The perfect Christmas tree is bought. Adorned with ornaments and glittering with tinsel, it stands by the window. The stores are crammed with shoppers hunting for presents and the little ones anxiously waiting for Santa.
Busy with Christmas fever, wonder did you ever, did the Bible or Jesus made any injunction on Christmas ever?
Ponder upon the following analysis on Christmas, and the Truth will become clearer and clearer.
Does Christmas have Biblical Evidence? The word 'Christmas' does not exist in the Bible. The Bible has closed lips on the entire feast of Christmas, with one exception, the decoration of a tree. The Bible itself criticizes the decoration of the (Christmas) trees:
"The customs of the people are worthless, they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel, they adore it with silver and gold, they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter" (Jeremiah 10-3,4).
European Pre-Christian pagans superstitiously believed that the green trees had special protective powers. In fact the use of the Christmas tree began only in the 17th century in Strasbourg, France and from there it spread to Germany, Britain and then to the U.S. "Tree worship was a common feature of religion among the Teutonic and Scandinavian peoples of northern Europe before their conversion to Christianity…German settlers brought the Christmas tree custom to the American colonies in the 17th century. By the 19th century its use was quite widespread". (Compton's Encyclopedia, 1998 Edition)
Was Jesus born on Dec. 25?
Neither the date 25th Dec. nor any other date on Jesus' birth is mentioned in the Bible. It was not until the year 530 C.E. that a monk, Dionysus Exigus, fixed the date of Jesus' birth on Dec. 25th. . "He wrongly dated the birth of Christ according to the Roman system (i.e., 754 years after the founding of Rome) as Dec. 25, 753". (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1998 ed.) This date was chosen in keeping with the holidays already indoctrinated into pagans beliefs.
Roman pagans celebrated Dec. 25th as the birth of their 'god' of light, Mithra.
"In the 2nd century A..D., it (Mithraism) was more general in the Roman Empire than Christianity, to which it bore many similarities" (The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia, 1995 ed.
Other pagan 'gods' born on Dec. 25th are: Hercules the son of Zeus (Greeks); Bacchus, 'god' of wine (Romans); Adonis, 'god' of Greeks, and 'god' Freyr of Greek-Roman pagans.
What about Santa Claus?
If aliens descended on earth during the Christmas season, they would undoubtedly believe Christmas as being Santa's birthday. The words 'Santa Claus', appear nowhere in the Bible.
However, Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) was a real person, a bishop, who was born 300 years after Jesus. According to legend, he was extremely kind and set out at night to bring presents to the needy. After his death on 6th of Dec., school boys in Europe began celebrating a feast day each year.
Queen Victoria later changed the celebration date from Dec. 6th to Dec. 24th eve.
Did Jesus or his Companions Celebrate Christmas?
If Jesus meant his followers to celebrate Christmas, he would have practiced it himself and enjoined it on his followers. There is no mention in the entire Bible that any of his followers ever celebrated Jesus' birthday like Christians do today.
"The church did not observe a festival for the celebration of the event of Christmas until the 4th century" (Grolier's Encyclopedia)
Thus we see that neither the Bible nor Jesus and his companions say anything about the celebration of Christmas which currently involves fanfare, commercialization, and extravagent spending, devoid of any spiritual relevance.
We'll now analyze the real person of Jesus (peace be upon him), in the light of the Bible and Islam.
What did Jesus Say about Himself? In many places in the Bible, Jesus, referring to himself as a Prophet said:
"A Prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house" (Matthew 13:57),
"Nevertheless I must walk today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a Prophet persists out of Jerusalem". (Luke 13:33).
Jesus Received God's Revelation
Similarly, Jesus Christ too, as a Prophet, received revelations from God: "But now you seek to kill me, a man that had told you the truth, which I heard of God" (John 8:40)
Jesus Prayed to his God
"And when he (Jesus) had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray" (Matthew 14:23)
Obvious question: If Jesus was God, who was he praying to?
Jesus put himself Equal to other Humans
Jesus put himself equal to other humans in the eyes of God.
"My father and your father, my God and your God" (John 20:17)
God does not have a God, But Jesus had a God! Moreover, the gospel writers referred to Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) as the 'son of man' about 85 times in the Gospels, and never once did he explicitly called himself 'God', or 'God the Son', or 'The Begotton Son of God'.
Jesus Preached God's Oneness
Jesus Christ, as a true Prophet of God, taught monotheism. When asked, 'What is the first of all commandments', Jesus replied:
"...The first of all the Commandments is, Hear O Israel; the Lord our God is One Lord" (Mark 12:29)
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent" (John 17:3)
Prophets of God
God, by his mercy, sent numerous Prophets throughout history to all nations as guides and role models. Some of the prophets were Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus and the Last Prophet Muhammad (peace be on all of them). They all came with the same basic message, which is the Oneness of God, without any partners, sons or daughters.
