[The Red Zone]

If this were some email of apocryphal origin this would be one matter. But this is the Catholic League's own press release for corn sakes. A Christmas tree is an evolution from Baal worship? Tell that to Martin Luther who invented it.

Walmart should be taught a lesson by Christians of all flavors, concerning biting the hand that feeds it. I say spend Black Friday at Target.

[Sensei Ern]

No, spend it at the Radio Shack at White Oak Shopping Center in Silver Spring, MD and buy a cell phone from ME. I can't speak for all of Radio Shack, but I celebrate Christmas. Come in after 6 pm since I will be working at the FDA during the day.

And RS doesn't call it Black Friday. We call it Hot Friday.

By the way, Radio Shack is giving all of its employees off Thanksgiving as well as Christmas.

[GrandEagle]

mistletoe from the Celts, yule log from the Goths,... the tree from the worship of Baal.

I have no idea if this email is bogus or not. I tend to believe it just because of the source. They do tend to put a Catholic "spin" on things, but I've never known them to just distribute bogus stuff.
As to the origins of the three things listed above, they are right on the money. I know the tree thing is hard to swallow, it was for My wife and I, but it is describes in Gods word. I do not have my copy with me here at work, but I will get the reference tonight. I don't know if it is directly baal worship, but it is closely associated.

Cordially,
GE

[pageonetoo]

WALMART ALLOWS SALVATION ARMY KETTLES. TARGET DOES NOT!

[A. Goodwin]

It may come from the Catholic League, but it really looks like they've been had. The original e-mail from 'Kirby' was apparently sent to the CL by an unnamed recipient, and there is no confirmation anywhere that it actually came from Walmart. The Walmart guy "acknowledged that he read the letter from Kirby," but that's a far cry from acknowledging that Walmart sent it. The only statement that is actually from Walmart is the quote from Fogleman, and even that is an extract which really isn't inflammatory...

[antisocial]

"A Christmas tree is an evolution from Baal worship"

That comes from Jeremiah 10:3-4

[Dr. Zzyzx]

Martin Luther?

Jeremiah 10:3 & 4

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammer, that it move not.

[Pablo64]

"A Christmas tree is an evolution from Baal worship? Tell that to Martin Luther who invented it."

Don't know if Martin Lutehr invented it (I'll take your word for that) but I think if you read this passage from the Old Testament, you might be able to make the case that he was trying to put a Christian spin on an old (much older) pagan tradition:
"This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter..."" (Jer. 10:2-4)

And please don't feel that I'm trying to tell you not to have a Christmas tree. Whatever holds meaning for you as you celebrate the birth of our Savior is fine with me. I just know that another wise man once said that "There is nothing new under the sun."

[OKIEDOC]

I knew Sam Walton as a young child. He came to my uncles chicken farm outside Bentonville many times. He was a very nice and caring man.

My observation is that this Dan Fogleman is probably not of the Christian faith.

The ACLU is mostly Jewish in nature and this guys name and his actions seem Jewish based.

I have nothing against the Jewish faith and many of my best friends are Jews.

However, there seems to be a concerted effort to demean all traditional Christian values and it seems that Jews have taken a leadership role in that nefarious endeavor.

Not even the Muslims have the gall to openly oppose Christmas in this country.

Remember it isn't Christians that control the evil garbage coming out of Hollywood.