The Christmas Wars

Well normally - as you pointed out - worshipping false idols is one of the things that Gods are not keen on. Yours for example made rather an issue of it. Had it carved in stone apparently. Is he ok with the tree people then?

From her god? Nothing if all you did was decorate it and not pray to it.But in general, what happens to tree decorators? Well, in another week they have to undecorate the tree, store the decorations in boxes and put them up in the attic.As for the tree itself, all dried dead and scattering needles everywhere, it goes out to the curb where the waste company picks it up with hundreds of other now dried dead and needle scattering discarded trees and chips it down to sell as mulch.Oh, in some corners of society, if you sang carols while decorating the tree to begin with, then you sing carols as you strip it down too, but you sing the carols backwards.

As I said, the ignorance of the Brits about the religion that built the UK astonishes me. That's why I said that. There's no problem with Christmas trees and what other religions do is their own business as long as they aren't pushing others around with it.

What about being caught in posession of a decorated tree with intent to worship? Maybe own tree use is permissable but tree-pushing would be a no-no.

In religious circles, especially ones where the thoughts of lust are equal to the very acts of depraved fun-having, I would think the intent to worship would be considered as actual worship, thus, your ass is dead meat. If you can find scripture to support this then you may be on to something. If not then I'm afraid you would need to consider your ass to be in a commensurate condition as above.

Yeh, no use for a lawyer and fancy argument if the other other side has the thought police.

Are you willing to extend the same courtesy to those who do not share your religion?

What?I can only think you must have misread me.

Leaving them to their idolatries isn't good enough for you?

What I meant was that in your Christmasy warm-heartedness you allowed others to celebrate as they wish as long as they (like me) don't push our customs to your face. Damn us with our presents and trees with tinsel and shiny balls and whatnot...

You seem to be looking for a fight out of nothing. Who's objecting to Christmas trees? We all have Christmas trees. I was asked about punishing people for carving idols out of trees which was one gratuitous poke at me, so you take another gratuitous poke at me for saying anybody's idolatry is none of my business. I was also talking about beheading people, not "pushing customs in my face." Sheesh. Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

Those are your words, Faith. What I was asking whether that applies both ways - Christmas (Joulu in my country) is originally anything but a Christian celebration.

Since I said Christianity is not interfering in their idolatry I'm obviously not "pushing anyone around" so your accusation seems to have no ground whatever.And by the way, Finland's flag is a Christian cross:Google "Flag of Finland" where it says So at some point Finland considered itself a Christian nation, although like so many others now apparently reverting to your original paganism? Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

Actually, Finland has evolved to the higher standards of secularism leaving religious fantasy behind.

Yes Faith, you got the history just right. Just like in 11th century the first xians came to my country on a crusade erasing native religion is a fact.Using xian history to prove just about anything is disingenious at best - during the dark ages you basically had two choices, pretend to be a religious scientist and continue with your work or die in the hands of compassionate Christians.There is a strong correlation ( I'm not claiming causation) between the lessening influence of religion and prosperity of a nation. As an example I present all Nordic countries.