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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 8584
[Religious]
Date Posted:
12/1/2003
10:27:50 am EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 10,654
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Comments: 27
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Priest Bans Pagan Santa From His Church
Author: Ananova Source: Ananova
Title: PRIEST BANS PAGAN SANTA FROM HIS CHURCH
A Belgian priest has demanded that his parish reprint posters advertising a Christmas carol concert because they include a picture of Santa Claus.
Priest Daniel Beernaert, who's 68, told Gazet van Antwerpen: "I'll never welcome Santa Claus in my church. He is a pagan symbol."
Submitted by and Thanks to: HalfWolf
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Community Thoughts: There are 27 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Actually... | Dec 2nd. at 10:08:19 am EST |
by Rev. Tan yr Ddraig (Dothan, Alabama-USA) - wc_xemail
The modern version of the jolly fat man (the red suit, etc.) are all a product of an ad campaign by the Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company. I can't remember the artist but the version that is most known in USA is just that a soda companies ad campaign that went world wide. However Santa Claus is most definatly a Pagan born symbol.
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| What? | Dec 2nd. at 8:12:36 am EST |
by MoonDragon (USA) - wc_xemail
I can understand how the priest might not want a Santa Claus in his church. So put Santa Claus somewhere else then! Like he is supposed to be for the children...But why on earth is the priest calling "Santa Claus" a pagan symbol? Santa Claus in my personal opinion is something that Christians made up not Pagans! Why would we need to make Santa Claus a pagan symbol when our version of "christmas" is Yule/Winter Solstice!
And does this priest not know that alot of "christian holidays" are really pagan in orgin? They just changed (or in my opinion copied) the basic concept of the holiday to make it suit them more spiritually by re-naming our holidays to something that fits them...the original roots of pagan religion were pre-christian so technially we have a claim on the holidays first. That is just my two-cents worth!
=^..^= MEOW!
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| Isn't It Just *slightly* Petty? | Dec 2nd. at 4:40:59 am EST |
by Simon Fraser (Cardiff, Wales, UK) - wc_xemail - Web
In some ways I can understand where Father Daniel's coming from - this is his church and he has the right to include or exclude what he feels is right. But firstly, if Santa Claus basically means and came from Saint Nicholas, then he can't truly be a Pagan symbol, and it's a shame that he has to be so petty about something that brings children happiness and amusement. Many will grow up knowing the story of Christmas I'm sure, so what's the harm in a Santa Claus for the little ones.. it's bright and a happy person, the way that Christmas I think should be!
Oh well, maybe next year for the little 'uns ey!
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| And What Of... | Dec 2nd. at 4:08:36 am EST |
by Kevin (Bakersfield, Ca) - wc_xemail
...Santa's long-time friend and helper, Channukah Harry?
On Herschel! On Moyshe! On Schlomo!
Kevin
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| Another Perspective | Dec 2nd. at 12:41:27 am EST |
by Barbara Spencer (Hanford, CA) - wc_xemail
I have to agree with the priest on this one. He is trying to preserve a truly spiritual experience, on his path, as he knows it. I admire his efforts, his sincerity and the seriousness of his purpose. I wish him well.
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| This Is Silly! | Dec 1st. at 11:36:55 pm EST |
by Denise (Bremerton, Wa) - wc_xemail
There are alot of things that people think are Christian, but are really Pagan! It's just that a Christian cover has been put on.Awhile back there was a program onTV, a series on the Byzantine Empire.The host, I believe David Attenbore at one point showed how what was originally Pagan art was redone to represent Christianity.For instance, a piece of art depicing the god Apollo in the middle, flanked on both sides other minor dieties;was visually slightly altered and renamed.What was Apollo, was renamed Jesus.What were the other dieties and spirits were renamed as other saints.That part of the program showed how different things could be changed while keeping most of the old form.Makes one think doesn't!
