Saturnalia is almost here

Well I dont know many 'fundamentalist' Christians and niether do you but I just want to be clear:
I was agreeing with your analysis (so far as it went) and not accusing 'you' of looking for a 'gotcha' or 'suspicion'.
You are at the same conclusion I reached in that there is no 'gotcha' or any 'problem'.
Yes, Christians celebrate Christs birth on Dec25.

Now your next observation is a bit off.
There is no particular issue where 'fundamentalists' are doing something as opposed or unique to the majority and myriad of other Christians.
Do most or many Christians know that there were other belief systems before Christianity.
Yes.
You wrote: The only problem I have with Fundamentalist Christians is that they go on their merry way thinking there was nothing before Christ and nothing else worth knowing since he was crucified.

Im not sure if you are familiar with Christianity or the Gospels or Christmas.
You cant possibly be familiar with these, otherwise you would know that Christians are made very aware of what was happening before Christs birth.

Our Christmas Eve services start off by recounting the Gospel narratives.
Rome,
Herod,
Cencus,
Jewish Holidays in the Roman Empire, Caesar, the very fact that Jews are a minority (in the empire) and even oppressed in Judea.

This IS the Christian Gospel and if you keep reading almost entirely, throughout the Gospels, Acts and Epistles is CONSTANT REMINDER THEY LIVE IN NON-CHRISTIAN PAGAN 'SECULAR' ROME.

How the hell any Christian would NOT know would be pretty amazing.
How you thought otherwise is pretty naive.

Council of Nicea; Many Christians know about this of course, many do not know Church History.
I do because I did study Church History.
Thats how you know about Nicea too - from Church History, records etc.

What again is the problem with Nicea I dont know?
Christianity has long since spread like wildfire throughout the empire before Nicea comes along.
In fact, Nicea comes along BECAUSE its already well established 'worldwide' at that point.
You suggest that Constantine wanted to unify Christianity then get behind it (or at the wheel?) and use it for political gain.
Hmmm?
Well he may very well have benefited from the whole thing but he doesnt really have anything to do with the content and conclusions of Nicea either.
He doesnt have 'input'.

 

With that statement you lost any credibility you might have had. You don't know me, you don't know what I know and you don't know who I know. Everything else you posted is meaningless to me so I did not read it. We fundamentally disagree on matters of philosophy and belief. What gives you the right to try to change my system of philosophy and belief, or that you know me? I wasn't trying to recruit you. I am repulsed by you.

Please allow me to introduce you to my ignore button. Goodbye.

 

Ha, spoken like a true asshat!

 

Just wait until Zoomie claims that he was joking all along and shame on us for not researching his behavior.

I actually know a guy just like him that used to be in my congregation. In fact if any of the details on his profile are true it ISN'T him, but it sure sounds like him.

This guy I know will say the most, as he claims, "controversial" things to get people riled up, and when they get offended he'll back off and say he was joking.

Zoomie was happy as long as he could criticize my religion, but how DARE I call him on that? Why I just didn't do my research and know that he was joking! Well it's all my fault I guess.

Really this whole thing is stupid. My original post was absolutely benign. I thought that since Christmas was close that I could post a little info about a Pagan holiday that happens during the same season. I figured that mature people would either comment and say "cool", or "thanks", or "is there any more info", or "this is what I do instead, but happy Saturnalia", or not say anything.

No. Zoomie has to "prove" how much he knows and whine about how is religion was persecuted. Yes I defended myself because, well, I take this seriously and I will not apologize. Zoomie is not mature and retreats into sarcasm rather than actually say anything useful. I called him on that. He even implied I paradoxically was trying to speak for all pagans but at the same time apparently I am not a pagan since I pay attention to Roman mysticism.

So guys and gals, this was not my original intention. Pagans should not be fighting each other. Period. I don't agree with everything all pagans do, but I don't expect all pagans to agree with me. We are really all on the same side when you get down to it.

However I believe in a few things and I hope all pagans follow this:

Be resolute in what you do. Don't apologize for your beliefs, but you shouldn't mindlessly attack either.
If you DO have a criticism, then at least be able to formulate a reason in a coherent manner.
Have integrety. If you say you are going to do something, then do it. If you are going to do something then you do it right.

We can't point fingers at each other and tell people that they aren't "Pagan" enough. Aren't we all on the same team? I'll let Christians fight over who is more Christian, but we are better than that.

 

Burn?



Happy belated Saturnalia

 

Sorry my match went out. You were saying?