This Oneness of God in its complete essence, preached by all prophets, was later distorted by some segments of humanity and naming these 'distortions' as 'religions', they left the worship of one true God and replaced it with worshiping humans, cows and fire. To purify humanity, God sent His last Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a guide for all mankind and through him revealed in His last Messge, The Quran:
"They have adopted their scholars and monks as lords besides God and (also) Christ, the son of Mary, although they have been ordered to serve only God alone. There is no god but Him. Glory be to Him ! He is beyond what they associate (with Him)...." (Quran 9:31)
This utmost obedience and worship to one God, in its truest sense forms the basis of Islam. The entire Quran has been committed to memory by millions of Muslims around the world and preserved by God Himself from any interpolations, unlike previous scriptures, to provide guidance for all ages.
What Does Islam Teach?
Islam calls humanity to the service of the One, Omnipotent Creator ('Allah' in Arabic). Islam teaches the oneness of mankind in the eyes of God regardless of superficial differences such as race & nationality. In Islam there is no superiority of whites over blacks or vice versa. Anything that disrupts society's harmony and deviates humans from worshiping one true God is disliked in Islam. Thus Islam recognizes the evils of alcohol, drugs, premarital sex, gambling etc. and advises humans to stay sway from these Satan's handiwork. Islam further provides detailed instruction about a person's relationship with God, with his family and the society. Thus no aspect of a person's life is outside of the guidance provided by God.
Born Sinless!
Islam teaches that every child is born sinless with a pure heart and an inner instinct to realize the oneness of God. It is the parents or the environment that deviates this child to associate partners with God (in the form of multiple gods) or to reject God altogether.
No Mediator
There is no mediator between God and man. There is no need of one, for God, the All knowing, can listen and answer our sincere prayers regardless of our state and place.
Salvation comes through submitting to the pure belief in One God and following His guidance as revealed in the Quran, and not through the vicarious sacrifice (murder) of an innocent human being. Thus Islam is a rational religion based on justice and self accountability, and not on unjust and mysterious doctrines formulated by humans. Islam provides solutions to all the ills plaguing humanity. An example of Islam's stand on racial justice is provided below.
Islam Dispels Racis
One person's superiority over another is not based on his race, economic status or nationality but on his God-Consciousness and purity of character. God proclaims in the Quran:`"O mankind ! We have created you from a single (pair) of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other and not that you may despise each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous..." (49:13).
Likewise Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) proclaimed:"No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay."
After studying Islam, Malcolm X, became a true Muslim. He remarks:
"...America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem..."
The Quran was revealed in the Arabic language, but translations of its meaning are available in English and other languages for non-Arabs. Likewise Islam is not restricted to people of the east or Arabs, it is a universal religion revealed for all of mankind.
We invite all sincere humans to study Islam with an unbiased mind. Don't blindly follow the whims and paganistic influences of the environment around us. God bestowed upon us this superb mind to seek and live the truth; for we all will be accountable on the Day of Judgment for our beliefs and deeds. Don't delay your salvation.
And verily for everything that a slave loses there is a substitute, but the one who loses Allah will never find anything to replace Him.” [Related by Ibn al-Qayyim in ad-Dâ' wad-Dawâ Fasl 49]
I wasn't aware of Easter eggs ever being used as 'offerings' in Christianity ...
Instead they are remnants of the old pagan religions, which celebrated the new life emerging with the coming of spring.
Since Jesus' resurrection demonstrates new life, and indeed the New Life we are offered through him, the old symbol of eggs seemed to fit the theme and stuck (and yes, hanging on to old symbols aided (rightly or worngly) the conversion of the followers of the old pagan religions)
is substituting old pagan religions to a new pagan religion better in your mind?
all the best!
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
unfortunately, saint worship is leaking into Islam from right and left, indeed this the time of fitna. May ALLAH(swt) preserve this deen.
It is true.. I believe that is why the prophet (SAW) used to seek refuge from disease, poverty and ignorance, as they are all tied to great superstition and the pagan rituals of old..
When the war broke out in Lebanon and children were dying left and right, one woman lay by her dying daughter and said, her name is Zainab and I have pledged her to Saiida Zainab to take her.. astghfor Allah, but she was a really simple woman, that I wonder if folks are liable in their ignorance? or are we, for not teaching them right from wrong? Also she was a shiite so perhaps this is a common thing amongst them?
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
is substituting old pagan religions to a new pagan religion better in your mind?
all the best!
If you consider Christianity a 'new pagan religion', then your answer is No.
But then I would disagree with your statement that Christianity is a 'new pagan religion' altogether ... instead I would view it as a replacement of old pagan understanding of God with 'The Way, the Truth and the Life'.
