Comments on: I Like Xmas http://qrystal.name/i-like-xmas/ Quiddities and quandries from my quintessential quest Tue, 29 Mar 2016 00:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Qrystal http://qrystal.name/i-like-xmas/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Qrystal Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:46:11 +0000 http://qrystal.name/?p=99#comment-178 I'm afraid I didn't get as far as the Jesus stories in my serious Bible-reading years, so I can't really say much about that. (What I got from the first dozen chapters was that it <i>is</i> a historical account, albeit told by people who believe there is some God dude guiding them and punishing them and stuff.) I like the idea that the stories are meant to be representative rather than factual. However, I actually see Father Christmas the same way: he represents the spirit of giving. I've signed gift cards, acknowledging Santa's role in my giving more gifts than I intended... ;) I’m afraid I didn’t get as far as the Jesus stories in my serious Bible-reading years, so I can’t really say much about that. (What I got from the first dozen chapters was that it is a historical account, albeit told by people who believe there is some God dude guiding them and punishing them and stuff.)

I like the idea that the stories are meant to be representative rather than factual. However, I actually see Father Christmas the same way: he represents the spirit of giving. I’ve signed gift cards, acknowledging Santa’s role in my giving more gifts than I intended… ;)

]]> By: Qrystal http://qrystal.name/i-like-xmas/comment-page-1/#comment-286 Qrystal Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:46:00 +0000 http://qrystal.name/?p=99#comment-286 I'm afraid I didn't get as far as the Jesus stories in my serious Bible-reading years, so I can't really say much about that. (What I got from the first dozen chapters was that it <i>is</i> a historical account, albeit told by people who believe there is some God dude guiding them and punishing them and stuff.) I like the idea that the stories are meant to be representative rather than factual. However, I actually see Father Christmas the same way: he represents the spirit of giving. I've signed gift cards, acknowledging Santa's role in my giving more gifts than I intended... ;) I’m afraid I didn’t get as far as the Jesus stories in my serious Bible-reading years, so I can’t really say much about that. (What I got from the first dozen chapters was that it is a historical account, albeit told by people who believe there is some God dude guiding them and punishing them and stuff.)

I like the idea that the stories are meant to be representative rather than factual. However, I actually see Father Christmas the same way: he represents the spirit of giving. I’ve signed gift cards, acknowledging Santa’s role in my giving more gifts than I intended… ;)

]]> By: Tim J http://qrystal.name/i-like-xmas/comment-page-1/#comment-176 Tim J Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:37:50 +0000 http://qrystal.name/?p=99#comment-176 Is it OK if I put a view from the non-fanatical side of the church? I think the evidence from biblical studies is that the birth stories in the Gospels weren't intended to be accurate history as we understand it. They were supposed to be meaningful stories which expressed the writers' understanding of who Jesus was. Luke, for example, saw Jesus as standing firmly in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets, so filled his narrative with allusions to them and with “prophetic” language. The birth stories are closer to myth than to history - where myth means using stories to represent spiritual ideas. They were never intended as literal history. Whereas the Father Christmas story is meant to be literal for as long as we swallow it. For me, that’s a key difference, and the fundamentalists have completely missed the point. Is it OK if I put a view from the non-fanatical side of the church? I think the evidence from biblical studies is that the birth stories in the Gospels weren’t intended to be accurate history as we understand it. They were supposed to be meaningful stories which expressed the writers’ understanding of who Jesus was. Luke, for example, saw Jesus as standing firmly in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets, so filled his narrative with allusions to them and with “prophetic” language.

The birth stories are closer to myth than to history – where myth means using stories to represent spiritual ideas. They were never intended as literal history. Whereas the Father Christmas story is meant to be literal for as long as we swallow it. For me, that’s a key difference, and the fundamentalists have completely missed the point.

