[sourcery]

Such angst by all concerned over 'Christmas trees' is highly ironic, given that neither Christmas nor tree idols would have been recognized as Christian by the orignal Christians during the first century of the Christian era.

Reference: Christmas

[calex59]

It isn't the idea a person needs a tree to celebrate Christmas, it is the idea that the word Christmas is considered a "bad" word. The idea of deleting the word Christmas from the Christmas tree is the point, not the tree itself.

The stupid PC that is engulfing the country will be overturned if we don't spend our dollars on Christmas until these companies realize the people who spend on Christmas are the ones being offended and insulted.

[goodnesswins]

INTERESTING....."In 1984 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled (Lynch v. Donnelly) that a city-owned Christmas display including a Christian nativity scene was depicting the historical origins of Christmas, and was not in violation of the First Amendment ("establishment of religion")."

[Sans-Culotte]

Such angst by all concerned over 'Christmas trees' is highly ironic, given that neither Christmas nor tree idols would have been recognized as Christian by the orignal Christians during the first century of the Christian era.

.Duh. We all already knew all that. Just because Christmas trees and Easter eggs had their genesis in something pagan does not prevent them having a different meaning now. Bringing this type of thing up reminds me of threads in which Napoleon and the French are being discussed. Someone always has to comment "Napoleon wasn't French; he was Corsican", as if that fact was not common knowledge.

[Polybius]

Such angst by all concerned over 'Christmas trees' is highly ironic, given that neither Christmas nor tree idols would have been recognized as Christian by the orignal Christians during the first century of the Christian era.

How to Decorate the Hanukkah Bush

[AHerald]

Such angst by all concerned over 'Christmas trees' is highly ironic, given that neither Christmas nor tree idols would have been recognized as Christian by the orignal Christians during the first century of the Christian era

The implication of your post seems to be that because of the mere fact that the holiday of Christmas or the iconic tree would not be immediately recognized by the "original Christians" these things are somehow "less Christian". This, it seems to me, is to make a fetish out of Christian historicity. While the earliest Christians might not have recognized the forms of the celebration, they most certainly would have recognized and agreed with its true purpose and meaning, namely to affirm the Incarnation--which was, and is, the essential belief of all Christians everywhere and always.

Some informative reading on this subject of the roots of Christmas, from a Catholic perspective, in this article, THE ANTICHRIST AT THE MANGER (No, Virginia, Christmas isn't pagan). A snippet from the article:

The popular myth concerning the pagan origin of Christmas trees exemplifies this puritanical phobia. In reality the Christmas tree tradition is derived from the Paradise tree, which was adorned with apples on December 24 in honor of Adam and Eve, whose transgression is reversed by the coming of Jesus, the Second Adam (Rom. 5:12-19), on the next day. The tree was originally a stage prop used in medieval German plays of mankind's fall from grace, and in time people began the practice of having trees in their own homes on that day.

For what it's worth: If you or those reading this thread are interested in reading what the earliest Christians really believed and practiced, I highly recommend the following web sites and books. This will sound a bold claim, but for those who've never studied the writings of the Church Fathers, prepare yourselves for a life-changing experience:

The Early Church Fathers
Early Church Fathers - Additional Texts
EarlyChristianWritings.com
Faith of the Early Fathers Vols 1 -3
Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words
The Mass of the Early Christians
The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers
The Teachings of the Church Fathers

[b9]

Your reference to pre-Nicene Christianity is most appreciated, and a good reminder that the heart of Christianity is an everyday expression of gratitude.

Even the pagan origin of the Christmas tree can't take away from the beauty and inspiration of its traditional evolution. To me, it symbolizes that even a teenie Christmas tree bulb has the power of the whole Hoover Dam behind it. It symbolizes freedom of the individual to worship God.

I'm glad stores do well at Christmastime. I love capitalism! It's what makes America work.
But capitalism is not what empowers America. Religious freedom does.

I think even Sears used to know that.