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Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

General socialising and light-hearted discussions take place in here.
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VINDICATOR
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Joined: December 22nd, 2016, 11:07 am

Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#1 Post by VINDICATOR » December 24th, 2016, 10:04 am

There is a movement to secularize Christmas. (The Christians call it the war against Christmas)There were several ancient Pagan Festivals around the winter solstice in almost every continent. A very popular one in Europe was the Celtic Festival "Yuletide" honoring the God Thor. Germany had it's "Tannenbaum" etc. The Jews also had their "Hannukah" about this time.The Christians comandeered these celebrations and established "Christmas" as their own.
However, "Merry Christmas" is giving way to "Happy Holidays", "Season's Greetings", Yuletide Greetings, Xmas, etc. The Jews call it"Chrismukkah", the Pastafarians call it "ChriFSMas, or Pastamas, etc. They are all alright by me because I am a First Ammendment fan!

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Alan H
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#2 Post by Alan H » December 24th, 2016, 10:46 am

Or Newtonmas...
Alan Henness

There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:

1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?

VINDICATOR
Posts: 596
Joined: December 22nd, 2016, 11:07 am

Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#3 Post by VINDICATOR » December 24th, 2016, 12:45 pm

Alan,
Sure, why not? Newtonmas, Tommas, Dickmas, Harrymas. I can't even imagine what we will be celebrating a Century from now! We might even be celebrating some Alien holiday brought here by the extraterrestrials! What were the American Indians celebrating before the white man got here?

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Tetenterre
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#4 Post by Tetenterre » December 24th, 2016, 2:31 pm

Alan H wrote:Or Newtonmas...
Reason's greetings...
Steve

Quantum Theory: The branch of science with which people who know absolutely sod all about quantum theory can explain anything.

VINDICATOR
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Joined: December 22nd, 2016, 11:07 am

Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#5 Post by VINDICATOR » December 25th, 2016, 6:12 am

Tetenterre,
"Reasons Greetings" cute, I like that.
I don't think that Isaac Newton would like "Newtonmas" because he was a devout Christian. Newton is perhaps the greatest scientist that ever was. Almost every piece of machinery has to obey the natural laws he discovered, like cars, airplanes, rockets, etc. Every High Scool student knows these laws today. Without this knowledge we would be stuck in the stone age! However, when he used his high powered brain to try to solve the enigma of God he failed!
On the otherhand, Einstein, standing on Neuton's shoulders, revealed a deeper understanding of the universe, like The Relativity Theory, that even most college graduates can hardly understand, but has been proven by innumerable observations for a Century including the recent observation of gravity waves! Einstein also solved the God problem. He said there was no personal God like a King sitting on a throne. He suggested that the whole universe including hardware (matter) and software (laws of nature) could be considered a God. He also called the Bible "A book of fairy tales". However, I don't think Einstein would like "Einsteinmas". He was too modest!
Reasons Greetings everybody!

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Tetenterre
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#6 Post by Tetenterre » December 25th, 2016, 11:41 am

VINDICATOR wrote:Tetenterre,
"Reasons Greetings" cute, I like that.
It's not original. :-)
I don't think that Isaac Newton would like "Newtonmas" because he was a devout Christian.
He was actually an Arianist. Excellent book that covers this period is the historical novel The Sensorium of God. (The other two books in the trilogy are darned good as well.)
Steve

Quantum Theory: The branch of science with which people who know absolutely sod all about quantum theory can explain anything.

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animist
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#7 Post by animist » December 26th, 2016, 12:00 pm

VINDICATOR wrote:Einstein also solved the God problem. He said there was no personal God like a King sitting on a throne. He suggested that the whole universe including hardware (matter) and software (laws of nature) could be considered a God.
I don't think that "solved" the God problem, and I suggest that you look at Richard Dawkins's comment on Einstein in "The God Delusion".

Re Newton: to confirm what Tetenterre said, and in case you don't get round to reading the recommended books, here is the relevant Wiki article:
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/hist ... Arian.html

Nick
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#8 Post by Nick » December 26th, 2016, 1:05 pm

Have a Cool Yule, everybody! :D

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Lifelinking
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#9 Post by Lifelinking » December 27th, 2016, 11:54 pm

Midwinter season's greetings dear folk at Think Humanism. I have been away from the place for a long time, but now I am no longer working night shifts and doing a job that has good holidays, I hope to be able to drop in and catch up. Hope everybody is well and thriving :D
"Who thinks the law has anything to do with justice? It's what we have because we can't have justice."
William McIlvanney

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Alan H
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#10 Post by Alan H » December 28th, 2016, 12:05 am

Hey! Long time no see. Welcome back. Hope everything's good with you?
Alan Henness

There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:

1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?

