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Okay my family says im over thinking this but what do you think??: Now the whole Santa/Easter Bunny thing started allong time ago but could they be just a way to make the holiday seem less about God and more about presents and make belive charecters? Do you think im over thinkin everthing??
The easter bunny came from the old beliefs and the celebration of Eostre who was the goddess of spring, who came down on the last day of winter to warm the earth when she found a white dove who had frozen to death. In honer of spring she changed the dove into a white rabbit who would bring around rainbow eggs to chase away the dark and bring the light of spring into the lands.
Santa came from the nordic god Odin who would lead a great hunting party through the skies on Yule (christmas) where they would hunt for dear amongst the stars. He would ride on his horse. Children would set their boots with carrots for the horse next to the hearth, as is still custom for SinterKlaas in my country. And then Odin would replace these things for gifts.
I'm not talking about you. I was talking about the religious folk who proclaim to be right. And I wasnt picking on Christianity. All religious folk who think they have the absolute truth are guilty of the same thing. And why do I need to accept anything? People seem to think 'because my religion said so' is an excuse for doing or saying anything. Sorry, I dont see the need to accept all religious beliefs. Especially those that cause harm. And I really dont see the need to accept all cultures. Am I supposed to accept that just because a particular culture condones genital mutilation or slavery it's ok because it is part of that culture?
thedude is correct. Your thinking is completely backwards. The festivals existed thousands of years before the creation of Christianity. If anything, the Church has stolen the original meaning away from the holidays, not secular society. Granted, Santa Claus as we know him is a relatively modern creation, but the character has roots in a real-life second-Century Turkish bishop, so to say he's taking away religious meaning from the holiday is disrespectful to the religion.
The short answer is yes, but if you think about it is it really such a bad thing? Yes religion has declined over the years but still a positive message still remains. The spirit of giving shouldn’t be exclusive to Christians. On a side note I find it interesting that Christianity can actually steal something intangible. Let us not forget the early Christians had no choice but to celebrate Christmas on that day.
Well I never said that G-d said so because I know that the date is wrong. But lets not forget that its not just christianity but everyone. Why else would you be so passionate on the subject if you didn't think you were right? Would I expect any different in a muslim or jewish culture? I am not saying that I like christianity but lets try to be a little realistic and accept culture.
'I find it interesting that Christianity can actually steal something intangible'
You realize that it isnt about stealing right? Its about claiming that you're right and God said so, and all those other people are wrong, and yet it being oh so coincidental that certain rituals and beliefs just happened to be similar to all those 'pagans'.
You do realize...the Christians stole the "holidays" from other religions and cultures, right?
:)
So, it's never been the case that the other stuff is to make it less about god...it's that Christian / Catholic rewriters of history never truly succeeded in stamping out the pagan roots of those festivals.
well the christians took it and invented events that occured to make it more about their god and less about nature and the turning of the seasons which is what it was in the first place, so turning the holidays into something else again to make it less christian... we call that karma.
I dont know every one is talking about you probly dont eaither but my answer is that when I was a kid I couldnt wait to open those presents so yes
no I dont because now you will have me thinkin REALLY THINKIN