Anybody else got balls enough to say Christmas is crap ?

[quantumleap]

Or, perhaps, the teaching of God is that all will eventually be saved,
both those that "believe in God" & those that don't, both those that
"lose their soul" and those that don't. Reference tentmaker.org, for
example, for the position that the Christian scriptures taught an
eventual universal salvation, the salvation of all mankind. After all,
how could a God Who the Bible states is Love and Almighty fail to
save any one in the end, let alone torture them in hell forever?
The idea of Love perpetuating an endless torture chamber of the
vast majority of His created beings is ridiculous, to say the least.
Another excellent resource on this subject is concordant.org .

Your thoughts somewhat mirror mine. I refuse to worship a God who would torture His creation because they don't follow Him. We universally condemn a person who would hold someone hostage and torture them yet some would worship an entity such as this?

I believe the Christian scriptures mention reincarnation. It was condemned by a Roman emporer against the protestations of the pope at the time and called heresy. The notion of reincarnation as heresy is still with us. I believe we are put on this Earth in successive lives to learn and improve upon ourselves and to help others do the same. We could all be given these attributes but this is what we can truly call our own when we learn them.

I'll be sure to look at those web sites. Thanks for posting them.

 

[D2bets]

At least we get some football this Christman because it falls on a Saturday.

 

[Dante]

Over rated and too damn expensive.

Rugby

while I agree its a bit overrated and expensive at times it is still the season to HELP someone in need..and I have seen people do good things that they would not have so MAYBE that is the spirit of Xmas, maybe that is the good of it as it moves people to do GOOD things for the most part not religion or presents...


Give to someone in NEED help someone in need....


Just my humble opinion

 

[REDEYE]

Well Said Dante, anybody with a brain can see what your about

 

[THE SHRINK]

Nice post Dante...

Although I was raised Jewish, I celebrate the Christmas Holidays with my family each year and love it...

For me, it's really not about the religion so much as it is the "spirit" of kindness and sharing qualiity time with my entire family...

The materialistic side of buying gifts can get out of hand sometimes, but overall, this is one of my favorite times of the year, period...

THE SHRINK

 

[RobFunk]

yea good post dante, I would only add that in most part christmas is for the kids!

those little guys get so excited to get gifts that they normally wouldnt get, some kids dont get new toys all year but thanks to charitys and drives, today they get something.

this day is a very very big deal to them, and they look forward to it all year!!

for the most part i never associated xmas and relegion. it is more about having a 'universal excuse' to do something for your family and friends wether its a sharing of kind words and respect, a gift, or some sharing of food or choice alcoholic beverages. . but it's especially for children [just dont give them any choice alcoholic beverages ].

 

[MarkerDown]

I am Jewish so don't think this post is antisimetic. But isn't it ironic that those who profit the most from Christmas are Jewish. Who do you think owns Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, and the majority of the Jewelry Stores in America?

 

[Dante]

yea good post dante, I would only add that in most part christmas is for the kids!

those little guys get so excited to get gifts that they normally wouldnt get, some kids dont get new toys all year but thanks to charitys and drives, today they get something.

this day is a very very big deal to them, and they look forward to it all year!!

for the most part i never associated xmas and relegion. it is more about having a 'universal excuse' to do something for your family and friends wether its a sharing of kind words and respect, a gift, or some sharing of food or choice alcoholic beverages. . but it's especially for children [just dont give them any choice alcoholic beverages ].

exactly Rob...its for the KIDS.they are only kids once let them sleep under the tree and dream of what presents you got them and sing xmas songs ....soon when they become adults the real world hits them and they will have a bit more to worry about then what present they got ...I agree let them live the dream for abit



Welcome Marker Down to the RX...

 

[SoCal]

"God is dead." - Nietzsche
"Nietzsche is dead." - God

 

[rugby]

Good point Dante. X-mas should be in the heart and not the wallet. Helping those in need and spending time with loved ones, that you can not put a price tag on.

Happy Holidays RX brethren.................Rugby

 

[D2bets]

I am Jewish so don't think this post is antisimetic. But isn't it ironic that those who profit the most from Christmas are Jewish. Who do you think owns Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, and the majority of the Jewelry Stores in America?

Macys is owned by Federated Dept Stores and Neiman Marcus is owned by the Neiman Marcus Group, both are publicly traded so I'd guess that a lot of non-Jews own both of them.