]]> By: Tim J http://qrystal.name/i-like-xmas/comment-page-1/#comment-285 Tim J Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:37:00 +0000 http://qrystal.name/?p=99#comment-285 Is it OK if I put a view from the non-fanatical side of the church? I think the evidence from biblical studies is that the birth stories in the Gospels weren't intended to be accurate history as we understand it. They were supposed to be meaningful stories which expressed the writers' understanding of who Jesus was. Luke, for example, saw Jesus as standing firmly in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets, so filled his narrative with allusions to them and with “prophetic” language. The birth stories are closer to myth than to history - where myth means using stories to represent spiritual ideas. They were never intended as literal history. Whereas the Father Christmas story is meant to be literal for as long as we swallow it. For me, that’s a key difference, and the fundamentalists have completely missed the point. Is it OK if I put a view from the non-fanatical side of the church? I think the evidence from biblical studies is that the birth stories in the Gospels weren’t intended to be accurate history as we understand it. They were supposed to be meaningful stories which expressed the writers’ understanding of who Jesus was. Luke, for example, saw Jesus as standing firmly in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets, so filled his narrative with allusions to them and with “prophetic” language.

The birth stories are closer to myth than to history – where myth means using stories to represent spiritual ideas. They were never intended as literal history. Whereas the Father Christmas story is meant to be literal for as long as we swallow it. For me, that’s a key difference, and the fundamentalists have completely missed the point.

]]> By: Kenny KiloWatt the 1st. http://qrystal.name/i-like-xmas/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Kenny KiloWatt the 1st. Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:09:03 +0000 http://qrystal.name/?p=99#comment-169 I like "I Like Xmas" and got seriously teary eyed as I read it(true). I think you know that I agree with all of it. Love You, Dad. I like “I Like Xmas” and got seriously teary eyed as I read it(true). I think you know that I agree with all of it. Love You, Dad.

]]> By: Qrystal http://qrystal.name/i-like-xmas/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Qrystal Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:24:42 +0000 http://qrystal.name/?p=99#comment-168 Note to self: make notes before writing, and be sure to cover everything. I completely forgot to mention Wintersday at Guild Wars! Whooops! Note to self: make notes before writing, and be sure to cover everything. I completely forgot to mention Wintersday at Guild Wars! Whooops!

]]> By: Qrystal http://qrystal.name/i-like-xmas/comment-page-1/#comment-284 Qrystal Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:24:00 +0000 http://qrystal.name/?p=99#comment-284 Note to self: make notes before writing, and be sure to cover everything. I completely forgot to mention Wintersday at Guild Wars! Whooops! Note to self: make notes before writing, and be sure to cover everything. I completely forgot to mention Wintersday at Guild Wars! Whooops!

]]> By: Arktist http://qrystal.name/i-like-xmas/comment-page-1/#comment-166 Arktist Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:11:08 +0000 http://qrystal.name/?p=99#comment-166 Above is well put. I am of a similar mind. Having been raised Catholic, I ceased believing at 20, while in college - finally and forever on the day my daughter was born. It had been coming for a long time. I've been enjoying following you and your haiku on Twitter. Happy holidays or whatever. ;-) Above is well put. I am of a similar mind. Having been raised Catholic, I ceased believing at 20, while in college – finally and forever on the day my daughter was born. It had been coming for a long time.
I’ve been enjoying following you and your haiku on Twitter.
Happy holidays or whatever. ;-)

]]> By: Arktist http://qrystal.name/i-like-xmas/comment-page-1/#comment-283 Arktist Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:11:00 +0000 http://qrystal.name/?p=99#comment-283 Above is well put. I am of a similar mind. Having been raised Catholic, I ceased believing at 20, while in college - finally and forever on the day my daughter was born. It had been coming for a long time. I've been enjoying following you and your haiku on Twitter. Happy holidays or whatever. ;-) Above is well put. I am of a similar mind. Having been raised Catholic, I ceased believing at 20, while in college – finally and forever on the day my daughter was born. It had been coming for a long time.
I’ve been enjoying following you and your haiku on Twitter.
Happy holidays or whatever. ;-)

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