From what I’ve read of the words that Jesus is reported to have said, and what I gather of his character from the words about him as written up in the Bible, I believe he would be more impressed with the tradition of Santa Claus and the giving of gifts to children than he would be with the rites and rituals associated with the celebration of his birth.

While there is nothing wrong with a believer’s personal remembrance of the birth of Jesus, I suspect that Jesus would feel a little embarrassment over the paganizing of the event and all the humbuggery it evokes from those who insist on reminding the rest how pious and good they are at this time every year.

While Jesus had a lot to say regarding how a person should act, such as going to his closet to pray rather than making a big deal about it in public, he never came close to suggesting that his birth should be celebrated in the heathen manner that the Church has promoted over the centuries and the way it continues to be celebrated today.

It would honor his birth more if we followed his advice, such as the views he expressed in his Sermon on the Mount, than holding on to the pagan practices of staged adoration with all the unnecessary trappings and trimmings that don’t have a thing in the world to do with anything that he preached.

So, it’s Christmas, Dec. 25, a date that the Church claims was the birthday of Jesus, even though there is no way to know the actual date that Jesus was born. Fine. But why prescribe a holiness to any day more than another? I guess it is just what Christians and Jews and Moslems like to do, the same as pagans and heathens and other religions I suppose. They just believe in their holy days because of their religions and traditions.

It’s a sad irony that while we hold Christmas as holy, we don’t allow it to stop us from making war and killing people in great numbers on Christmas and throughout the Christmas season. When it comes to war and killing, every day is the same as another for us. Humanity would be a lot better off if human life was considered holy and any day was just as good as the next.
If Jesus could look down at it all,

I’m sure he would be much more pleased with the tradition of Santa giving gifts to the children and all the pleasant happiness that comes from the spirit of giving than he would with all the rites and rituals and sanctimonious observations and humbuggery that the loud preachers and noisy laymen make so much hay and ado over in celebration of his alleged birthday.

Naman Crowe

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From the above, it is plain that you are a Christian basher. Hold humans as holy? They are the ones doing the abominations of war and killing with help from the evil one. Worshiping or up lifting humans to a holy or god like status is something that odd, non-religious types do when they are not worshiping the earth.

I would suggest you discover what Christ is really like, why he came to earth and how he saved you from an after life of suffering if you so choose. You will not get the message until you actually read the new testament and understand Christ is God.

Richard Connelly

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If you check out why Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem you will see that it was not Dec. 25. It was at the time of year that the Romans collected taxes and counted the people.

History tells us that it was done in the fall after harvest about the end of September or the first of October. This would put Jesus' conception about Dec. 25.

Roger Cox
Hickory N.C.

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I think Mr. Crowe is right on a couple of issues. Judging by biblical records, Jesus was such a selfless person that I believe he would be unimpressed by all of the pomp and circumstance of the Christmas celebration. Manger scenes on the lawn, candlelight services in sanctuaries all around the world, family gatherings where children read the Christmas story and other celebratory rituals. He was actually crucified and died on a cross for our sins. Following that, he was resurrected and ascended to the heavens to sit with his father as an intercessor on our behalf.

Surely, with all of the problems in the world, he would see our actions as somewhat trivial. He probably wishes we would spend our time on more important matters. Maybe we do have his birthday wrong. There are many conflicting records regarding the year as well as the day he was born. However, there is little doubt that he was born. I think where Mr. Crowe misses the point is based on the Bible passage John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his Son".

I think it is reasonable to assume that God the Father is well pleased that we would set aside a couple of days a year to honor the birth of his Son. I don't even think he minds if we are off a couple of days or a couple of years.

There has been such an erosion of gratitude throughout society that if the Christmas Holiday is the reason we can shut the world down for 36 hours and spend time with our families and focus on the great gift of Christ to the world and express our gratitude publicly or privately, then it is time well spent.

Merry Christmas,

Randy Baker

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What would cashews think of filberts? Who cares, they're all a bunch of nuts.

Dave Kelley
Soddy-Daisy
wildman_68@hotmail.com

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Mr. Crowe,

I agree with a lot of what you said. I have a real problem with the commercialization of Christmas. However, according to your tone, I believe your words are inspired less by the true meaning of Christmas and more by your disdain for Christianity.

That being said, what about Martin Luther King's birthday? He didn't do what he did with the goal being that his birth would be celebrated. He only wanted us to judge each other by the content or our character instead of the color of our skin. The fact that we observe a holiday in his name is a tribute to a great man. But would it not honor him more if we just followed his advice than to have "staged adoration that doesn't have anything in the world to do with anything he preached"? I say yes, but that doesn't mean the holiday or the celebration is insignificant, overblown, or that the people who celebrate it are wasting their time. I'll leave it up to you to make that case, just as you did with Christmas.

On Jan. 20, the day we celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday, we will inaugurate the first African American President in our history. On that day I look forward to your critique of MLK Day, the "sanctimonious observations and humbuggery" associated with it, and your snide comments about the people who "make a big deal about it in public."

I'm sure you will be very popular.

Shane Beasley
Signal Mountain

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I have a suggestion about the different beliefs and opinions of the holidays.

Christmas - enjoying the wondrous holidays for what it was meant to be. The birth of the Christ child. if some want to dispute when it was - let it be - it is their opinion. Always follow your own belief and opinions.

Christmas holds wonderful and fond memories to me. Santa is inside all of us. It is called the gift of giving.

People are going through the Bah Humbugs. Well, if you want to work Christmas day instead of having a wonderful day off, go right ahead. I enjoyed having Christmas day off with my family.

Folks of other faiths, it is great to have your own special time to reflect. We should all reflect 365 days of the year instead of just at Christmas time.

My belief is that Jesus loves me no matter what. He went through a terrible death for me. If that is not true love, then I do not know what is.

Tennessee's Gator fan
Laura Crane