The Nativity Argument
The Argument About Christmas
In this episode, we are about to discuss Christmas, the story of the Nativity or the birth of Jesus, a celebration that was borrowed from pagan traditions.
The Nativity Argument examines whether the story of the Nativity or the birth of Christ actually happened or if it is merely symbolic.
Several scholars argue that there is no archaeological evidence supporting the traditional story of Jesus' birth. For example, the town of Nazareth, where Jesus supposedly grew up, is not mentioned in any contemporary records until after Jesus' death. This suggests that Nazareth did not exist in the first century.
Furthermore, there are arguments against the census mentioned in the Gospel of Luke, which states that Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a nationwide census while Quirinius was governor of Syria. However, there is no historical evidence that this census occurred during that time.
The story of the Nativity, or the birth of Jesus, is a celebration borrowed from pagan traditions. Christianity and paganism share similar elements in their origins, such as:
Many cultures celebrated the winter solstice in December, as it marks the shortest day of the year. These celebrations often included feasting, gift-giving, and merrymaking.
The exact date of Jesus' birth is unknown, but the Christian Church chose December 25 for his birth. However, many scholars argue that Jesus was born in the spring, not winter, based on astronomical findings.
The pagan celebration of Saturnalia, as well as the Roman Sun God's festival, also took place in mid-December and included feasting, gift-giving, and gatherings. These traditions honored Saturn, the god of agriculture. Some pagan customs from Saturnalia influenced Christmas traditions.
In Northern Europe, the pagan festival of Yule, celebrated in December, involved feasting, burning logs, and various customs. Some Yule traditions were incorporated into Christmas celebrations.
Decorating the Christmas tree, feasting, gift-giving, caroling, lighting candles, and even Santa Claus are traditions derived from ancient pagan civilizations.
As Christianity spread, Christmas was used as a strategy to convert pagans to Catholicism. This blending of elements resulted in a mixture of pagan and Christian elements.
The Star of Bethlehem is said by some astronomers and scholars to lack any clear astronomical event that matches the description of the Star of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus' birth.
The Virgin Birth is not unique to Christianity as it is found in various mythologies and religions, suggesting it is more symbolic than historical. The birth of a messiah by a virgin was common in ancient cultures like Mithra in Persia, Horus in Egypt, and Quetzalcoatl in Aztec tradition. The Greek word for virgin, "almah," means a young girl of fourteen or fifteen, a child miraculously impregnated by a god.
The differences between the Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide varying details about Jesus' birth. For instance, Matthew's Gospel tells of the visit of the three kings, while Luke's Gospel mentions shepherds. These differences are considered evidence that Christmas is merely a story and not historical.
As mentioned, the census described in Luke lacks historical records connecting Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, apart from the Bible.
The absence of contemporary references in Roman or Jewish records mentioning the events described in the Christmas story casts doubt on their historical authenticity.
Some scholars suggest that the Christmas story is only a symbolic or allegorical interpretation intended to deliver spiritual teachings rather than historical facts. For example, shepherds are often seen as symbols of humility, and the three kings represent the recognition of Jesus' importance as king of the world. The use of numbers in the Christmas story, such as the three Magi and the twelve days of Christmas, is also symbolic.
The birthplace of Jesus is a crucial element in the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem or the City of David. The story of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem was shaped to match the Old Testament prophecy.
Other gospels written by the apostles, such as the epistles of Paul, do not mention details of Jesus' birth. This leads to the belief that the Christmas story developed later and was brought to life by St. Francis in 1223 in Greccio, Italy.
For these reasons, the Nativity or Christmas story is not historically accurate, as it is symbolic and not a historical event.
By the way, Santa Claus and his elves are also not real. Just a reminder.
A comparison between the major holidays observed in Judaism, Catholicism, and Islam:
Jewish Holidays:
- Shabbat - Weekly day of rest.
- Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year.
- Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement.
- Sukkot - Feast of Tabernacles.
- Shemini Atzeret - Conclusion of Sukkot.
- Simchat Torah - Completion of Torah reading cycle.