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Lifelinking
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#11 Post by Lifelinking » December 28th, 2016, 12:44 am

Hi Alan, thanks for the welcome and yes, everything is pretty good. I am in a job with better shifts and more holidays now. I have missed TH and thought it was high time I took the plunge and dropped back in. :wink:
"Who thinks the law has anything to do with justice? It's what we have because we can't have justice."
William McIlvanney

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Alan H
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#12 Post by Alan H » December 28th, 2016, 12:47 am

Better shifts and more holidays is always good! :smile:
Alan Henness

There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:

1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?

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Lifelinking
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Joined: July 4th, 2007, 11:56 am

Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#13 Post by Lifelinking » December 28th, 2016, 12:57 am

Yeah, I am off all the school holidays :D
"Who thinks the law has anything to do with justice? It's what we have because we can't have justice."
William McIlvanney

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jaywhat
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#14 Post by jaywhat » December 28th, 2016, 6:47 am

Welcome back Lifethinking :smile: I already welcomed you back and lost my post so here I am again. Nice to see you on the chit chat forum where Graham and I are often alone.

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Lifelinking
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#15 Post by Lifelinking » December 28th, 2016, 9:24 pm

:D Thanks J
"Who thinks the law has anything to do with justice? It's what we have because we can't have justice."
William McIlvanney

VINDICATOR
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Joined: December 22nd, 2016, 11:07 am

Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#16 Post by VINDICATOR » December 29th, 2016, 12:22 pm

Dear animist,
The "God Problem" will take Centuries to be completely resolved. There are 3 reasons for this:
1: It's very easy to propose that a God exists and very easy to fool masses of people to believe you. But it's impossible to actually prove that a God does not exist. The Theist knows this and says that since you can't prove his God doesn't exist, that proves that he does exist! Bertrand Russel realized this and proposed that there was a teapot orbitting Mars. Then he defied the Theists to prove that his teapot was imaginary! It's very silly but nobody can prove that there isn't!
2: Human beings need a God. Humans are afraid of dying. They cling to religion because it promises them everlasting life in heaven. The only comfort a man has on his death bed is from "help of the helpless--abide with me!"
3: All humans have been brain washed. The human brain has a ROM. You don't believe me? Then explain how is it that Christian families produce only Christians, Muslim families produce only Muslims, etc. etc.? Is religion transmitted through the genes? Of course not, they have the religion hard-wired into their ROM by brain-washing from birth! They call it FAITH!
And that is why it will take many Centuries to completely solve the "God Problem"!

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Tetenterre
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#17 Post by Tetenterre » December 30th, 2016, 11:02 am

VINDICATOR wrote:Bertrand Russel realized this and proposed that there was a teapot orbitting Mars.
Not quite; according to Russell, his Teapot is 'a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit'
2: Human beings need a God. Humans are afraid of dying.
Those are a couple of bold generalisations. I am human; I do not need a god. Also, not all humans are afraid of dying, and I would propose that even fewer fear death (yes, there is a distinction).
3: All humans have been brain washed. The human brain has a ROM. You don't believe me? Then explain how is it that Christian families produce only Christians, Muslim families produce only Muslims, etc. etc.?
You are begging the question.
Steve

Quantum Theory: The branch of science with which people who know absolutely sod all about quantum theory can explain anything.

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animist
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#18 Post by animist » December 30th, 2016, 11:16 am

jaywhat wrote:Welcome back Lifethinking :smile: I already welcomed you back and lost my post so here I am again. Nice to see you on the chit chat forum where Graham and I are often alone.
ditto. And JW, I will try to think of some chit chat too, as my NY Resolution (I assume that Pahu will not take me on my offer to read some book which he likes in return for his serious reading of evolutionary biology!)

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animist
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#19 Post by animist » December 30th, 2016, 11:22 am

Tetenterre wrote:
2: Human beings need a God. Humans are afraid of dying.
Those are a couple of bold generalisations. I am human; I do not need a god. Also, not all humans are afraid of dying, and I would propose that even fewer fear death (yes, there is a distinction).
but I think that Vindicator is not proposing a universal law but is instead pointing to a pretty general fear of death among the vast majority of humans, who would lack the wisdom of us humanists :laughter:
Tetenterre wrote:
3: All humans have been brain washed. The human brain has a ROM. You don't believe me? Then explain how is it that Christian families produce only Christians, Muslim families produce only Muslims, etc. etc.?
You are begging the question.
yes, if we were that hard-wired then how could anyone have an idea which was not already part of his/her social milieu?

VINDICATOR
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Re: Merry Christmas? or Happy Holidays?

#20 Post by VINDICATOR » December 31st, 2016, 1:05 pm

Dear Animist,
You don't agree with me that the human brain has a ROM? Then please explain why Christian families produce only Christians but never any muslim children? Why do Muslim families produce only Muslim children but never a Christian? do you really believe it is transmitted through the genes? When Stalin established his religion "Stalinism" he actually did proclaim that after a couple of generations Stalinism would get into the genes and future generations would be BORN "Stalinists"!!! (seeing how Russia is going, maybe he was right!)

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