Jesus birthday..

D.Don · #1 12-20-2008, 10:03 PM

Yesterday a friend told me about when he spent xmas in India and amongst many he met a bunch of Indian Christians who celebrated on xmas eve with cake (decorated with a pic of jesus), and singing "happy birthday, jesus" ..

Anyone ever heard of that before?

I totally got stuck on that, not that I am much of a believer, but still this was the best and most "true" way of handling xmas I have heard about in a long time. Next year we are having a birthday party at ours the 24/12, with cake (and I am thinking a sugar paste statue of Jesus, much like the statue in Rio, Brazil, on top of the cake..).

D.Don

**SoComSurfing** · #2 12-20-2008, 10:17 PM

I think you should use the Jesus from Buzzbass' avatar and "Dogma".

D.Don · #3 12-20-2008, 10:19 PM

D.Don

Joey3313 · #4 12-20-2008, 10:29 PM

You mean "Buddy Christ"?

Seriously, an excuse to have cake? I'm down.

Tsal · #5 12-21-2008, 06:01 AM

Fortunately, there's another option. Lemmy's birthday is on christmas day, too. So how about a cake with an iron cross on it? As a non-believer, this might be the only chance for a birthday cake on christmas I have

AlembicPlayer · #6 12-21-2008, 06:12 AM

the jesus was not born on dec 24

or in dec at all for that matter

Gard · #7 12-21-2008, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlembicPlayer

the jesus was not born on dec 24

or in dec at all for that matter

Ya beat me to it.

The birth of Christ has been celebrated on at least three different dates through history. The present date was chosen near the end of the Roman Empire to coincide with the most popular of Roman holidays at the time, Saturnalia.

So, happy Saturnalia,folks, from your resident agnostic!

KJung · #8 12-21-2008, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Ya beat me to it.

The birth of Christ has been celebrated on at least three different dates through history. The present date was chosen near the end of the Roman Empire to coincide with the most popular of Roman holidays at the time, Saturnalia.

So, happy Saturnalia,folks, from your resident agnostic!

+1 Also, the BCE thing is tied not to the birth of Jesus, but to the death of Herod (4 years after the traditionally identified year of the birth of Jesus). I think I have that correct.

And, Gard, happy Saturnalia!

Tsal · #9 12-21-2008, 06:26 AM

Ok guys, this thread need less religio-historical bickering, and more Lemmy. Now there's a guy you can trust.

..sorry. Please NVM and continue as usual

Chriss62 · #10 12-21-2008, 07:02 AM

I bet Jesus, if He had lived in modern society, would know where to get all the best stuff .

FL Knifemaker · #11 12-21-2008, 07:30 AM

Croox · #12 12-21-2008, 09:14 AM

winter solstice FTW

FL Knifemaker · #13 12-21-2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chriss62

I bet Jesus, if He had lived in modern society, would know where to get all the best stuff .

Right after he smited everyone that posted in this thread

Jeff Martinez · #14 12-21-2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.Don

... and singing "happy birthday, jesus" ...

Am I the only one that thought of "Full Metal Jacket"?

BTW... Happy Yule to all!!!!!!

WickedPissah · #15 12-21-2008, 09:29 AM

D.Don · #16 12-21-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chriss62

I bet Jesus, if He had lived in modern society, would know where to get all the best stuff .

Let's hope so, as he was supposed to be quite "well connected..."

D.Don

thombo · #17 12-21-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsal

Fortunately, there's another option. Lemmy's birthday is on christmas day, too. So how about a cake with an iron cross on it? As a non-believer, this might be the only chance for a birthday cake on christmas I have

or a pic of lemmy! it could be a 3D cake, and we could start a tradition where the kids could fight over who gets the chocolate-filled moles... sing motorhead songs around a well carved ric 4004LK and off to bed to awake to another agonizing day of life in the morning.

Lucky Strike · #18 12-21-2008, 10:21 AM

Didn't they figure the actual birth date of Jesus to be around mid March? I could be way off.. anyway, Merry Christmas

Chriss62 · #19 12-21-2008, 10:42 AM

Jesus would have used G&L......

and Ampeg!

Jeff Martinez · #20 12-21-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky Strike

Didn't they figure the actual birth date of Jesus to be around mid March? I could be way off... anyway, Merry Christmas

::Long post alert!!!::

There are clues that point to this. The mention of shepherds "keeping watch over their flock by night" would indicate that it happened during the lambing, which would have been a common time for the herds to be watched both day and night. This would have been in late March.

Christian holidays are usually more centered around the death(s) of important figures (ie. Easter). Christmas came about as a way to integrate the existing celebrations of Saturnalia, Yule, etc... into the embrace of Christianity. Originally, December 25th was deemed as the day to celebrate the birth of Christ, not neccessarily his birthday. Because of this, Christian scholars have historically been vague about the precise day of his birth.

Editorial: As a pagan, I see no problem with celebrating the birth of Yeshua bar Joseph on this day, if it can bring the craziness of our world to a peacful calm for one day. If people can jsut stop and take a breath, appreciate those who are close to them, and maybe help some one they don't know, this should supercede any religious dogma. While I personally do not believe in a single diety above all others, I will happily honor the birth a man who's legacy still impacts our world 2000 years after his death.