"Jesus is the reason for the season"

**Richard** · December 23, 2007, 02:59 AM

I just saw a politician (a local MP) say this on television (which was very brave but somewhat stupid of him considering that a mainstream politician willing to reference his religious beliefs in this country is generally considered a fundamentalist weirdo) and thought, why do people say this? Jesus isn't the reason for the season, the northern winter solstice is.
"Reason for the season" not only implies the birth of Jesus is the reason for the celebration in the first place, (I'm fine with it being considered a separate celebration that occurs on the same date, though this likely isn't the case as much of the traditions relate to the solstice/yuletide/etc), but also that the celebration is held at the time it is because that's the date Jesus was born. This latter point really irks me; how so many Christians can believe something that isn't the faintest bit related to the word of God. I've even heard of people giving the response that "it says so in the bible"! No it bloody doesn't you morons!

This is probably the most widespread misconception amongst Christians, and indeed about Christmas itself. Except for Santa being real.

**Dayman** · December 23, 2007, 03:05 AM

Well, Jesus' birth is what is, and was celebrated around this time. So, if they mean holiday season in the western tradition, than they're kinda right.

**The Good** · December 23, 2007, 03:41 AM

I just saw a politician (a local MP) say this on television (which was very brave but somewhat stupid of him considering that a mainstream politician willing to reference his religious beliefs in this country is generally considered a fundamentalist weirdo) and thought, why do people say this? Jesus isn't the reason for the season, the northern winter solstice is.
"Reason for the season" not only implies the birth of Jesus is the reason for the celebration in the first place, (I'm fine with it being considered a separate celebration that occurs on the same date, though this likely isn't the case as much of the traditions relate to the solstice/yuletide/etc), but also that the celebration is held at the time it is because that's the date Jesus was born. This latter point really irks me; how so many Christians can believe something that isn't the faintest bit related to the word of God. I've even heard of people giving the response that "it says so in the bible"! No it bloody doesn't you morons!

This is probably the most widespread misconception amongst Christians, and indeed about Christmas itself. Except for Santa being real.

For me and my family, Jesus is THE reason for the season. Merry Christmas, everyone.

**Gaidin** · December 23, 2007, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by Lucius Julius

For me and my family, Jesus is THE reason for the season. Merry Christmas, everyone.

Your reason sucks majorly.

I'll stick with "I get to have fun with family without arguing with my job for time off."

It's better.

**~~removeduser_487563287433~~** · December 23, 2007, 05:21 AM

Nice to know your family is so loving they need the obligation of the birth of their deity to bring them toigether.

**~~removeduser_426582376423734~~** · December 23, 2007, 07:13 AM

Traditionally, yes, Jesus was. Nowadays, especially in Britain with such a huge agnostic/atheist population, Jesus' birth is just a nice story to go along with giving presents and being nice to each other.

I mean, what the hell is a birthday or a holiday anymore? Why the hell is everyone nice to me on the anniversary of the day I was born? I dunno, but we need days like this to be extra nice to each other so that later on we don't have to be.

**Sidus Preclarum** · December 23, 2007, 07:17 AM

Jesus?
No, Saturn is the reason for the season
Io, Saturnalia!

**AngryTitusPullo** · December 23, 2007, 07:23 AM

I love female Santas....

**Gary88** · December 23, 2007, 07:50 AM

I love female Santas....

amen to that.

**Cúchulainn** · December 23, 2007, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Gary88

amen to that.

Ohhh....I would do very naughty things to her.

Anyway wasn't Jesus born in the summer.

According the the Qur'an that is.

And the Qur'an has just as much validity as the Bible.
Seeing as they were both written by people who heared the word of God.

Now normally those kind of people are institutionalized, but not in the ancient world.

So both...."novels" are as factual or as dubious as one another.

**Legionem Insanis** · December 23, 2007, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Cúchulainn

And the Qur'an has just as much validity as the Bible.
Seeing as they were both written by people who heared the word of God.

and can discover that for yourself here:

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran

**Seda** · December 23, 2007, 02:48 PM

Um, I was under the impression that no one really goes around saying that Jesus was born in december. For those that celebrate Christmas in rememberance of Jesus' birth, it is simply a day designated to celebrate, not the aniversery of his birth. What's the confusion?

**Spurius** · December 23, 2007, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Seda

Um, I was under the impression that no one really goes around saying that Jesus was born in december. For those that celebrate Christmas in rememberance of Jesus' birth, it is simply a day designated to celebrate, not the aniversery of his birth. What's the confusion?

No, they put up pages like this one:

http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/w...ber-25-faq.htm

because they have AB-SO-LU-TE-LY nothing better to do...

**Legionem Insanis** · December 23, 2007, 08:40 AM

From Wikipedia:

"In part, the Christmas celebration was created by the early Church in order to entice pagan Romans to convert to Christianity without losing their own winter celebrations."

"The Romans held a festival on December 25 called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, 'the birthday of the unconquered sun.'"

"December 25 was also considered to be the date of the winter solstice, which the Romans called bruma.[6] It was therefore the day the Sun proved itself to be "unconquered" despite the shortening of daylight hours. Several early Christian writers connected the rebirth of the sun to the birth of Jesus."

"The Sol Invictus festival has a "strong claim on the responsibility" for the date of Christmas, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

Funny, they never mentioned this in Catholic School. These days I find more spirituality in nature than I ever did in any church. I think I'll go outside and enjoy the "unconquered sun".

**Spurius** · December 23, 2007, 08:49 AM

'The shepherds were in the fields' according to Luke 2:8-12. You DON"T want to be with your @$$ in the fields in December in Palestine, not if you're entirely sane and value your animals. So I don't believe it for a minute.

**different_13** · December 23, 2007, 11:49 AM

I tend to read that he was born in March (possibly the 6th or 7th, 7BC)

lol, "it says so in the Bible", I love people who give that answer to anything.

**Spurius** · December 23, 2007, 02:17 PM

Well, if it's correct, it shoud be somewhere between March and September, the normal time to put sheep out in the fields.

Means any Christian claiming it's December on basis of scriptural evidence has clearly lost it.

**Gwendylyn** · December 23, 2007, 05:49 PM

The reason for the season in the US is consumerism. Got to get those hard workers out and spending their paychecks to help make the economy happy, even if they go into debt doing it.

Originally Posted by Richard

I just saw a politician (a local MP) say this on television (which was very brave but somewhat stupid of him considering that a mainstream politician willing to reference his religious beliefs in this country is generally considered a fundamentalist weirdo)

On the contrary, political suicide would be to admit you are an atheist. Embracing your Christian roots by thanking God at speeches and showing that you celebrate Christian holidays and uphold Christian values is very healthy for a politician's poll numbers. Unless you're British. Then I'd say ship him off to the US where he fits in.