Christmas and skepticism
Mark Hensch
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Opinion
There we were, four Hillsdale College students debating theology in the snack bar. As the smoke listlessly drifted past, I wrestled with several friends about the historical origins of Christmas.
I explained how, in ancient times, Christmas started as a pagan winter festival called Yule. I spoke of how common Christmas symbols (mistletoe, evergreens, etc.) were pagan symbols assimilated by Christian conquerors. I even mentioned the theory that Jesus might not have been born in December.
As you can probably imagine, the above met with copious skepticism. One buddy laughed; another friend cried that I had "killed Christmas." A third, apparently having read similar ideas, offered some support.
I relay this conversation because the conversation taught me that people should constantly challenge their core beliefs, deeply held or not.
It is common practice to grow so accustomed to our beliefs that we never dare reexamine them. I find this odd - after all, most fields of knowledge rapidly change. Shouldn't it make sense that our ideologies and beliefs should grow or morph, thus making us more aware of what is possible?
The answer is less clear than it might initially seem. In my mind, two key factors prevent the average person from taking a look back at their traditions and values: age and conformity.
The passage of time for any given personal belief naturally makes it harder for a person attempting serious reexamination of that belief. The longer people hold onto something,
the less easy it is letting it go.
Christmas is a perfect example. The Romans initially celebrated a festival known as "Dies Natalis Solis Invicti," or "birth of the unconquered sun." The festival celebrated worship of the sun deities Elah-Gabal, Sol, and Mithras, all of whom arrived from the Middle East by Roman legions. Furthermore, the date of the festival was Dec. 25, today's Christmas Day.
When the Christians eventually gained power in Rome, they converted many rites from Sol Invictus into the version of Christmas we know today. Newly converted pagans sought familiarity in older traditions, and so the Church picked the date of Sol Invictus as its Christmas Day, now celebrated centuries later. With the passage of time, people have forgotten these earlier origins and simply assume that Christian claims towards the date are irrefutable truth.
Therein lays the problem. I'm not attempting an overhaul of Church doctrine with the above. Rather, I want to show the adverse effects of the aforementioned conformity.
Nowadays, the idea that Christmas started anywhere besides in Christendom is considered preposterous.
But people should worry less about how well-aged an idea is or how widely received it has been by society. Being old or being popular does not always mean being right. We need more people challenging convention - even if they end up wrong, or if no definite answer exists.
Why? The answer is simple. Those big issues in life, and we all know what they are, define us as people. They are the most important things we believe in. With this in mind, people must constantly check what meaning their lives hold. In this, we become the most well-rounded people we can be.
So, go forth and argue. Debate a friend, or contrast a foe. Place an outrageous idea on the intellectual market that can't possibly be true. We'll all become more learned because of it. Oh, and read up on pre-Christian winter festivals. I promise the things you find will be enlightening.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
I explained how, in ancient times, Christmas started as a pagan winter festival called Yule. I spoke of how common Christmas symbols (mistletoe, evergreens, etc.) were pagan symbols assimilated by Christian conquerors. I even mentioned the theory that Jesus might not have been born in December.
As you can probably imagine, the above met with copious skepticism. One buddy laughed; another friend cried that I had "killed Christmas." A third, apparently having read similar ideas, offered some support.
I relay this conversation because the conversation taught me that people should constantly challenge their core beliefs, deeply held or not.
It is common practice to grow so accustomed to our beliefs that we never dare reexamine them. I find this odd - after all, most fields of knowledge rapidly change. Shouldn't it make sense that our ideologies and beliefs should grow or morph, thus making us more aware of what is possible?
The answer is less clear than it might initially seem. In my mind, two key factors prevent the average person from taking a look back at their traditions and values: age and conformity.
The passage of time for any given personal belief naturally makes it harder for a person attempting serious reexamination of that belief. The longer people hold onto something,
the less easy it is letting it go.
Christmas is a perfect example. The Romans initially celebrated a festival known as "Dies Natalis Solis Invicti," or "birth of the unconquered sun." The festival celebrated worship of the sun deities Elah-Gabal, Sol, and Mithras, all of whom arrived from the Middle East by Roman legions. Furthermore, the date of the festival was Dec. 25, today's Christmas Day.
When the Christians eventually gained power in Rome, they converted many rites from Sol Invictus into the version of Christmas we know today. Newly converted pagans sought familiarity in older traditions, and so the Church picked the date of Sol Invictus as its Christmas Day, now celebrated centuries later. With the passage of time, people have forgotten these earlier origins and simply assume that Christian claims towards the date are irrefutable truth.
Therein lays the problem. I'm not attempting an overhaul of Church doctrine with the above. Rather, I want to show the adverse effects of the aforementioned conformity.
Nowadays, the idea that Christmas started anywhere besides in Christendom is considered preposterous.
But people should worry less about how well-aged an idea is or how widely received it has been by society. Being old or being popular does not always mean being right. We need more people challenging convention - even if they end up wrong, or if no definite answer exists.
Why? The answer is simple. Those big issues in life, and we all know what they are, define us as people. They are the most important things we believe in. With this in mind, people must constantly check what meaning their lives hold. In this, we become the most well-rounded people we can be.
So, go forth and argue. Debate a friend, or contrast a foe. Place an outrageous idea on the intellectual market that can't possibly be true. We'll all become more learned because of it. Oh, and read up on pre-Christian winter festivals. I promise the things you find will be enlightening.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Hugh
posted 11/15/07 @ 1:18 PM EST
It's well known that many ancient pagan symbols, rituals, nomenclature, and holidays have been assimilated into modern, western, Christian culture. The holidays of Mardi Gras, Halloween, and Christmas all involve a mixture of pagan and Christian roots. (Continued…)
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