What is the theological value of Christmas?

Krista Johnson 1271

Actually Christmas is man made and has no christian value, it is meant to represent the birth of Jesus Christ but if you want to get technical in the bible during the birth of jesus he was born in a manger, basically i'm saying he was not born in winter. Either way Christmas is supposed to be the day where you observe Jesus birth but throughout the years it has slipped into the ways of the world and has no real christian value anymore. Parents are not raising there children on what the true meaning of Christmas is with the three wise men and king harrod and the star. But instead with a santa clause and presents and good and naughty list, and all that nonsense. It is supposed to be important to Christians so they may understand the birth of their savior, but people have forgotten that and have taken on the ways of the world.

Trent Christensen 1691

The fact is no one knows what Christmas is other then how many and how much there presents are worth. Thank the retail market. Overrated, overextended empty out the pockets holiday.

Ginny Auldridge New Brain

I believe the birth of Christ is theologically important because it fulfills old testament prophesy; the location, his family line, the virgin birth etc. are important points to those needing to know if he indeed fit the bill. You must keep in mind, others claimed to be the messiah, and others WILL claim it in the future, so details are significant.
It seems that 2 witnesses of such details were enough to prove a fact in Jewish law, so the other 2 gospel writers didn't dwell on it.
Personally, celebrating the Birth of Christ is something I look forward to, as I go to Midnight Mass when possible, as well as Christmas day Mass besides my usual Sundays. My faith is high priority in my life now, and always.
Ginny

Andrew Mino 2102

It doesn't have much theological value, more so Christian ecclesiological value (Ecclesiology - study of religious adornments and furnishings; study of church doctrine). As has been mentioned before, Christmas was used as a replacement of Germanic winter solstice celebrations (the Christmas tree is a holdover from that), and has since lost that purpose.

In Christian circles it has since been used (at least at the churches I've been to) it has been used as a "reminder of the gift God gave us." So they make it a day they hold special to especially commemorate Christ's purpose for coming on earth and as a "come to Jesus" type event for all those who have supposedly lapsed into nominalism. Though, if I remember the writings of Paul correctly, this whole remembrance of Jesus thing ought to be done daily, and while that doesn’t count out special days of remembrance, I daresay the daily remembrance ought to take primacy over the special days of remembrance, which the Church in general, though not entirely, has been neglecting to do. So it could be said that the Christmas celebration is not just of little to no theological value, but could be of ecclesiological and theological detriment to the American Christians. (I have observed and studied that churches in many other parts of the world aren’t nearly as consumed by Christmas as we are in America).

So Christmas has a purpose as a tool for the Church, but theologically speaking, it does not now, if it has ever, have relevance to the purpose of the coming of Christ, or his death and resurrection and subsequent ascension into heaven.

Cameron Trickey 2333

Like any religion people are inclined to explain the verses in a manner that best suits or justifies their beliefs. As experience changes or challenges those beliefs, so they search for alternate explanations or other verses to assure them that their actions are indeed still justified... probably accounting for some of the contradiction we find. Further, I think this is why some of the more devout shut themselves off from other interpretations or experiences so as not to challenge their own belief system... backed by an indication of some scripture, that searching for any other answers is wrong and punishable. Just more evidence of human construction or a very insecure god.

Melissa makes reference to one of the most significant aspects of any religion which is the archetypes. And it isn't just the greeks and romans, we can go back to the vedics and the sumerians to find these same superstitions. But the christmas aspect is very much a pagan construct and the celebration is for the end of the winter solstice and the coming of longer days and offerings made in the hope of a good season.

If you want to know anything about the traditions of christmas, you'll find most of your answers by looking up 'Yuletide' and see quickly that christmas really has little to do with baby jesus. As is the same with easter. Rather it is the spread of missionaries through largely the germanic state as well as the scandanavian states, and a decision to uphold those countries deep rooted celebrations so as not to rock the boat, that allowed both for an easier acceptance of christianity and maintained the old holidays. When big business got a hold of it, shopping became the central focus!

The true message of christmas (ie Yule) is lost, the christian story is false and we, especially in the west, are weak minded fools that believe buying shit for each other is empirical.

I agree with Joseph's message from jesus, though it has little to do with christmas. My in-laws, in-laws (if that makes sense) go to Belize every christmas and on christmas day they take bags of candy and small trinkets and drive the local villages giving these things to the kids. No presents for each other and just small things to put smiles on the faces of those far less fortunate. And these guys (the in-laws) are non-christian hippies with very little money, that seem to have a far better understanding of any message than most christians I know.

But to answer your question, 'why are these theological perspectives swept aside for Christmas?'... because when looking at the archetypes, most theology in christianity needs to be swept aside. Not the underlying message, but the mythical images and superstitions they use in an attempt to 'control' (for lack of a better word), the masses.

