Would Jesus Cringe seeing what Christmas has turned into?

[earllogjam]

I don't think Jesus was a very materialistic messiah. Would he have been waiting in line to get into Walmart on Black Friday morning? Would he expect expensive presents as proof that someone loved or cared for him?

It strikes me as odd how Capitalism and Christianity are very contradictory ideologies and the fact that somehow greed and gluttony, the cornerstones of capitalism, the engines that make it all work, are deadly sins worthy of going to hell for.

What do you think is the true spirit of Christmas? What would Jesus think of Chrismas as we conduct it today?

 

[PurpleThrillHammer]

Jesus would probably flip out, and turn some tables upside down like he did in the temple.

Check out Matthew 21: 12-13


Ok, nuff preachin:tongue:

 

[Principessa]

I don't think Jesus was a very materialistic messiah. Would he have been waiting in line to get into Walmart on Black Friday morning? Would he expect expensive presents as proof that someone loved or cared for him?

It strikes me as odd how Capitalism and Christianity are very contradictory ideologies and the fact that somehow greed and gluttony, the cornerstones of capitalism, the engines that make it all work, are deadly sins worthy of going to hell for.

What do you think is the true spirit of Christmas? What would Jesus think of Chrismas as we conduct it today?

If Jesus came back to earth and saw what Christmas has become, he'd never stop throwing up. ~ Woody Allen

 

[D_Fiona_Farvel]

What would Jesus, the mythical figure, think of a holiday cum capitalist tool??
I can't possibly answer the question - this is like asking what the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus would think.

 

[JustAsking]

Yes, I agree. I think Christians should cut the holiday loose and give it over to a secular winter celebration. Then they should quietly celebrate the birth of Jesus at some other time, kind of like Easter.

 

[D_Tim McGnaw]

Jesus didn't exist and his birthday is therefore equally fictional. The whole thing is a scam.

 

[mr_unattractive]

Captialism doesn't exist, it is all a sham, and when the current totally artificial system comes crumbling down with the ecological collapse, all that will remain will be the spiritual insights of the few who survive.

 

[earllogjam]

I suppose people have historically used the Bible to justify worse atrocities, and injustices.

I wonder sometimes if the perversion that has become Christmas is similar to what happened when people interperted his teachings, edited and changed it numerous times with their own spin which eventually became the Bible, and "Truth" - devine words of Jesus. I wonder what Jesus would think of the words he never wrote, called the Bible.

 

[2322]

I tend to think that Jesus did exist. He's mentioned outside of the Bible a few times by contemporary historians. Whether he's a prophet or messiah or simply a wise man or an uppity carpenter with radical ideas depends upon your faith.

Personally, I think he'd be shocked that anyone was celebrating his birthday to begin with and then terribly sad that so many have misunderstood the message which is still, despite great effort to the contrary, ever so clearly beneath all the commercial dreck. Ultimately, I think he'd be compassionate toward those who don't get it:

Jesus said, "I took my stand in the midst of the world, and in flesh I appeared to them. I found them all drunk, and I did not find any of them thirsty. My soul ached for the children of humanity, because they are blind in their hearts and do not see, for they came into the world empty, and they also seek to depart from the world empty. But meanwhile they are drunk. When they shake off their wine, then they will change their ways. -Thomas 28​

Thomas may not be Q but it's likely damned close.

 

[D_Doewell Dadong]

I love it how topics go off course so quickly.

to answer the question, i think jesus would kind of enjoy christmas. its all one big party for his birthday. he liked his wine and the odd dinner party so who is to say he wouldn't be propping up the bar somewhere getting wrecked off guinness and rum chasers. its his birthday.

 

[B_Hung Jon]

I don't think Jesus was a very materialistic messiah. Would he have been waiting in line to get into Walmart on Black Friday morning? Would he expect expensive presents as proof that someone loved or cared for him?

It strikes me as odd how Capitalism and Christianity are very contradictory ideologies and the fact that somehow greed and gluttony, the cornerstones of capitalism, the engines that make it all work, are deadly sins worthy of going to hell for.

What do you think is the true spirit of Christmas? What would Jesus think of Chrismas as we conduct it today?

What I've always thought is even more weird is that right-wing christians are also so into "free markets". What's with that? When did being rich become a christian virtue? It never ceases to amaze me.

 

[2322]

What I've always thought is even more weird is that right-wing christians are also so into "free markets". What's with that? When did being rich become a christian virtue? It never ceases to amaze me.

Martin Luther and his acolyte John Calvin.

A prosperous middle class needs to feel good about accumulating wealth so they don't feel they have to give it all away. That whole rich man camel eye of a needle thing can be very unsettling if it isn't explained away somehow.

 

[B_Nick8]

Jesus didn't exist and his birthday is therefore equally fictional. The whole thing is a scam.

Earl is just an out-of-state Mem.

 

[Pendlum]

Martin Luther and his acolyte John Calvin.

A prosperous middle class needs to feel good about accumulating wealth so they don't feel they have to give it all away. That whole rich man camel eye of a needle thing can be very unsettling if it isn't explained away somehow.

I guess they forgot to selectively edit that one out. White out was just invented too late.

 

[Bbucko]

Christmas is a pagan holiday with a Christian veneer. I thought everybody knew that.

 

[2322]

I guess they forgot to selectively edit that one out. White out was just invented too late.

When the Bible was put together by Origen there was no such thing as a middle class as we know it. By the time the Council of Trent finalized the thing (at least as far as the Catholics were concerned), the horse was long out of the stable.

 

[Pendlum]

Christmas is a pagan holiday with a Christian veneer. I thought everybody knew that.

Well it does have his name in it. I think a lot of people don't know that, and would probably be offended if you pointed out that fact.

So Jesus would probably think "What is Christmas?" Then he would find the craftsman auto-hammer and think "Holy shit this is fucking awesome."

I also thought that everyone believed in evolution because it makes sense.

 

[Pendlum]

When the Bible was put together by Origen there was no such thing as a middle class as we know it. By the time the Council of Trent finalized the thing (at least as far as the Catholics were concerned), the horse was long out of the stable.

Makes sense. I guess there were just the upper rich crust, and everyone else.

Now the pope is all iced out, and the Vatican is full of large fancy expensive buildings.

 

[D_Tintagel_Demondong]

Maybe we can start by asking, "What is the purpose of a modern Christmas?" I think that it goes beyond sharing gifts, store-bought or otherwise.

I'm not a Christian, but I enjoy the festivities of Christmas. I like the decorations and the days off work/school and the way people are nicer to each other. What's to not like about that?

As far as the commercialism goes, I suppose that we have to buy our gifts if we don't make them. My mother baked me a few dozen cookies a few years back and it was one of the best presents I've gotten in a long time. On the other hand, I can't make a DS cartridge at home, so I have to go out and buy one for a young relative. I have no problem with that.

 

[superbot]

Christmas is entirely what you make of it.The whingers will whinge and everyone else will enjoy it.The religious aspect aside,I personally LOVE the fact that for over a week the whole contry (UK) practically shuts down for a week and people get to spend time with loved ones.I think that Jesus would approve of that.....Oh,and we can all have a good laugh at 'pagans' doing their absurd mid-winter nonsense!!