There is definitely no loving God. Fact.

There is a Dylan song called"God on our Side"

It used to be thought that Christmas was related to the pagan festival of Saturnalia, but now historians believe the festival of solution invicta was replaced by Christmas.

With its origins in Syria and the monotheistic cult of Mithras, sol invicta has similarities to the worship of Jesus. Constantine, the first Christian emperor, was brought up in the sol invicta cult, so it's more likely Christmas was intended to replace this festival rather than Saturnalia.

Yes, Easter being the most recognisable after the Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre

An encouragement to get people to celebrate Christian festivals if they held them at times that had been important to them as pagan festivals.

I have printed that off Elegran, it's easier to read and digest.

jingle You are confusing me.

You started a thread with a very forthright title.

Most people who responded, whether supporting your premise or putting a different point of view, did so in a fairly reasoned and polite manner. I don't understand why you now wish to shut the discussion down.

I feel that it is wrong for anyone of any religion to try and impose their beliefs on people who feel differently, although if someone initiates a discussion and asks questions about a person's beliefs then it seems reasonable to give a response based on one's own beliefs.

I don't think we have the right to impose our values on anyone (in part because it is difficult to define what "our" values are - not everyone has the same values) but we do have the right to expect the laws of our own country, in our own country, to be adhered to.

That's a very interesting link Elegran - it is disturbing to see how many religions have been associated with the idea of a virgin birth, presumably to reinforce the miraculous element. But sadly that has regularly been hi-jacked to put women down as unclean.

rosequartz my friend has a door in a tree in her garden . I have never been lucky enough to see a fairy, but there's plenty of dust in my house, so they definitely visit.

Most Christian festivals have their roots in earlier belief systems.

Interesting parallels between Christ and Mithras -
jdstone.org/cr/files/mithraschristianity.html

At the age of 5 I came to the conclusion that there was no god of any description and started to wonder why anyone believed the stories in the bible. I came to the conclusion that if the stories of Greek and Roman gods were made up then it was obvious to me that the ones in the bible were too. I wondered why so many people believe these stories.

I was an atheist then, now and will be till I die.

Christmas festivals hijacked a Pagan festival around the same time so that it was easier to convert uneducated people to believe in the christian religion.

Christmas is the modern version of a midwinter celebration; a recognition of the concept of "strength in weakness" which is inherent in the Christmas story and is inspiring; and an opportunity for families to get together.

Wilma that is lovely. I suppose they just come through the door when no-one is around
The DGDs and I have found fairy doors in trees in a place near here that we visit sometimes.

dorsetpennt I am intrigued about what you do at Christmas.
In fact, if there is no God and no Jesus what is Christmas all about?

(that was not to Falconbird)

Yeah. And men kill babies in wars. So piss off.

Just had to come in here. My mum always used to say there was no hell because hell was here on earth. She used to annoy me when I was a teenager and enjoying life - but now I'm older - well I can see what she was saying, not just personal experience but all the dreadful things happening in the world.

Women do not make wars

Women make babies.

We have a convent here and for years the nuns are sent by the mother house in Ireland to teach in their schools in Africa . Also three of our Anglican priests from our diocese have left to work in Africa.not to preach or convert, they are helping to build homes

PS I have a tiny pale green wooden door in a skirting board that the fairies use to come and sprinkle fairy dust on the furniture.

Ana I think you are out of date about what a modern missionary does. Many aid workers are employed by religious aid organisations. These days a missionary is often a person sent by a church into an area to simply help vulnerable people, to carry out educational or health care work, or relief work, etc,. Their faith inspires their actions. Undoubtedly some aim to convert people to a religion, but for decades the aim of many missionaries is to simply help people who are in need. An actions speak louder than words approach. Faith, hope and charity.

Leprechauns definitely exist. They are little bearded Irish men who get up to mischief. One of them appears on our telly every Friday night. He is very naughty but can be great fun

Shocking post dorsetpennt, it's bad enough to think those things, worse to speak them, but to put them in writing is beyond the pale.

No Santa Claus or fairies????? Whaaaat????? Who on earth told you that, dorsetpennt?

I'm not so sure about the leprechauns, but maybe they're just in Ireland?

Or was it "socks"?

There are faries, no way would I have searched through a wood with my five year old looking for their mini castles or taken sleeping blankets to spend a night there to see their wings glisten in the light of a full moon

Who was it who said "The year you stop believing in Santa Claus is the year you start getting underwear"??

I was really really upset by dorsetpennt's post.

All that time I have spent telling the DGC they're real and I never ever tell fibbers .... now