Twelve pains of Christmas

[lalouve]

Christmas, which happens not to be a favourite season of mine, is sneaking up on us again. I will not say this is a joyless season - I get to stay home from work, and that seriously rocks, but overall I find this a frustrating season. There are presents to be bought and family get-togethers to be negotiated, and I notice that once I declared my

Comments

[sollersuk]

Amen (if you'll excuse the expression) to that. I'm not sure if you know where I stand, but basically the views I find most congenial to my own brand of Christianity are those from the late 5th century, which in many quarters was most astonishingly tolerant: for example, a bishop of Lyon was criticised by the Pope for attending synagogue services, and the bishop paid not the slightest attention to what the Pope said

[lalouve]

No need to apologise! That is very interesting about the 5th century - it's good to be reminded that even after it became a state religion in Rome, Christianity could be tolerant and diversified. And I'm all for including other things into Christian celebrations; the celebration of Midwinter is, I agree, a need for those of us living near the poles, and might as well be celebrated in a Christian spirit if that's what you happen to believe in.
The lack of inclusiveness and the implication that to be a proper Christian you need to be a proper petit bourgoise so popular in some denominations always makes me feel like I would like to apologise for the uses to which some people see fit to put religion...
And I initially posted this under the wrong log-in - please do not refer to the other username here...

[maweisse]

I know a lot of Christians; Christians I admire, love and respect. But not all of them are true Christians, as in love thy neighbor. You, on the other hand, I find, are a true Christian. You may hate X's guts, but you allways manage to love them as a neighbor in that you either respect them and their views, or try your damndest to. How many "true Christians" out there can be said the same of?

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

[lalouve]

And to you too!
I don't really think of myself as a good Christian - as I see my daily failings in that regard, which of course I do my best to hide from everyone else...but if I can occasionally be a good, rather than bad, example, that is a very happy thought.