As for you comparing Easter eggs with the Egyptian offering of eggs to their pagan gods, I think it is probably similar to me making a statement about 'Muslims worshipping the moon' (... which I wouldn't because I am better informed about Islam than that!)
Peace glo
Here I stand.
I can do no other.
May God help me.
Amen.
Come, let us worship and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker
[Psalm 95]
If you consider Christianity a 'new pagan religion', then your answer is No.
But then I would disagree with your statement that Christianity is a 'new pagan religion' altogether ... instead I would view it as a replacement of old pagan understanding of God with 'The Way, the Truth and the Life'.
I do indeed think Christianity is a new spin on old pagan rituals!
As for you comparing Easter eggs with the Egyptian offering of eggs to their pagan gods, I think it is probably similar to me making a statement about 'Muslims worshipping the moon' (... which I wouldn't because I am better informed about Islam than that!)
The Noruz is a Persian celebration of the vernal equinox in which indeed eggs are offered to the king symbolizing birth, spring and a new beginning, really has nothing to do with Egypt.. You should do some research about it, as it will indeed take the time to read what I have actually written so your disapproval is hits the mark?
Jesus didn't come up with Easter, where else would it have come from? just so your simile's have a point of well expressing a resemblance?
all the best!
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
You should do some research about it, as it will indeed take the time to read what I have actually written so your disapproval is hits the mark?
Jesus didn't come up with Easter, where else would it have come from? just so your simile's have a point of well expressing a resemblance?
The only thing I disapprove of is any suggestion that Christians offer eggs to the gods at Easter. Anybody who has even a basic knowledge of Christianity would know that that is not the case.
To suggest Christians offer eggs to the gods is - in my mind, and as I have mentioned earlier in this thread - as far removed from the truth as it would be to suggest that Muslims worship the moon god ...
If it was not your intention to suggest that Christians offer eggs to the gods at Easter, then I have misunderstood you and have wasted everybody's time.
Salaam
Peace glo
Here I stand.
I can do no other.
May God help me.
Amen.
Come, let us worship and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker
[Psalm 95]
The only thing I disapprove of is any suggestion that Christians offer eggs to the gods at Easter. Anybody who has even a basic knowledge of Christianity would know that that is not the case.
I don't believe even you have basic knowledge of Christianity given the queries that baffle you about Islam of which you are mum at best when shown far worst in Christianity I call your attention of course to one of the threads you started in the mixed section!
To suggest Christians offer eggs to the gods is - in my mind, and as I have mentioned earlier in this thread - as far removed from the truth as it would be to suggest that Muslims worship the moon god ...
I have said that christians offer eggs to the gods? or rather did I assert that the practice of eggs for easter is all borrowed from the norwuz a pagan ritual, and the case is the same for Christmas? If Jesus asked you to perform these rituals and celebrate these holidays then please prove me wrong! Further, this is something that christians are happy about and celebrate.. you do indeed celebrate Easter and Christmas no?
let's compare to what Islam teaches:
(20) And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate yourselves not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allah Who created them, if you (really) worship Him.
( سورة فصلت , Fussilat, Chapter #41, Verse #37)
I fail to draw your desired conclusion.. The whole 'moon god' thing was invented by Christians to make up for their shortcomings and it is rather something you should direct to your churches and their founders as it has no basis in Islam.. Easter and Christmas pagan rituals celebrated in Christianity (yes) moongod is also invented by christians but failed to take hold with Muslims, your simile falls short!
If it was not your intention to suggest that Christians offer eggs to the gods at Easter, then I have misunderstood you and have wasted everybody's time.
Salaam
indeed
all the best!
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
Before isa al-masih(jesus) come, romanian was a paganism.
Christian know that their religion is useless there(roma). Because paganism will kill them(christian) if christian is not match for them. So christian make a change, by using sun god reference(25th dec) to make paganism accept their religion.
Before isa al-masih(jesus) come, romanian was a paganism.
Christian know that their religion is useless there(roma). Because paganism will kill them(christian) if christian is not match for them. So christian make a change, by using sun god reference(25th dec) to make paganism accept their religion.
The dating of the nativity was based off an ancient tradition that the Annunciation occured on March 25th. Count nine months from that day and you get December 25th.
"And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him."Matthew 2:11
DRB And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
DBY And having come into the house they saw the little child with Mary his mother, and falling down did him homage. And having opened their treasures, they offered to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh
can't seem to agree.. people adore and pay homage alot no?.
John: Gilmore Nobody ran to the movies to see Shelley. She adored and worshiped Marilyn—Marilyn was her heroine, her goddess.
The dating of the nativity was based off an ancient tradition that the Annunciation occured on March 25th. Count nine months from that day and you get December 25th.
The more ya know!
ah except Jesus (p) was born sometime in early fall!