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| HEHE HE LOL | Dec 1st. at 10:37:14 pm EST |
by Cat (TX) - wc_xemail
OK so now he is Pagan and not accepted in church.... I thought the original was always Pagan... Well depending on which you are speaking of... The one most people think of is an advertizing idea dreamed up by Coke... So does that mean Coke is Pagan too???? HMMMM! Guess we are all out of touch! I collect the old santas... dressed in fur and such... Russian etc. LOVE them.... such a wonderful Pagan grandfather figure to me! Cat
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| Comment On Pagan Santa | Dec 1st. at 8:09:20 pm EST |
by Beatrice (Hawaii) - wc_xemail
Pagan symbol my eye! I'm sorry but he's a Christian symbol if ever I knew of one. That guy should get his facts straight.
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| I Think We Just . . . | Dec 1st. at 8:00:50 pm EST |
by KarEEna (Perth, Australia) - wc_xemail
I think we just proved by all of these posts that there is no concrete answer to the origin of Santa Claus because the idea we have today is an amalgamation of TONS of different stories and traditions both Pagan (as in non Judeo-Christian) AND Christian. And I think we also just proved the priest's point. I dont blame him for banning Santa from the church celebrations. He's right about kids thinking Christmas is celebrating Santa and not about the birth of Jesus (which, like it or not and dodgy "history" or not, is what Christmas is all about for Christians) and he's perfectly within his rights to try and stop that within the confines of his church. I have to respect him for standing up about it and not letting it slide.
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| Don't Forget... | Dec 1st. at 6:41:20 pm EST |
by Rev. Zalon Draconis (Rhode Island) - wc_xemail
...the Holly King from Celtic mythology. That's where the outfit, the elves, and the festivities comes from.
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| Saint Nicholas | Dec 1st. at 6:12:19 pm EST |
by Artemesia (Westlake, Ohio) - wc_xemail
How humorous to be at odds with Santa Claus ( aka St. Nicholas) when as a Bishop in the 3rd century C.E. it was St. Nicholas who successfully argued (including a punch in the nose to a fellow Bishop) the DIVINITY of Christ.
I hope this Belgian priest returns to his religious history books before making such uniformed decisions in future.
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| Wha??? | Dec 1st. at 3:39:05 pm EST |
by Karma (Syracuse, NY) - wc_xemail
Yup....
A guy called SAINT Nicholas is pagan.
Hrm....
Karma
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| P.S. | Dec 1st. at 3:27:52 pm EST |
by Moondaisy (Pittsburgh, PA) - wc_xemail
I think the priest meant "pagan" as in secular, not "pagan" as in neo-Pagan.
"Some children are already thinking at Christmas we celebrate Santa Claus instead of the birth of Christ."
Yeah, see, I used to think that too as a wee one. It sort of screws with the religious theme of the holiday--hey, maybe some fundie group somewhere will blame Santa on the Pagans: "All this crass commercialization is a conspiracy to subvert the church!" Don't look at us, it was the Atheists! ;-)
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| Santa Claus Did Not Die For Your Sins! | Dec 1st. at 3:13:58 pm EST |
by Moondaisy (Pittsburgh, PA) - wc_xemail
Or so say the X-mas cards over at LandoverBaptist.org (a spoof!) . Sorry, but I have to disagree with the poo-pooers. Santa doesn't belong in church and I don't blame the priest one bit for wanting to keep that delineation intact. He didn't say Don't celebrate Christmas with Santa, he simply didn't want Santa depicted on the church Christmas carol posters.
I mean, what's next, Sunny the Solstice sun bringing sunglasses and sunblock to all the good little Wiccan boys and girls? Oh, please no :-P But if someone gets the bright (har har) idea of introducing him, won't you please keep him out of ritual??
(Or maybe Lenny the Yule Log...)
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| A&E Biography | Dec 1st. at 2:05:38 pm EST |
by DolphinSmile (Austin, TX) - wc_xemail
Haven't any of you seen the A&E Biography of Santa Claus? I saw it last year, and I'm sure they'll repeat it.
Really interesting show! Basically Santa is a mix of the Germanic god Woden and St. Nicholas, with some other pagan spirits and seasonal gift-givers mixed in like Frau Holle and others.
Later the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (later known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas") , and the Coca-Cola company also had a lot of influcence on how we percieve Santa today. The poem gave his reindeer names and standardized their number, and Coke gave him the red suit. Before he was depicted wearing all sorts of colors, including white, and brown furs.
So Santa is both Pagan and Christian, just like Christmas/Yule. I see him as sort of a demi-god, and have always believed in him. :-)
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