Shakti ~ Rising wrote:

chi_solas wrote:

Shakti ~ Rising wrote:

Pandora wrote:The traditional interpretation of Christmas is that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, who was sent to earth to directly atone for the original sin committed by Adam and Eve and enable mankind to gain eternal life. His atonement was facilitated by his death by crucifixion, and resurrection. "For as in Adam all died, so in Jesus we all rise to eternal life". At Christmas, therefore, we celebrate his birth, and at Easter we celebrate his death and resurrection.

I do like your posting though Vijay! My Hindu friends send me a Christmas card every year. The first time they did this I asked them why, and they said "We have 3,000 gods of our own: one more won't make any difference!".

I find it quite hilarious that Jesus' birth is celebrated at this time of year when infact the historical Jesus wasn't born then.... a Fact that most Christians choose to ignore!! laughable beyond belief to me....

can you give us more facts. I know folks who believe that jesus had siblings

oh boy, I'm really struggling here!!! I got a laptop for xmas and haven;t figured out how to use it properly....I've saved some interesting info regarding possible and likely dates for his birth......and also info as to why the heads of the Christian church chose that date to coincide with pagan celebrations..... but I'm afraid I can't figure out how to get that info from my documemts to this thread... bear with me I'll get there at some point....it feels weird having no mouse to copy and paste with....

I've read that before the days of computer
Christianity had a way of trying to entice
the pagans into their fold. My name sake
Saint Bridget February 2nd can be either
celebrated as Saint Bridget's day or the
Goddess Bridget's day. It's pretty hard to
tell the Saint from the Goddess

You're both!!

Just briefly, For the Roman empire to accept Christianity smoothly(as it was still officially Pagan), Emperor Constantine (reign approx 300 AD) decided it best to amalgamate aspects of Pagan worship with Christianity. Hence the date of Dec 25th, which is Sol Invictus - the winter solstice in Pagan Rome. In the council of constantinople, much about real Christianity was changed.

The above is a matter of debate. As is the theory that Dec 25th was picked merely cause it comes 9 months exactly after the purported immaculate conception, March 25th, Feast of Annunctiation. I'm guessing this is along the lines of Sharon suggesting historically, it may be inaccurate.

there's much more stuff to tie in Christianity with Pagan worship. Personally, i went through a heart-breaking time about a year ago. I watched a documentary bout all this, and it shook my assumed beleive about what i thought i knew bout God. I done my own research on the documentaries points, and found a lot not entirely accurate. Even going as far as contacting the director, and arguing with folks promoting the film. anyhow, what is true, is if one looks at the Vatican from the sky, it's actually a sundial, and the holy fathers title 'Pontifex Maximus' is actually the exact saem title the state Pagan religion leader held. The sun is in many statues in Vatican. As is egyptian Obleisk, and a sphink like statue. Also, a statue looking very like a pineal gland. And also on the holy sceptre, what looks very much like a pineal gland. Pineal gland responsible for spirituality. There's loads more stuff, this just off the top of my head.

It's also said Dec 25th was nominated in middle ages.


As an aside, Gnosticism says that the God of the old testament & the God of the new testament are two different Gods. The God of the old testament is an asshole, imo, hehe. Jealous, vengeful, violent, temperamental. It's said he is the creator of this reality, that's true.

however, there's another, ultimate creator. One whom actually 'creates' without intention. he created light as a by-product, and two forms kinda like male & female, and these in turn create. Right down to a female. She gave birth to a male, and he turned out pretty bad, materialistic, the baser stuff of existence. If there's evil, he'd be it more or less. He is full of ego, and only believed him & his mum were the only gods. His mum, whom gnosticism says is our 'mother', showed a higher God. In a rage, her son created this existence, where he'd be supreme God.

anyhow, i'm rambling, hehe. The message of the new testament is th ehigher gods, trying to let us know of the light, that's within us, and that we're ultimatly a part of. In many ways there's a battle going on. The creator God of this reality will try to keep us slave to base needs. Wheras the mother, and higher gods, are trying to make us aware of the light. Hence the amazing difference between old & new testament.

This explains ( to me) why it's futile asking the question 'God! why did you do this?!!' Cause we humans aren't as important as we've made ourselves out to be. And, since the ultimate, formless creator never intended to create anything, hes' not really interested in our minuscule lives, Whilst the creator of this reality is only interested in his own needs. further down we go from the real creator, more take a bit of interest. It's possibly interesting, if what the Gnostics say is true, and sauch reality is made like this one was, the possibility of multiple realities/universes in very plausible. This complemenents quantum physics & string theory.

This is Gnostic stuff that they take from the approx. 2000 years ago, so don't shoot me for mentioning it, hehe! there's much in the message of the new testamment irrespective of whether Jesus was whom is said, imo.

take care
Wayne

oh bloody hell, i just wrote a long post and lost it all.........perhaps thats a sign that I should just say.....all religion is man made, god has no relgion.

I'm surprised you only started questioning your religion about a year ago wayne..... I was raised a catholic up until I was about 12 and started questionng catholicism when I was at junior school.....I had so many questions as a child, but none were ever satisfactorily answered by my educators...

I hate religions for the troubles they cause...........to thousands they bring some kind of solace ut at what cost? at the ill-conceieved idea that their one religion has the monopoly on god? and that all others are damned to hell??......religion makes me sad for humanity...we need spirituality and do away with religion...

Shakti ~ Rising wrote:I'm surprised you only started questioning your religion about a year ago wayne.....

i'm a late developer, hehe.

Nah, i wasn't Christian a year ago. Havn't been christian for many years. Still felt upset though, .

Shakti ~ Rising wrote:
I hate religions for the troubles they cause...........to thousands they bring some kind of solace ut at what cost? at the ill-conceieved idea that their one religion has the monopoly on god? and that all others are damned to hell??......religion makes me sad for humanity...we need spirituality and do away with religion...

Some people need structure in their lives. Religion gives then that spiritual structure. Religion isn't the problem, humanity is. We fight & kill over politics, religion, race, football, the next door neighbours wife, money, anything. none of these things are at fault. The people doing it are.

Take care
Wayne

well i agree wih wht you are saying but also say that religion IS at fault..... but I won't get on one....I won't fiht with you over our differences of opinions ahahaha

i won't fiht with you either,

this machine is a bit sensitive so I don't hit the keys too hard and enevitably miss letters off..... is there a forum for computer stuff on here?

hey, you're not as bad as my many typos!

Nah, no computer section here, unlike many other Reiki forums, we concentrate on Reiki here, hehe.

fair enough.....

Recipe for Christmas All Year Long
Take a heap of child-like wonder
That opens up our eyes
To the unexpected gifts in life—
Each day a sweet surprise.
Mix in fond appreciation
For the people whom we know;
Like festive Christmas candles,
Each one has a special glow.
Add some giggles and some laughter,
A dash of Christmas food,
(Amazing how a piece of pie
Improves our attitude!)
Stir it all with human kindness;
Wrap it up in love and peace,
Decorate with optimism, and
Our joy will never cease.
If we use this healthy recipe,
We know we will remember
To be in the Christmas spirit,
Even when it's not December.
By Joanna Fuchs

sweet...

its like valentines day......as if one day in the whole year should be dedicated to a gesture of thoughtfullness and romance towards our lovers.... everday should be like that, just as every day we should be open to the spirit within and without,instead of embracing the phoniness of the ' christmas spirit'.... for a couple of days a year cos somone said a bloke was born and died in order to save us all......* rolls eyes*

Bah humbug sharon..hehe.

I know!!