Great video on the origins of christianity

Post by **_Some Schmo** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:26 pm

Post by **_asbestosman** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:42 pm

Jesus was born on Dec. 25th? Uhh, not according to the Bible. Not according to anyone who knows history either.

Post by **_Some Schmo** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:48 pm

asbestosman wrote:Jesus was born on Dec. 25th? Uhh, not according to the Bible. Not according to anyone who knows history either.

Please cite the verse in the Bible that states the date of Jesus' birth. I'm interested in your historical sources as well.

Is this all you have to say about this video? Did you fixate on this one small detail and ignore the rest of it? I'm guessing you're pretty invested in believing in Jesus, huh?

Post by **_asbestosman** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:56 pm

Some Schmo wrote:
asbestosman wrote:Jesus was born on Dec. 25th? Uhh, not according to the Bible. Not according to anyone who knows history either.

Please cite the verse in the Bible that states the date of Jesus' birth. I'm interested in your historical sources as well.

There are no such verses in the Bible. The best evidence we have is that the shepherds watching over their flock by night (Luke 2:8). I had heard that this indicates that it was not winter.

As to history, I don't have a reference, but I saw both here and read in a non-lds Christian textbook that Dec. 25th was chosen by the Catholics because of existing pagan traditions--you know, the ones that have us cut down evergreen trees. I obviously don't have that reference as it was something I saw in a Dutch Christian school textbook on my mission.

Post by **_karl61** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:56 pm

late october was likely the date: go out at about four am (I did the other night/morning) to get coffee as I couldn't sleep and decided to start my day. Quite a shiner in the eastern sky.

Post by **_Doctor Steuss** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:57 pm

[deleted... abman already stated]

There was also a census, which wouldn't have made much sense to conduct in the middle of winter.

Post by **_Bond...James Bond** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:58 pm

asbestosman wrote:
Some Schmo wrote:Please cite the verse in the Bible that states the date of Jesus' birth. I'm interested in your historical sources as well.

There are no such verses in the Bible. The best evidence we have is that the shepherds watching over their flock by night (Luke 2:8). I had heard that this indicates that it was not winter.

As to history, I don't have a reference, but I saw both here and read in a non-lds Christian textbook that Dec. 25th was chosen by the Catholics because of existing pagan traditions--you know, the ones that have us cut down evergreen trees. I obviously don't have that reference as it was something I saw in a Dutch Christian school textbook on my mission.

I can't remember exactly what the Dec 25 meaning is...but I seem to recall it was a special day in Zoroastrianism....

Post by **_asbestosman** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:01 pm

Some Schmo wrote:Is this all you have to say about this video? Did you fixate on this one small detail and ignore the rest of it? I'm guessing you're pretty invested in believing in Jesus, huh?

You want me to say more? Fine. Reducing Jesus to a sun god is nonsense. The central message of Jesus Christ is that He atoned for our sins. I have no idea what the sun has to do with that, nor with overcoming hypocrisy and loving your neighbor. That Jesus uses the sun as a symbol of Himself is unsurprising. But we clearly distinguish between the sun and the Son. I see people wearing crucifixes, but I see nobody wearing a mock up of the solar system as Christian religious imagery.

Post by **_Some Schmo** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:16 pm

asbestosman wrote:
Some Schmo wrote:Is this all you have to say about this video? Did you fixate on this one small detail and ignore the rest of it? I'm guessing you're pretty invested in believing in Jesus, huh?

You want me to say more? Fine. Reducing Jesus to a sun god is nonsense. The central message of Jesus Christ is that He atoned for our sins. I have no idea what the sun has to do with that, nor with overcoming hypocrisy and loving your neighbor. That Jesus uses the sun as a symbol of Himself is unsurprising. But we clearly distinguish between the sun and the Son. I see people wearing crucifixes, but I see nobody wearing a mock up of the solar system as Christian religious imagery.

Ahhh... so you got to the part where it said he was born on Dec 25 and shut it off. That explains it.

You know, a lot can happen in 2000 years. Things change. Traditions morph. The question is, if you believe in Jesus, you must also believe in astrology, no? Looks like they have similar origins.

Post by **_karl61** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:19 pm

how about they needed to one-up the Jews' Hanukkah or get one for themselves. If I recall correctly one of my old professors said that there was also a big keg party around that date for Saturn.