Merry Christmas 2024

[finicky]

Happy Christmas to ASFers and the animals.

 

[macca]

Merry Christmas and a Happy healthy New Year to everyone

Hopefully we will all be here to say it again next year

 

[farmerge]

Controversial:

Can a Christian also celebrate Hannukah, as well as Christmas? Christians have all sorts of views ranging from religious Zionism, to outright anti-Semitism. On the other side there are also various views from Talmudic blasphemy, to Messianic Judaism (Jews who believe in Jesus).

Confusing.

I have said many times on this forum that there are no "The Jews". This applies many times more in the first century Levant. There were actually several branches of Judaism, Pharisees, Essenes etc etc...

...and since roughly 33AD the followers of Jesus.

Going back a little bit, every single book of the Old Testament of our bible (with the exception of one, IIRC) was written by Jew.

Jesus himself, a Jew that celebrated Hannukah and Pessiach.

Every single one of the apostles including Paul, Jewish.

All of the early followers, Jewish.

Every single book of our New Testament was written by Jews.

Catering this is the fact that modern-day Judaism does not reflect the Judaism of the first century. What we have now is Rabbinical Judaism which reflects an innovation subsequent to the distruction of the second temple... from this we have the Talmud, from which has developed a certain amount of bilateral animous, whether justified or not (complex).

Notwithstanding all that, there are many Christians that regard Christianity as the fulfillment of Judaism.... And that is likely to trigger some.

Indeed, the ministry of Jesus was prophesied some 700 years before (Isaiah 53 and elsewhere... which is studiously ignored by Talmudic Jews)

Isaiah was of course... a Jew.

I've ranted on a little bit longer than I intended and I have actually forgotten my initial point I wanted to make , but for y'alls consideration.

Merry Christmas Wayne whatever the belief

 

[sptrawler]

Happy Christmas to ASFers and the animals.

The cat sends her regards and best wishes.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

To any ASF members who work on or spend Christmas Day alone you are in my thoughts. I have done both in the past. Fortunately I am celebrating with grandchildren, family and friends this year in Brisbane.

Stay safe, happy and well.

gg

 

[Craton]

One of the local councils in Melbourne are saying 'Happy festivities' or some such crap.

Am not trolling but to you and yours and indeed to everyone, have a magical, fantastic and fun festive season.
Oh and you may plan (or not) to drink and eat as much as I plan to!

Cheers, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ASF.

 

[sptrawler]

Merry Christmas everyone, the ASF forum is still the best place on the net, to meet great people and know you will always be welcome and even if your not you wont know because the other person will put you on ignore.

Have a great day and for all you non drinkers, take solace in the fact, tomorrow you will be feeling a lot better than I will.

Thanks @Joe Blow for another terrific year of ASF.

 

[basilio]

Something to think about on Christmas Day. Really interesting story when you have more time to check it out.

Tom Holland on How Christianity Remade the World

Tom Holland joins Bari Weiss on Honestly (The Free Press)
This Christmas, one of our greatest living historians explains how one ‘radical message’ came to define the entirety of the Western world.
By Bari Weiss
12.25.24

201

380


Whether you believe in the story of the virgin birth and resurrection, or you believe that those miracles are myths, one thing is beyond dispute: The story of Jesus and the message of Christianity is among the stickiest ideas the world has ever seen.
Within four centuries of Jesus’s death, Christianity had become the official religion of the Roman Empire. It had 30 million followers—which amounted to half the empire. Today, two millennia later, Christianity is still the largest religion in the world, with more than 2 billion adherents.

How did the radical message of Christianity catch on? How did it change the world? And how does it shape all our lives today?
These questions motivate the latest episode of Honestly. My guest is the incredible historian Tom Holland, one of the most gifted storytellers in the world. His podcast, The Rest Is History, is among the most popular out there. Each week, he and his co-host, Dominic Sandbrook, charm their way through history’s most interesting characters and sagas. I can’t recommend it more highly.

Tom Holland on How Christianity Remade the World

This Christmas, one of our greatest living historians explains how one ‘radical message’ came to define the entirety of the Western world.

www.thefp.com

 

[Smurf1976]

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[JohnDe]

Something to think about on Christmas Day. Really interesting story when you have more time to check it out.

Tom Holland on How Christianity Remade the World

View attachment 190062
Tom Holland joins Bari Weiss on Honestly (The Free Press)
This Christmas, one of our greatest living historians explains how one ‘radical message’ came to define the entirety of the Western world.
By Bari Weiss
12.25.24

201

380


Whether you believe in the story of the virgin birth and resurrection, or you believe that those miracles are myths, one thing is beyond dispute: The story of Jesus and the message of Christianity is among the stickiest ideas the world has ever seen.
Within four centuries of Jesus’s death, Christianity had become the official religion of the Roman Empire. It had 30 million followers—which amounted to half the empire. Today, two millennia later, Christianity is still the largest religion in the world, with more than 2 billion adherents.

How did the radical message of Christianity catch on? How did it change the world? And how does it shape all our lives today?
These questions motivate the latest episode of Honestly. My guest is the incredible historian Tom Holland, one of the most gifted storytellers in the world. His podcast, The Rest Is History, is among the most popular out there. Each week, he and his co-host, Dominic Sandbrook, charm their way through history’s most interesting characters and sagas. I can’t recommend it more highly.

Tom Holland on How Christianity Remade the World

This Christmas, one of our greatest living historians explains how one ‘radical message’ came to define the entirety of the Western world.

www.thefp.com

Merry Christmas and God bless.

Without Christianity there would be no western society, the life that we enjoy and prosper in, and many in third world countries want to come to.

Be great full, share, and love.

 

[finicky]

How did the radical message of Christianity catch on? How did it change the world?

Just like Islam, Marxism and Democrat liberalism - through persecution and indoctrination?

 

[Ferret]

I hope everyone has had a great Christmas!

 

[Knobby22]

Had it at our house this year. Wife's side.
Going to bed now.

 

[Knobby22]

Woke up fine. Hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas.

 

[JohnDe]

Woke up fine. Hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas.

All good here, up at 7am.

Christmas Eve dinner was at my mums with my siblings, and some of the offspring.

Christmas lunch was at ours, with my wife's family and our kids. Finished at 5:30pm and had to rush of for dinner at my Aunts.

I was tipsy on some excellent brews, over full with food as usual, but I didn't overdo it.

Today we are cleaning up and putting away.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable few days.

If you're feeling down or need a chat, start a conversation here.

We all have days that need a shoulder for support.

Or visit these helpful people -

A conversation could change a life | R U OK?

R U OK? is a suicide prevention charity in Australia, encouraging all of us to notice the signs of mental health struggle in friends, family, and colleagues, and start meaningful conversations that offer support and care to those in need. A conversation can change a life.

www.ruok.org.au

 

[Dona Ferentes]

and the very merriest of Christmases, this year and the years ahead