopted in the East.[24][25] Today, most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, which has been adopted almost universally in the civil calendars used in countries throughout the world. However, some Eastern Christian Churches celebrate Christmas on December 25 of the older Julian calendar, which currently corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar, the day after the Western Christian Church celebrates the Epiphany. This is not a disagreement over the date of Christmas as such, but rather a preference of which calendar should be used to determine the day that is December 25. Moreover, for Christians, the belief that God came into the world in the form of man to atone for the sins of humanity, rather than the exact birth date, is considered to be the primary purpose in celebrating Christmas.[26][27][28][29]
The celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and secular themes and origins.[30] Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving, completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath, Christmas music and caroling, lighting a Christingle, viewing a Nativity play, an exchange of Christmas cards, church services, a special meal, pulling Christmas crackers and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. In addition, several closely related and often interchangeable figures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and Christkind, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore.[31] Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity, the holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world.
The traditional Christmas narrative, the Nativity of Jesus, delineated in the New Testament says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in accordance with messianic prophecies.[21] When Joseph and Mary arrived in the city, the inn had no room and so they were offered a stable where the Christ Child was soon born, with angels proclaiming this news to shepherds who then further disseminated the information.[22]
Although the month and date of Jesus’ birth are unknown, by the early-to-mid fourth century the Western Christian Church had placed Christmas on December 25,[23] a date that was later adopted in the East.[24][25] Today, most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, which has been adopted almost universally in the civil calendars used in countries throughout the world. However, some Eastern Christian Churches celebrate Christmas on December 25 of the older Julian calendar, which currently corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar, the day after the Western Christian Church celebrates the Epiphany. This is not a disagreement over the date of Christmas as such, but rather a preference of which calendar should be used to determine the day that is December 25. Moreover, for Christians, the belief that God came into the world in the form of man to atone for the sins of humanity, rather than the exact birth date, is considered to be the primary purpose in celebrating Christmas.[26][27][28][29]
The celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and secular themes and origins.[30] Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving, completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath, Christmas music and caroling, lighting a Christingle, viewing a Nativity play, an exchange of Christmas cards, church services, a special meal, pulling Christmas crackers and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. In addition, several closely related and often interchangeable figures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and Christkind, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore.[31] Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity, the holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world.
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on_the_hill
Guest
I was thinking more along the lines of Achilles or Hercules, but I see your point.
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FiveLinden
Guest
No one has said they were offended. It is not about you being rude, though you have been. It is about you being wrong about atheists. You say ‘because it is my opinion’ but although you have a right to your opinion, you do not have a right to your own facts. Atheists are not as you describe us. Most of my friends are atheists. Most never think about belief in God from one month to another. Religion is simply nothing to them. I am interested in religious people and religious belief including, maybe especially, the views of religious people about us non-religious people. I am not on this forum expecting others to share my views, or to persuade people. From my point of view the world is not improved simply by individuals stopping believing in God. Most religious people who respond to my posts seem to think that this is what atheists on CAF want. I for one am just interested.
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KathleenT
Guest
But do you understand, from a Catholic perspective, her points are not completely wrong?
If there is a God, and Christianity is true, God does not need your belief or your permission to exist or engage with His creation, including you. Saying you don’t believe in God to a Catholic is like saying you don’t believe in gravity. That may be your belief but that belief does not mean a different set of rules applies to you.
You have to understand we believe God is good and good is God. They are the same thing. So everyone who seeks love, joy, peace, laughter, beauty…seeks God. God allows you to harden your hearts against Him but he always s gives us the grace to overcome that and return to Him, if we choose so long as we are on this Earth.
So insisting you don’t care about God or like the poster above who doesn’t believe in “anyone’s” God doesn’t impress us or shock us. We see that you seek God without realizing you seek God.
I understand this is frustrating. The Protestants have similar frustrations when we aren’t moved by their arguments either.
But I always chuckle when people tell me they don’t believe in God like that is a method of opting out of the way creation works.
If there is a God, and Christianity is true, God does not need your belief or your permission to exist or engage with His creation, including you. Saying you don’t believe in God to a Catholic is like saying you don’t believe in gravity. That may be your belief but that belief does not mean a different set of rules applies to you.
You have to understand we believe God is good and good is God. They are the same thing. So everyone who seeks love, joy, peace, laughter, beauty…seeks God. God allows you to harden your hearts against Him but he always s gives us the grace to overcome that and return to Him, if we choose so long as we are on this Earth.
So insisting you don’t care about God or like the poster above who doesn’t believe in “anyone’s” God doesn’t impress us or shock us. We see that you seek God without realizing you seek God.
I understand this is frustrating. The Protestants have similar frustrations when we aren’t moved by their arguments either.
But I always chuckle when people tell me they don’t believe in God like that is a method of opting out of the way creation works.
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halogirl
Guest
That makes sense but I won’t own being rude. I have not sworn at, or name called you or anyone else. What has happened is that you don’t like my opinion (which is fine ) and equated that to rudeness. I stand by original reply to the OP and hope you enjoy the forum. The term atheist for me refers specifically to those who believe there is no God and not really those to whom it never occurs. Those I would think of as agnostic or disinterested
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halogirl
Guest
To me the people in the work room seem to have an agenda in trying to cover up the meaning of Christmas
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