 

[MarkerDown]

Mr. Bloominmgdale was very Jewish and his heirs sold to Federated. Do you thinnk the founders of Neiman Marcus, Herbert Marcus and Abraham Neiman are not Jewish too?

 

[VaultedTreehouse]

Shrink, I agree with you, Christmas is about the spirit of giving and loving your family and friends. And playing second half unders and such.

 

[D2bets]

Mr. Bloominmgdale was very Jewish and his heirs sold to Federated. Do you thinnk the founders of Neiman Marcus, Herbert Marcus and Abraham Neiman are not Jewish too?

No doubt, but he asked who OWNS those companies, as in who currently owns them.

 

[jeffksu]

THERE ARE SOME GREAT POINTS ON THIS THREAD ...BUT LET's stop and think for a moment....it shouldn't have to be at christmas time that we help those in need...we should help each other 24/7/365....christmas time just brings it to a heightened level.....because we were taught to give at this special time of CHRIST'S BIRTH.....but let's make it his day every day..and give to those less fortunate than us at all times....i work with an elderly home and it is really sad, to see these older folks...around the holidays without any one to make there day..cheer them up and the such....there kids don't even come to visit and that hurts me terribly....they live right here in vegas and don't so much as give a damn about there own parents...that sux...my wife and i went over there yesterday and spent a couple of hours with the folks just for the simple reason of giving them some company...look around and you will find some one that just needs a helping hand....it may not be financial or anything like that it may be just someone to talk to...so...with all that being said....sure christmas is a great time of year and it has been turned into a farce with how much money can we spend....but always remember...life is too short give a hand to help when you can....thanks for your time and have a great day...jeffksu

 

[charleslanger]

Then of course, there is Pascal's wager:

Either there is a God or there isn't,
either I believe in God or I don't.
Of the four possibilities, only one can hurt me
therefore I believe.

 

[JudgeWapner]

This quote from Dickens sums up my feelings about Christmas.



There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say. `Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!'

 

[MrTeaser]

Nice quote Judge. Without reading any other comments and just the title of this thread, I feel actually feel bad for those who feel that way about Christmas. They have been cheated out of alot in life.

 

[DarrylParsons]

Jeffksu,

Very nice comments and I agree with the part about doing good things all the time, not just at Christmas time. I think a major motivator to do good deeds at this time of year is GUILT which comes from NOT doing good things at other times.

As for kids sh*tting on their elderly parents...I've seen it many times and of the cases I know about in detail, it's always the parents' fault for not teaching the kids enough about life, being too soft on them, neglecting their REAL needs etc.

If a parent spends a lot of time working, so much time that there's not enough time and energy for the kids, then the kids will ask natural questions which are tough to answer. Questions like "why do you work so hard?" The first answer is usually "so that we can have a roof over our heads, have enough to eat etc." but when the kid then points out the numerous luxury items and extravagancies that also take time to organize, purchase, plan etc. then the first answer doesn't quite cut it anymore.

The real answer is more like <IMAGINE tears in down breaking parent>"you're right, Johnny, I'm just a brainwashed drone who succumbed to the pressures of the media and society...I don't have a mind of my own and all the advice I've given you so far have been cheap clichés from TV shows like Happy Days, The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island, just to name 3. I don't blame you for dissing me and letting the same society that I've been loyal to at your expense take care of me in my elderly years. You are right, Johnny, I've been a useless parent"

Of course most such parents never get to the point where they can admit such things for it would be too painful. It's sad really. In fact, I believe this is the key to averting the upcoming inevitable bloody nuclear war but I'll leave that theory for another day in the political forum.

 

[TheGeneral+]

I do not have the balls to say Xmas is crap because I do not believe that, but I do think this thread has some merit and I find the opinions interesting.

Jeff is so right in that we seem to forget the giving, helping, and assisting of others except for certain times or situations for the most part. There are also many good people in this country and world.

I will never forget the comradery I felt around me after 9/11 with the family, in the neighborhood, the gas station, the workplace, the forums, and even in the media. Not long thereafter we resumed the bloody abusing, backstabbing, insulting, etc... of our fellow American brothers and sisters.

So goes the world, but atleast I do not have to participate in that way of acting or thinking. I can do my small part to try and make it better.

Merry Xmas