Out of interest if you are secular, do you celebrate Xmas rather than Christmas?

[Marmiteandjamislush]

Just for background, our family is modern traditional Christian, that is to say we observe all of the rules as they relate to the individual, so food, dress, personal actions, hygiene etc. but we do not impose our views on others or encourage others to join the faith. God gave people choice and we cannot influence that, we can only show our best selves. We do not believe in creationism, we believe God gave us the capacity to understand and practice science so science and God cannot be mutually exclusive, though we do believe that the process began with God. We are most definitely Not homophobic (really annoys me that a lot of Christians are automatically tarred with this brush) God made all people in his image and that includes people of all orientations. We accept that the Bible was of it's time and the language used expresses views that do not always hold true in our time, because God has revealed information to us that changes our understanding. We use it as a guiding hand rather than a rigid stick.

Anyway, to my point. I've seen quite a few threads on the site generally where people will say they celebrate Christmas, but then follow it up with something along the lines of 'but we don't do any religious nonsense.' I have no problem with people wanting to do the commercial/family aspects, but I do have an issue with people talking about Christmas, but having nothing to do with or even basic respect for Christ or Christians. Especially when a secular term exists. So as I said, out of interest do any of you do Xmas rather than Christmas?

That's Commander Spock to you.

actually, Annie I once described my ideal society to a friend and she told I had just described Star Trek.

Perhaps I am a Trekkie.

beam me up, O Scotty.

I think Katie not KatieKatie is full of pride because she has belittled my teachings and practice against hers

Let he who is without sin throw the first stone, OP.

You keep making things up about me that have no basis in fact. I said none of the things you accuse me of. As I have stated before on this thread. You are therefore lying (repeatedly). Lying is a sin. You are therefore sinning. The repetition makes it worse.

You are also refusing to admit to your lies. This is pride. Another sin.

Practice what you preach. Your OP gives a great deal of detail about your beliefs but your posts do not show someone who lives a Christian life -you have no tolerance for those who do not share your beliefs and call people names - that is not what Jesus Christ taught his followers.

Are you a Messianic Jew by any chance?

Sorry didn't see how long this thread was and you've probably already answered that question.

Well said Duhg!
MNtters are so clever and articulate. I agree with all the points raised and just wish I could express myself so well.
I find the permutations of Christianity really fascinating and awful at the same time .

you want us to respect your beliefs, and i have no problem with that. However, you don't appear to be willing to respect others' rights not to believe in a religion, or use common, every day words that everyone understands (or almost everyone, since it seems you have a little difficulty there). That is intolerance of the worst kind. Should we not refer to Muslim celebrations like Eid or Ramadan because we don't share their faith? You accuse everyone of judging you, but you have been judging everyone who has commented. If you didn't want a debate, why did you post a question with all the added details in it? Why not just ask your question without all the extraneous stuff.

You may find ministers to be something offensive and i agree that going around and knocking on people's doors is not on, but i find your definition of your church 'authorities' equally disturbing. and like Petula, i find a religion that tells women they are unclean when menstruating or just after sex rahter creepy and disturbing. I asked about your definition of 'dirty' as i wasn't sure exactly what context you were using it in. So if i've been working hard in the garden and am covered in soil and feel the need to pray and thank God for the beautiful garden i have and the ability to tend it, there and then in the garden, i shouldn't pray because i am dirty? Sorry, but i do find that hard to take.

In relation to those judgy pants OP is hoisting so high about me and other posters, I can no better than to refer her to Matthew 7.1
"Judge not, that ye be not judged... Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye."

Respect to you, Duhg!

superb, privatePike i couldn't agree more!

I think saying certain words 'belong' to certain religious groups, and trying to control who uses them and how, is the first step on a very slippery slope, which can lead to things like this: Non-Muslims banned from using 'Allah'.

Apparently though the Lord doesn't looketh on MN. Or post. :)

The taboos about being unclean when menstruating are just pure old fashioned misogyny.

Pretty stunned by the idea that God wouldn't want to talk to you when you're dirty because you're on your period.

I am not going to respect a belief that says that menstruating women are unclean. Or which talks about "modest" dress for women, which I suspect is what the OP means when she talks about "rules" for dress.

I honestly don't see why I should show respect for misogynist rubbish just because it's supposedly sanctioned by a higher power.

And actually, it's not showing respect for misogynist rubbish from a higher power – be that the Christian church, any other church/religion or the patriarchy in general – that has put women where they are today, i.e. some of the way along the road towards equality. Not showing respect for such things isn't just a matter of impoliteness. It can be really important.

I bet the OP is one of those part-time Christians who picks and chooses from the bible anyway. For example, she's making a song and dance about sleeping in the spare room during her period, Leviticus 15:19-25.

But I bet she doesn't count eight days from the end of her period and then sacrifice two turtledoves or pigeons, as according to Leviticus 15:29. In fact, I bet she doesn't even make the effort of taking them to the temple, on the offchance that the RSPCA were having a day off.

And that's why your religion is risible, OP. You can't even follow the rules properly.

I have friends who are Orthodox Christians, and they would find it bonkers to keep kosher and separate from your husband when you are "unclean". The only religions I can think of who would do this are either Noahide, Seventh Day Adventists, or as previously mentioned, the Messianic Jews ("Jews for Jesus" ).

So I don't think you are Orthodox in the sense of Eastern European Orthodox, but rather some offshoot or cult.

If "God" created people in his image, why do you think a natural bodily process such a menstruation is "dirty"?

Thank you duhg

My Dad is Orthodox. His church doesn't celebrate Christmas much at all tbh. They have a short service on the day but celebrate Christ's birthday on a different date. Easter on the other hand is an all night service. He does eat v differently and has strict beliefs but in lots of different ways to the op seemingly. He's Russian Orthodox.

Is he new calendar, showy?

Christ's birth, and Christmas which is the celebration of Christ's birth, are both 7th January in the old calendar.

The 25th December is still Advent for Old Calendar Russian Orthodox, so they don't celebrate then, and the celebration on the 7th is muted compared to some denominations ... but curious if he doesn't celebrate it at all on either date!

No that's what I meant, doesn't celebrate much at all on the 25th (my use of the word Christmas causing confusion). Was making the point that the op is upset about the hijacking of the 25th but my Orthodox father is unmoved by it because they celebrate on the 7th anyway. He is old calendar, his Easter is different too usually as per the Julian calendar and a much bigger deal.

Oh, gotcha.

I got confused, but it's easy to do.

My ex-H is old calendar orthodox.

I never knew that X was short for Christ! Well I may have been told it once and forgotten.

Every day's a school day!