Originally posted by TripleJ
Now you lost me?
Understandable.
if you have a problem with human sacrafice, or something being obscene or going against morals, I don't understand how you are a christian?
I am striving to be a Christian (Orthodox) which will be determined by the Lord upon my Particular Judgement, may He have mercy on me a sinner. But you ask how.. Simple, I believe in God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit One God. I believe this One God created all things known and unknown, visible and invisible, good and evil and that All Things be His Will and in His Plan. I believe Christos is the Only Begotten Son of God. I believe the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone. I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and One Baptism in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God.. I believe Christ died on the Cross and on the third day he was ressurected and sets on the Right Hand of the Heavenly Father. I believe in the Orthodox Way of Life which is a Life of Prayer and self denial, worship and devotion.
What could be more imoral or obscene than having to look at a naked man nailed to a cross presented as a human sacrafice? I understand your point that as long as you are not the one being sacraficed it doesn't bother you.
I agree, it was immoral and obscene to see my Lord and God hanging on the Cross and to know that He was there because of my sin, but the Sacrifice is His to give and he gave it freely.
We all have our degrees of tolerance. Still the god that this human sacrafice is being made to stated that it was an abomination to make a human sacrafice and yet, this is not the only human sacrafice that he accepted.
You speak as if you do not understand the Dual Nature of Christos and the Prophesy. He is both God and Man. In the Word of God you will find reference to "what better give can a man give for his brother then to sacrifice hisown life so that the other may live" and that Christ who could have came down from the cross if He wanted to remained on the cross for us that we would know His way is the Only Truth one needs to be concerned with. Yes Human Sacrifice is horrible.. Any sacrifice is terrible, but sometimes it is called for and those who give it do so out of their Charity for others.
And, as far as the victim not being you? As I understand it, this person stated, that if one is to follow him they would have to pick up their own cross?
But there are many different ways one can "pick up theirown cross" some do it via pain and suffering of giving of themselves. Some try by giving a few dollars to the needy, some do it by praying for others in need.. Many many different ways to pickup yourown cross and follow Christos.
As far as christmas being for christians, I don't find this to be true. Christians weren't introduced to the holiday until the third century, and that was when an emporer combined two faiths of that day into one.
I must disagree with you on this one.. The first two Christians were introduce to Christmas upon the Birth of my Lord and God.. There names were Mary the Blessed Theotokos and Most Holy Mother of God. The other was St Joseph. But the combining of two faiths is absurd for me there is and always has been One Faith only. Christianity/
One could easily say that christmas is a pagan holiday as well.
Oh I agree 100%.. I could also say I can fly, but saying it does not lend credence to it. Had a discussion with one who was pagan.. He said that Christmas is a pagan Holiday simply because it falls on a particular day of the year which suggested to me that this person felt that pagans had some monopoly on the days of the year.. I told them that I am sure that the days Christ's Nativity falls on Dec 25th (New Calendar) or Jan 7th (Old Calendar) fall on a number of different days, btu Christianity claims it to be theirown Holy Days so it is..
How many christians put up pagan symbols on their home during the holiday? An evergreen tree, a reath. yule tide log? Or, even practice they custum of giving gifts on this date?
My family and I do as many do in Russia and Serbia on Jan 7th.
Well, I'm not christian or pagan,
I still love ya.
and I put up a tree and lights around my house. I like the season and celebrate it in my own way. What any one wishes me, what ever their beliefs I wish them a happy one right back. To me, Santa is the reason for the season, after all, go to any mall in this country, you will find a long line of children waiting to see someone and get their picture taken with him. I'll give you a clue it's not Jesus they are waiting to see. Anyway Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday everyone 