- Hanukkah - Festival of Lights.
- Tu Bishvat - New Year of the Trees.
- Purim - Commemoration of saving from Haman's plot.
- Passover (Pesach) - Commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt.
- Shavuot - Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
- Tisha B'Av - Mourning the destruction of the Temples.
Catholic Holidays:
- Sunday - Weekly day of rest and worship.
- Advent - Season of preparation for Christmas.
- Christmas - Birth of Jesus Christ.
- Epiphany - Revelation of Christ to the Gentiles.
- Lent - Season of penance and fasting.
- Easter - Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Pentecost - Descent of the Holy Spirit.
- Assumption of Mary - Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven.
- All Saints' Day - Honors all saints.
- All Souls' Day - Commemoration of all the faithful departed.
- Immaculate Conception - Conception of the Virgin Mary without original sin.
Islamic Holidays:
- Jumu'ah - Weekly congregational prayer on Fridays.
- Eid al-Fitr - Festival of Breaking the Fast, marks the end of Ramadan.
- Eid al-Adha - Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.
- Ramadan - Holy month of fasting, prayer, and reflection.
- Mawlid al-Nabi - Celebration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Laylat al-Qadr - Night of Decree, considered the holiest night of the year, commemorating the night the Quran was revealed to Muhammad.
- Hijri New Year - Islamic New Year, marking the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.
- Ashura - Commemoration of the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, observed with fasting and remembrance.
Comparison Highlights:
Weekly Observances
Shabbat (Judaism), Sunday (Catholicism), and Jumu'ah (Islam) serve as weekly days of rest and worship, each with its unique rituals.
Major Holidays
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) has a counterpart in the Hijri New Year (Islamic New Year).
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Lent (Catholic season of penance) both emphasize repentance, while Ramadan (Islamic month of fasting) focuses on fasting, prayer, and reflection.
Passover (commemoration of the Exodus) and Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) both involve significant historical and religious narratives, with themes of liberation and sacrifice.
Feasts and Festivals
Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah in Judaism contrast with Pentecost and All Saints' Day in Catholicism, and Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Islam, each with its own set of customs and celebrations.
Unique Commemorations
Hanukkah in Judaism celebrates the miracle of the oil and the rededication of the Temple, which doesn't have a direct equivalent in Catholicism or Islam.
Purim commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from a plot to destroy them, while Ashura in Islam commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali.
If these three religions believe in the same god how come christmas is only observed by catholics
The celebration of Christmas is unique to Christianity, and here's why:
Christianity and Jesus Christ
Christianity is based on the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of humanity. Christmas is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus, which is central to Christian theology and the story of salvation.
The Gospels in the New Testament describe the birth of Jesus, and this event is considered a foundational moment in Christian history.
Judaism
Judaism does not recognize Jesus as the Messiah or a divine figure. Jesus is seen as a historical figure, but not the Son of God or the Messiah in Jewish theology. Therefore, Jewish holidays are not centered around events from Jesus's life. Instead, Jewish holidays are rooted in the history and experiences of the Jewish people and their covenant with God.
Islam
Islam reveres Muhammad as the last prophet, but does not consider him to be God. Muhammad is a messenger of God (Allah), much like other prophets such as Moses and Jesus. Islam acknowledges Jesus (known as Isa in Arabic) as a prophet and respects his significance. However, Islam does not celebrate his birth as a religious holiday. Instead, Islamic holidays are based on the teachings and life of the Prophet Muhammad and significant events in Islamic history.
In this episode, we have proven that Christmas is a pagan tradition borrowed from various ancient cultures to facilitate the conversion of pagans to Catholicism. The Nativity story did not happen as there is no historical record or evidence of its occurrence. The word "almah" in Greek means a fifteen-year-old girl and not a virgin or "betulah" in Greek. Mary was only fifteen when she was miraculously impregnated by God.
In the next episode, we will discuss the argument about God, where we will question whether God is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-kind, perfect, and omnipresent. If we can prove that this is not true, it means that God is not real.
Disclaimer:
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