A shocking development

[nippinout]

Thanks for the info.

My parents work for the government, but they aren't super spys.

[shartley]

Originally posted by nippinout
Thanks for the info.

My parents work for the government, but they aren't super spys.

LOL Are you SURE?

[The Frymarker]

I may be wrong, but I was informed that "Christmas Trees" were decorated in the winter with cranberries, popcorn and bells of seeds to feed the birds and small animals in the winter.

As for Christmas, that I heard also was a Pagan solstice holiday first, and with the rise of Catholisism and the Vatican, they claimed the date as religious, being that in the bible "there will be no false gods". The Vatican was outraged that the Pagans were celebrating a holiday that wasn't Catholic, so they took the day for there own.
I was also told Jesus was born sometime in February.

I am not holding these statements as facts, just throwing in ideas.

[shartley]

Originally posted by The Frymarker
I may be wrong, but I was informed that "Christmas Trees" were decorated in the winter with cranberries, popcorn and bells of seeds to feed the birds and small animals in the winter.

As for Christmas, that I heard also was a Pagan solstice holiday first, and with the rise of Catholisism and the Vatican, they claimed the date as religious, being that in the bible "there will be no false gods". The Vatican was outraged that the Pagans were celebrating a holiday that wasn't Catholic, so they took the day for there own.
I was also told Jesus was born sometime in February.

I am not holding these statements as facts, just throwing in ideas.

Yes, what you say is not wrong. It is not the whole story either though.

As for your Christmas Tree part, that is "a" reason and purpose of the tree and its decorations, but not "the" reason.

All of the traditions have been so intermixed and intertwined that it is often hard to tell where one begins or one ends... or the original purpose all together.

[1stdeadeye]

little off.

Originally posted by shartley

Very true. But because it is funded with Tax Dollars and controlled wholly by the Government, it is a Church and State issue.

The US Postal Service does not receive one penny of tax money. They are required by law to be self supporting. This is the reason for all of the stamp hikes as of late. The USPS has been losing business to UPS, Fed Ex, and the other parcel carriers. Have you noticed how your local post office is looking more and more like a mini-mart. They are doing everything they can to make a buck. Next up will be coffee donuts. Late, they will be opening the gun shop.

[deathstalker]

Originally posted by RetroEclipseMan
I'm not sure if you were just bringing up a point or what not and I am not flaming you but if you say that we shouldn't celebrate MLK Day because he is was a minister(btw, already been said why we actually celebrate that day) then technically the government shoudln't recognize Christmas as a national holiday then. Now I personally could care less about the whole issue. It's not like anyone is forcing me to buy those stamps or anything.

Yes, I was only bringing up a point and I think Sam understands, based on his reply, that I'm only playing devil's advocate. I only commented that if Sam is as committed to the separation of Church and State as his post implies, I can logically conclude that we should not celebrate MLK Jr. day for the simple fact that he is a minister. At no time whatsoever did I say (nor do I believe) that we should NOT celebrate. I'm all for it!

As for the USPS, pretty ironic that they use FedEx to ship their stuff. That's why the USPS had to stop Sunday deliveries: FedEx doesn't deliver on Sundays!

[scarpa43]

Well since I started the "Christmas tree" talk, I will concede to those that are giving the origins of it.
I have always said that if someone knows more than me then I should listen and learn.

Concerning Christmas as a religious holiday, IMO it is basically the end of year push for merchandise sales.

[AcemanPB]

Originally posted by scarpa43
Well since I started the "Christmas tree" talk, I will concede to those that are giving the origins of it.
I have always said that if someone knows more than me then I should listen and learn.

Concerning Christmas as a religious holiday, IMO it is basically the end of year push for merchandise sales.

Well from what my history teacher tells me, the Christmas tree was first seen in the Middle Ages or sometime before then. Back then Europe was spreading Christianity and the missionary people would try to incorporate things from the pagans live into Christianity, to help to convert them. A group of missionaries walked up on to a tribe somewhere in Eastern Europe, and they were wrapping a tree in pig intestines and other parts from a pig. The missionaries saw this and when they tried to convert this tribe, they were like "oh yeah we decorate trees too..." And so the tradition of the Christmas tree began.... (in reality the tribe was wrapping the tree in pig parts to let them dry)

It's been a while since I've heard this one, and I'm not sure how true it is but my history teacher is sure that this is why... He also explained that the idea of Hell being a fiery place was spawned the same way. Which incorperated different tribes fascination and fear of fire...

Also Jesus wasn't really born on Christmas day. During the Middle ages they moved the holiday to December to pick peoples sprits up because those were usually the darker times of the year.

[shartley]

Re: little off.

Originally posted by 1stdeadeye


The US Postal Service does not receive one penny of tax money. They are required by law to be self supporting. This is the reason for all of the stamp hikes as of late. The USPS has been losing business to UPS, Fed Ex, and the other parcel carriers. Have you noticed how your local post office is looking more and more like a mini-mart. They are doing everything they can to make a buck. Next up will be coffee donuts. Late, they will be opening the gun shop.

[FactsOfLife]

Originally posted by yeahthatsme
ok, heres the whole analagy:

terrorist are to muslimes as the KKK is to christianity.

your ignorance is astounding.

[1stdeadeye]

It is!

Originally posted by FactsOfLife


your ignorance is astounding.

Yeah,
YeahThatsMe! It is spelled Muslims, not Muslimes! Jeesh!

[FactsOfLife]

I think Muslimes are a weird fruit cross between mushrooms and limes....

evil tasting from what I've heard too....

[tommyd46290]

Originally posted by irbodden
Stupidity..

Nothing wrong with Muslims, those terrorists are NOT 'muslims'.

exactly. they are extremist that think they are fighting for a cause that is worthy of their lives and the lives of others. Their religion (Islam) stricly FORBIDS the killing of innocents (i.e. unarmed men, women children) a true muslim would not condone to cut down a tree. That is their way of thinking. These "terrorists" are apparently not muslims but some ruthless branch of "islamic-type" people. There is nothing wrong with muslims. Their religion is virtually identical in belief systems to christians and jews. I see no problem with muslims. But "one bad apple ruins the bunch" or soemthing like that. I think you get what I mean. I didn't read all of the posts either so if this has allready been said just tell me and i'll edit.