can someone explain something to a dim lapsed Catholic please...

[headfairy]

I went to a Catholic Convent school so my religious education consisted basically of whatever the vatican decided (sorry, that's a bit flippant) so I know nothing of other religions. Why don't Jews celebrate Christmas if Jesus was Jewish? Sorry if that's really dim. Don't just tell me it's because it's a Christian celebration, why isn't it a Jewish one too?

Jews don't believe Jesus is the Messiah. So they have no reason to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Jesus is a prophet to those of Jewish faith and not the Messiah.

Jews follow everything before Christ. Christians follow a version of the Old Jewish Books plus the Gospels and everything afterwards.

The Jews are hardly going to celebrate someone they thought of as a troublemaker are they?

He would probably end up on counter-terrorism lists if he lived now!

Because whilst Jesus was Jewish only some Jews at the time believed that he was the Messiah that was promised to them & therefore became early Christians. Others then, and Jews now don't believe that Jesus was the Messiah, therefore his birth is not a religious celebration like it is for Christians. One of the most important debates in the early church was whether you first had to convert to Judaism in order to become a Christian. Paul said you didn't & that is what eventually became the doctrine of the church. Not a stupid question IMO.

Oh thanks for that, that's very interesting. Just thought of it because I'm watching the nativity on BBC1. I'm sure my mum would be horrified if I asked her, she thinks I had a good education :o

I have met a few people who say stupid things about Jesus.

Such as He was a Christian.

Your question wasn't stupid.

anyway none of us are lapsed apparently, we are 'resting'

can I ask a question though? What are these new 'luminous mysteries' about? What are they FOR?

thanks Nutella

never heard of them rectal...

Head - no such thing as a silly question.

Here's Wikipedia's answer to your question
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_Judaism

I was 14 before I found out the Pope wasn't married. Nobody had thought to mention it to me even though I went to RC church!

If you want to find out more about different religions the BBC website is a good starting point:
www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/

BTW here's some "useless" info it was the 1960's before the Pope "forgave" the Jewish people for the death of Jesus.

Luminous mysteries are to celebrate Jesus' public events like his baptism. New things to think about and not nod off

Rectal - how did you ever think up that name?

I consider myself more of a collapsed than lapsed Catholic these days.

Wisteria - it was in a 1904 Canadian something paper about appendicitis something. Is just my seasonal name, will think of something better after Christmas.

Rectal - a brilliant name and such a weird story. I just can't work out the link between appendicitis and rectal nourishment.. but then I'm not Canadian!

Here you go! rectal nourishment appendicitis think that might be it - merry Christmas!