-----Original Message-----
* Irrespective of my religious beliefs, Australia is a
Christian country, it is Christian holiday and has been
part of its culture for the last 200 years*
Well, seeing as Christmas as we know it today was essentially invented in
the 1890s, and Santa Claus was pretty much unknown until Thomas Nast started
drawing him for Coca-Cola, I can't see how Christmas can really be described
as a Christian holiday at all. Protestants have ignored it as a relatively
minor festival until very recent, Easter overshadowing it for centuries.
Calvin was aware of it's pagan roots and would have been horrified at the
idea of being wished a 'merry Christmas'; it wasn't a time to celebrate, it
was a time to go to church and hope that this year wouldn't herald the end
times. I wouldn't mind Christmas nearly as much, if it was more Christian.
Received on Fri Jan 18 2008 - 19:12:53 CST