[Pickthal 19:23] And the pangs of childbirth drove her unto the trunk of the palm-tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died ere this and had become a thing of naught, forgotten! [Pickthal 19:24] Then (one) cried unto her from below her, saying: Grieve not! Thy Lord hath placed a rivulet beneath thee, [Pickthal 19:25] And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee, thou wilt cause ripe dates to fall upon thee. [Pickthal 19:26] So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.
as that is when dates grow in the 'Middle Eastern region' where your alleged God was born..
indeed the more you know!
all the best!
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
ah except we don't venerate a black stone!
You should consult your pagan elders to teach you something valid about Islam so when you come arguing against Muslims, you will actually have something of substance to Impart.
During the building of the Ka'bah, Prophet Ibraaheem stood on a large stone block in order to complete the upper part of its walls. He used to move the block around the Ka'bah as he built it and on completion of the building, it was left outside the Ka'bah near the eastern wall and became known in later years as Maqaam Ibraaheem (the standing place of Ibraaheem). In Ibraaheem's time, the Ka'bah reached a height of 4.5 meters. It was rectangular in shape with a semi-circular back wall. Ibraheem built in it two doors at ground level and did not put a roof on it. He would come to Makkah once per year to perform the rites of Hajj with his family until he died. His son Ismaa'eel who had by then married a woman from the tribe of Jurhum, continued the tradition of Hajj and looked after the Ka'bah until he died.
Muslims don't worship a black stone, and it is actually an object of little importance save symbolic value.. however, you do worship a man named Jesus as God, a man who was allegedly forsaken by his own-self the night after he prayed to himself in the garden of Gethsemane while debating on whom to pass the torch too Peter too forsake him three times .. Thus the man you allege is a god not only failed to uphold his commandments, his promise to his own self, but to even part from this world with disciples who can carry the torch, and thus you end up leaving it to dreams of born again charlatans who abrogated most of his commencements and doubting thomases and joan's of Arc etc etc..
good luck with all of that!
all the best
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
So nothing wrong with prostrating to an infant out of adoration?
As for the translation: The Greek word "prosekunēsan" (προσεκύνησαν) means to worship (adore means the same thing.)
I bent down to pick all my nieces and nephews as new born and found them absolutely adorable!
by the way, that is if I am to take anything in your bible with other than a grain of salt, I have already painted quite the realistic picture of exactly what happened on the alleged day of christ' crucifixion using none other than your bible(s)
There is no historical or common sense and I fear quoting me adoration/homage/worship-- won't really change things any..
yeah just so you know!
all the best
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
I didn't say you worship it, I said you venerate it, as did the pagans of the hijaaz.
I know you believe the kaba was built by Abraham but that's your personal belief.
It isn't venerated, if it weren't in existence it wouldn't make one bit of a difference!
as for the Abraham/Ishmael issue.. as far as Christianity is concerned it is a personal belief. As for as Islam it is historical accuracy .. surprisingly also using your own bible -- which isn't able to sustain itself against the lowest credibility standards!
all the best!
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
I bent down to pick all my nieces and nephews as new born and found them absolutely adorable!
Obviously for three men to prostrate infront of an Infant out of adoration (adore=worship) would contradict an Islamic understanding of Jesus, so I don't expect you to accept it, but that fact is according to the NT Christ was worshipped from birth. Even if you quibble about the translation of the Greek word, if Jesus were merely human those men committed Shirk.
Obviously for three men to prostrate infront of an Infant out of adoration (adore=worship) would contradict an Islamic understanding of Jesus, so I don't expect you to accept it, but that fact is according to the NT Christ was worshipped from birth. Even if you quibble about the translation of the Greek word, if Jesus were merely human those men committed Shirk.
What is obvious seems so apparent to only you and purely on blind faith.. I wouldn't put the word 'fact' with anything christian and you know the sad thing is, I can tell you are trying to really milk this for all you can, while I sip on tea and watch Dr. G medical examiner!
all the best
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
It isn't venerated, if it weren't in existence it wouldn't make one bit of a difference!
Do you know what the word veneration means? Because to encase a stone in silver, put it on public display in a sacred place, and then have thousands of people eagerly touch and kiss it seems a lot like veneration.
as for the Abraham/Ishmael issue.. as far as Christianity is concerned it is a personal belief. As for as Islam it is historical accuracy .. surprisingly also using your own bible -- which isn't able to sustain itself against the lowest credibility standards!
I'd say even as secular historians of no religious affiliation are concerned...
What is obvious seems so apparent to only you and purely on blind faith.. I wouldn't put the word 'fact' with anything christian and you know the sad thing is, I can tell you are trying to really milk this for all you can, while I sip on tea and watch Dr. G medical examiner!
Hehe, well at least you have a sense of humor despite trying to evade a straightforward reading of the text. You can always accept what it says and still claim some Christian forged it
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