Question:
Is Christmas evolving into a Religion?
jrrose
2008-11-25 07:38:02 UTC
It seems so. Christmas has an imaginary deity that lives at the North Pole. Santa also has magical flying reindeer and worker elves. And Santa himself, possesses magical powers. There are a lot of psalms (odes of praise) dedicated to Santa. Children are taught to believe in Santa from birth. And everyone knows that Santa judges all. If you are good, you get a present. If you are bad, you get a lump of coal. Santa is known throughout the world. And has many many followers. Just look around. You will see his minions adorned in Santa hats and even decorate their homes in tribute to Santa. They even offer sacrifices of milk and cookies to Santa. So, is Christmas turning into a Religion?
Nineteen answers:
Joules Byrne
2008-11-25 18:00:10 UTC
I wouldn't say it's evolving into a religion, to me it's always been this way. Kids worship Santa as a separate Deity than Jesus/God. They think if they're good all year, the better gifts they'll receive...just like if you're a good little christian, you get the gift of "heaven"...but at least Christmas has a tangible reward for most people. Nobody wants to think if they're a good kid, they'll get that Wii when they die and not alive to enjoy it...that's not what Christmas is about. Everyone knows Christmas is about greed and spoiling undeserving children with more crap they'll get tired of by January 1st. Merry Consumerism.
roostershine
2008-11-25 08:05:15 UTC
There's also Odin and saint nick and Yule logs and Norwegian Finnish Laplanders and Mithras and the English drinking and rabble rousing and the German Tree, I can go on but the most important thing seems to be that it is in winter and brings out campassionate and/or joyful human spirit.



Sometimes I have more respect for that than the way people so often try to represent the priorities of Jesus and other religions.

(Honestly, there's even no serious way of knowing what time of year Jesus was born. I just like inviting Jesus into my Yule holiday because He makes it better. He's like a baby Mithras, only better. And He has such importance to many of us the rest of the year anyway. Powerful enough to even place at the heart of the holiday sometimes.)



Even if you have a lot of money it is still not quite possible to just simply Buy christmas for yourself.



The Pagans never really got too good at becoming like CEOs harnessing of the human spirit for very long.
?
2008-11-25 07:43:40 UTC
I guess that depends on how families treat it. In our house, no its not a religion...just a fun myth. Your right on the whole good/bad, presents/no presents spin but in our home the primary focus is family and giving...not Santa. He is more like an added bonus to the holiday. Some people do put alot of Santa and commercialism into their holiday. As far as I am concerned, that is their business. I guess that in order for it to be a religion for them, they could never admit that Santa doesn't exist.
?
2008-11-25 08:00:53 UTC
We are told not to worship idols - the definition of idol doesn't have to be primitive wood-carvings or statues. It can be our own pleasures or even the superstitions like the commercial idea of Santa Claus.



The tragedy is that the original St. Nicholas is a real-person and powerful intercessor before the Lord. Removing Christianity from Christmas - all you have left are a few superstitions.



St. Nicholas was a bishop in Myra in Lycia and even during his earthly life was blessed by God to be a powerful wonderworker; raising the dead, curing the sick and many, many other works of mercy and compassion. Through his Godly example he led many people to Christ and their salvation. After his death, God glorified His Saint and allowed his relics (remains) to begin to exude fragrant oil known as Myrrh which the faithful anoint on themselves and receive physical and spiritual healing.



To learn more about St. Nicholas follow this link:

http://orthodoxbeckley.org/saint_nicholas.html

and/or

http://www.roca.org/OA/5/5m.htm
andy p
2008-11-25 07:56:31 UTC
First of all Christmas have nothing to do with Santa.

Santa Clause is a fictional character, brought by ancient non-christian religions saints or gods who where been worshiped by the mass.

Second, Christmas is not evolving into a religion but they are -and they will continue to be- a way for profit.
?
2016-10-25 04:40:41 UTC
i'd be really careful blending the use "evolve" between biology and society, because there is already an negative lot of misunderstanding (even purposely created by making use of Creationists) over the clinical and colloquial use of a similar words which potential a range of of issues in context. "idea" is the most undemanding celebration. The "evolution" of religion is equivalent to organic and organic evolution in adaptive senses; populations of organisms evolve in accordance to environmental pressures, even as faith "evolves" in accordance to societal pressures. In Judeo-Christian historic previous, for instance, the former testomony comes from a society in which the religion and regulation were inseparable. the recent testomony of Christianity comes from a time even as the regulation change into separate and secular (the Roman Empire), and bumped off the stress on the religion to grant regulation. faith is maximum in all probability to modify the position beliefs, values, economics, regulation, practices, etc. of the religion are in conflict with the society in which the religion is practiced. faith does substitute a lot swifter, which should be glaring in case you concentration on how lengthy human beings were round and how a lot faith has replaced -- faith is a made from human society.
itsjustme
2008-11-25 07:46:05 UTC
Christmas is turning into a completely non-religious celebration.



People often use the term 'Seasons Greetings', instead of Merry Christmas.



It's a warm up to the coming new year, and an excuse to get drunk and exchange presents.
psycho_lycious
2008-11-25 08:31:34 UTC
no, not all children are brought up to believe in him,and alot of bad @$$ kids ,get lots of presents- no lumps of coal for them.



it's truly a consumer/business type of holiday. businesses do about 30% percent of their business for Christmas- that's why the Christams crap goes up the day after halloween.
2008-11-25 07:43:24 UTC
It certainly walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.



And while the most visible followers are children, adults can still be carriers and transfer it to their children when the time comes.
Hugh G. Rection
2008-11-25 13:08:57 UTC
Another way Christmas is like a religion is money. One group of people wants money and use Christmas to gain it, just like Christianity itself, the Church wants money and suckers in lots of people to give lots of money.
Rob
2008-11-25 08:09:46 UTC
yeah I can see that. Though all Chrismas is a pagon celebration. It has nothing to do with Jesus or anything. But yeah, Santa judging you to give you presents is... kinda coocoo.
2008-11-25 07:41:29 UTC
Christmas is turning into a religion for the veneration of mammon.
Pen Rev
2008-11-25 07:46:39 UTC
A quote from my sister: 'O' blessed be our lord Santa and his brave elf followers!' Answer: Yes, I believe it is.
2008-11-25 07:41:51 UTC
A small religion, but one all the same...



One used to con children into obeying their parents.



Honestly, I doubt it would work on my kids.



LOL!
discord71
2008-11-25 07:47:03 UTC
Christ mas (Christ's Mass) is celebrated globally. It's done in the spirit of giving to those we love, as God did for us with His Son.
2008-11-25 07:41:30 UTC
yes, christmas is for christians, and a few other religions i believe. hanaukuh for jewish people. and no christmas anything for athiest.
fmko ( 無神論者は神を知っていない。)
2008-11-25 07:43:44 UTC
no...its a holiday...legally they are both secular...if churches start opening up in the name of Santa Claus and his reindeer...you might have something...
Sorrow Free
2008-11-25 07:52:51 UTC
Phew!



Thanks. Now I don't have to ask it.



XD
plstudent
2008-11-25 07:44:43 UTC
This question is stupid. Grow up!


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