To think that a Christmas Tree Festival in a church shouldn't include a Santa's Grotto?

[WendyWeber]

It just seems wrong...

Then again, I suppose Christmas trees don't really have much to do with church either...

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Christmas trees and the bringing of them into the house and dressing them is not a judeo-christian custom. Infact in the old testament God forbids the cutting down of trees and the decoration of them at the time of the winter solstice december 21st. The use of trees is to do with the ancient babylonian religions, especially with the Tammuz and seremis. The golden balls on the tree represent the sun...as tammuz was worshipped as a form of sun god.

Neither is the yule log, part of a judeo-christian culture.

The only holidays that God says to keep are the feasts of the Jews. Passover etc.

ermm Beeper - in the Old Testament Christianity didn't exist......because Jesus hadn't been born - so of course it's not going to say anything about celebrating Easter or Christmas......as they hadn't "happened" yet.

And it's funny I don't recall reading anything about cutting down tree's at the winter solstice in the bible

ipanemagirl, as a Calvinist, I resemble that remark! [harumph]

suebaroo forgive me! I'm really a kind of woolly sort of universalist humanistic Buddhist, Calvinist theology scares me but it was wrong of me to be agin Calvinists! Forgive me and show mercy!

ipanemagirl, as you were predestined to say that, ok

I think I'll demand a Santa's grotto at my church (appropriately it is called St. Nicholas's!!!)

LOL suebaroo nice one!

Isn't it, if you are a true Christian, up to God to decide? And maybe am wrong on this, but my understanding of Christianity (using the WWJD approach) would be that if something gives ahrmless pleasure to many small children then it would be a Good Thing.

tradiotnal no, but since when did traditional = good?

What peachy said.

God has to decide if a church has a Santa's Grotto or not, Peachy? How would he communicate his decision?

No, silly - I meant God decides ultimately what is wrong or right, we just have to do our utmost best in this life.

if that amkes mroes ense?

(I usually do the WWJD thing though- works for me).

( WW as we did cover speaking in tongues at uni today I could ahev posted a really facetious answer there LOL)

Peachy, you mean 'Shandala basacara shecameonahonda untiemybowtie'?

Remember Sue- paul said its only clever if someone can interpret it (or words to that effect)

You mean God didn't tell you what I just said? (Actually, the 'shecameonahonda was from my very charistmatic old pastor who said it in a sermon as a joke and got told off afterwards )

He sounds like fun Sue