Apologies for the rant, and you can rest assured that christmas time is a hoot when you're around me!! Although in all honesty I like the Pagan ideology, minus superstition... celebrating nature!

Joseph Morgan 2400

I think it has to do with the concept of hope. While I am a secular humanist, what is true for me is that, in the peeling away of all the layers of history and pageantry and holy wars and religion and all the rest, peeling away until we’re back to the message Jesus brought, and seeing Jesus with those he loved, the hungry, the poor, those in prison, the weak, those who were persecuted, and we catch sight of something of the hope they must have felt. Jesus burst into this world like a flash of hope. That is why I sing this month. That is why I light candles. That is why I decorate.

I might not believe the man was divine, but I do believe in his message.

---------------------
Also in my answer the hope refers to the pagan celebration of winter, and the hope for the new life in spring. Forgot to add that.

Jim Williams 2367

There isn't!!! Even when I was very active within the church the days preceding and of were filled with pageants and plays and masses all praising the birth of Christ. When in the homes it was gimme gimme gimme!!!! Personally, I believe both to be highly over-rated. If in fact Christ was who he was/is portrayed as, the birth should not be the celebrated event.... It should be the death or more specifically, the reason behind his death. I don't think the "Holidays" would be quite so joyful if that were the case.

As to your last statement, once again...it isn't!! It's value is in the propaganda provided by the church, not the Gospels, sugar coated with festivities.

Alas, Melissa stated it true. Each must seek their own interpretation and live their life accordingly.

Melissa Merritt 2399

Just my opinion, but I think the same reason Halloween is "bad" to many Christians (not meee tho!!!! I'm a Christian and I lurve halloween)--because it is a common desire to for holidays to have "meaning" (hence totally ruining New Year's with "making resolutions," might as well pee in the punch bowl while you're at it)

(And yes, most of what we know as "Christmas" was hijacked from older pagan seasonal traditions--So are many concepts, including "communion"--tho to me, the latter is more an example of a deep seated archetype, aka a concept that is so part of the human consciousness, that it can't really be plagiarized, as it does not have a mind, or minds, of origin. The "splicejacking" of the pagan traditions with Christianity, also is sometimes argued to be an inaccurate description, when comparing Jesus, Mary, and, Co. to older deities that SPAWNED said seasonal traditions, such as Ceres and Persephone, tho I think they are too "recent," even tho they are an example, as winter is Ceres mourning her daughter Persephone while she is in the underworld. Similar to Christ being in "the bowels of the earth" after dying on the cross. And if we want to go earlier, winter is Inanna, goddess of fertility, banishing Tammuz the sun and SHEPHERD god to the underworld after he failed to mourn her death in which she hung on a hook for...3 DAYS...before coming back to life. And so on. Goes the debate while I think Christmas is for getting druuuuunk. Either way, it looks like we're celebrating the same deities, just under different names (yes my God is ancient!)

But as far as the "meaning and value of Christmas"--think about it...the only thing ALL the major holidays have in common is an absence of work if you're lucky, and excessive eating and drinking, AKA Indulgence, also if you're lucky. We (at least Americans) are obsessed with what we call "productivity," so if we exceed a certain "fun quota", we must also have a "deep" reason for doing so. We are not allowed to just pig out and get drunk for no reason--we have to be "celebrating" or "commemorating" something. I mean, sheesh, apparently it's not enough that we're setting aside a special day to party in the first place. We have to have a special reason for having fun. I believe that's what it comes down to, but it IS just my opinion, soooo just take it or leave it, I'll live ;) I do think it's sad, though, that things like this are so frowned upon, as I really think with the right amount of PURE self indulgence in their life, people are MUCH friendlier, and loving to their neighbor ;) But enough soapboxing, sorry.

Tho before a fellow Christian takes too much issue with this, I do not need to set aside an annual day to remember who my God is :) If it has a spiritual meaning for you, I will NOT try to take that away, but please don't fault me for my "Christmas meaning" being spiked eggnog and really nothing else. Why spend Christmas judging your fellows, anyway ;)

Thing is, tho, I'm a little confused--what are the theological perspectives you are considering to be "swept aside?" I don't see how Jesus "descending" means that He was NOT also born...? If He was a God appearing in the form of a human, He would be doing both. Christmas tradition is largely based around "archetypal" concepts of death and rebirth, because of the season changes, so it is easy to see how the "splice" took place with Jesus' birth...but a fabled birth here of a god in human form would also be a descent from heaven...is that what you were wondering?

But yeah, in answer, Christmas has no "theological value" to me at all...but I believe value, especially of a spiritual nature, is something that is within the beholder :)