Celebrating Christmas

I received this by email this morning from a very fundamental Christian.

Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
* December 25th is just a "Holiday".*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
; * Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream
Tree"*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*

*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holiday!*

I guess I will probably still say Merry Christmas but not for the reasons implied in this little ditty. Christmas is a family holiday for me. It has nothing to do with religion or Jesus; just family. We get together and celebrate being together, we give and receive because we love each other. Some of my family pray, some do not. It really doesn’t matter what we believe during our brief respite from the work-a-day existence many of us live.

However, my reason for this post is to ask: Just how many Christians realize that the celebration comes from pagan rituals? Do they know that many of the modern church rituals were lifted directly from pagan rites?

I guess not.

Pagan Roots

Political Correctness

I borrowed this from Richard Dawkins site because it makes a point I think important.


"

Political correctness is a gag on freedom of speech that is stopping us from saying that a religion is wrong, when it clearly is, while simultaneously allowing them to say we are wrong with out their religion. How is this equal?"

Richard Dawkins

Wrong is subjective, based on one's belief, education and experience. I'd rather not accuse someone of being wrong, rather I look for evidence of their being right.

Baptism for the Dead: Update

Phillip Graham makes the assertion that the threat of baptism The Mormons: Our Secret Weapon of all the suicide bombers and jihadist, by the Mormon hierarchy, would force them into submission. I had a good chuckle reading this article but it brought to mind my feeling about being baptized after I’m dead. What impudence!

I recently had the conversation with my daughter about my death and subsequent baptism; it did not go well. She was hurt and angry because according to her since I don’t believe in anything it should not matter to me. She asserts that I am “getting back at her” for converting to Mormonism. She says that it is something that would make her and her family happy, eternal families and all that, and that my objection is unreasonable.

I did give it a lot of thought. What difference would it make to me; I’m dead? Is it not a gift I could give my daughter and her family to show my love? Would it make a difference in scheme of things? My answer is yes.

My reason is simple: When the Mormons baptize people after their death they distort and rewrite history. Each person baptized, whether dead or alive, is added to the roles of the LDS church. So, years from now, when someone does the research on my life it will appear that I was a Mormon. Think of all those people that are listed on their roles who never set foot in a Mormon temple or meeting house. People, who like me, have no belief in the supernatural or people who have strong beliefs in another realm.

It is distortion and dishonesty.

Freedom

I couldn't sleep this morning so as usual I'm up lurking around the web to see what's new. I ran across Simply Me. Just had to repost it.. Thanks Tina.

This is a free country so why is it not okay to criticize. Someone told me recently that we should never say negative things about the president out of respect for the office, but it is precisely because of my respect for the office that I am critical of the present holder. I am posting comment from that blog as well because Tex said it better than I can.

Our freedoms are actually being reduced not saved or enhanced and the newspeak being used is blatant opposite labelling of what really happens - if our freedoms are reduced, they say "this is to protect your freedom", if they support a non conventional military campaign, it is called "freedom fighting", if they don't like it, it is called terrorism. If bureaucracy is increased they call it "red-tape" reduction policy. The examples pop up every day, and are so prevalent that we tend to overlook many of them because they have become normal.

The Bible

In a recent discussion with a friend the subject of the bible stood front and center. Because she is a believer, she stated that she believes the bible “completely”.

In a conversation later with a Mormon friend, I mentioned the previous conversation. My Mormon friend stated that only parts of the bible are believable.

So off I go to do what I most enjoy; research.

What I found is interesting in that, like my two friends, it depends on who you ask. Many Christian will state that the bible is not contradictory and others will disagree. I think it is confusing at best and downright ambiguous at worst.

Was Abraham justified by faith or works?
Romans 4:2
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory.
James 2:21
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Does God want some to go to hell?
1 Timothy 2:3-4
God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is ... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Proverbs 16:4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.

These are only a few of the many differences or contradictions I found. What is a believer to do? I’m not a believer but if I were it would be hard to reconcile these ambiguities.

Oh and this one…What’s up with that?

"Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourself every girl who has never slept with a man." (Numbers 31:17-18)
Positive Atheism
Skeptics Bible
Contradictions
BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS - The Truth About Christianity