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yorbcbud
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Joined: 17 Feb 2006
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Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада
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 Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:00 am Post subject: Christmas for Muslims |
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| Quote: | What Does Christmas Mean to Muslims?
In the Muslim world, Christmas is not celebrated publicly, except in the minority Christian communities in the Middle East. And in North Africa not at all. To a Western Christian living there, the absence of the usual sights, sounds, and practices of Christmas, which are such a part of our culture, is most striking -- and can even be depressing. Go out into the streets and stores, but you will see no Christmas trees or decorations. Go into the homes on Christmas day, but you will not have a Christmas dinner or listen to the reading of the Christmas story, unless you are in the home of one of the few Christians. Turn on TV or radio, but you will find no Christmas programs and few if any signs that it is Christmas. There is no "Christmas Spirit" at all!
It is not that Muslims are ignorant of Christmas. Their understanding of it often leaves something to be desired, however. In North Africa, for example, it is commonly viewed as a "European" holiday. Based on what they have observed, to many it represents a big party, with feasting, drinking (and getting drunk), and similar behaviour -- very much like the pagan festival it started out to be back in ancient Rome. The Biblical message of the Incarnation, which Christians have proclaimed to be the real meaning of Christmas, does not seem to be getting through. The problem is not just with us who claim to be Christians, however.
Significantly, the story of the birth of Christ is actually related in the Qur'an, in Sura 19:16-35. Some of the facts are the same, but, what is most important, the story is given a very different slant. The virgin Mary is told by an angel that she will give birth to a "pure" son, "as a sign unto men and a mercy from Us." She withdraws to a desert place to give birth, alone, under a palm-tree, then returns with the infant to her people. When they chide her, supposing she has been unchaste, Jesus speaks up from the cradle in her defense, announcing himself to be a prophet. The passage concludes by denouncing the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation, misinterpreted in gross polytheistic terms: "Such is Jesus, son of Mary, the statement of truth about which they dispute. It is not befitting for God to father a Son, Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it 'Be' and it is."
Thus, although Muslims acknowledge Christ's miraculous birth of a virgin, they do not celebrate Christmas because the Qur'an misinterprets the Incarnation. The hope of salvation which the Incarnate Christ alone brings us is what they need, however. Perhaps this message would get through better if we as Christians would forgo the more superficial trappings of Christmas, innocent though they may seem, to make Christmas more an occasion to worship and praise God for this "inexpressible gift." |
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yorbcbud
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Joined: 17 Feb 2006
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Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:03 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Giving
Though Christmas is a Christian religious tradition, the virtues it extols also feature quite strongly in Buddhism. At Christmas, with the exchanging of presents, people are given the opportunity to exercise their generosity through the practice of giving. In Buddhism, giving or dana is seen as a very meritorious activity. (This is not to say that the acquisition of merit is or should be the objective - not 'giving to get', as it were.) At Christmas the gifts that are given are often material ones. It would be wrong to think, however, that there's not more to it than that. Such gifts are symbols of the affection we hold for others. This is often limited to our own family circle, or to work colleagues but some will extend this further by making donations at Christmas to charities or even devoting some of their own time to charitable work.
Good Will to All
In addition to giving, Christmas extends a message of good will to others. In Buddhism, this is similar to loving-kindness or metta, a quality that expresses a selfless concern for others. Loving-kindness is often illustrated by the following image: Just as a mother loves her child, so we too should develop this kind of love for all beings, without exception. The nativity scene upon which the Christmas tradition focuses, displays the affection of a mother for her child - the Jesus-child who was, himself, to grow up to become a teacher of love and compassion.
Compassion
And finally, there is compassion itself or karuna. This is to acknowledge - in the midst of one's own happiness and material well-being - that there are others who are unhappy and who are suffering in all sorts of different ways. In the heart there can be - if nothing else - an acknowledgement of their suffering and wish for that to be alleviated in some way. I remember when I was a young child waking up one Christmas morning happy for the good things that I had been given. At the same time there was a sense of sadness for all those other children throughout the world who wouldn't be so fortunate. The instinct for compassion lies deep within us all. |
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yorbcbud
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Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада
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surfguy
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Joined: 13 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:06 am Post subject: |
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| well yes...but of course Christmas today has been overshadowed by commercialism...which the secular humanists want...because it deminishes the value in the Birth of Christ...and why he came to us |
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yorbcbud
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Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:12 am Post subject: |
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That's right
Last edited by yorbcbud on Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:16 am; edited 2 times in total |
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yorbcbud
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Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:13 am Post subject: |
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Hindus in Bali
| Quote: | A week after Muslims end their Idul Fitri celebrations, Christians throughout the world celebrate Christmas. Christmas Eve services in some churches will start at 7 o'clock in the evening, and hotels such as the Radisson, Oberoi, Grand Hyatt among others have set up decorations made from young banana leaves as well as the more usual Christmas trees. As a priest explained to us, plenty of people have decided to spend their Christmas in Bali due to the island's reputation as a safe and secure holiday destination.
Many of Bali's Hindu population regard Christmas as the equivalent of their Galungan celebration, one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. Villages in the northern part of Bali with a largely Christian population install the long decorative bamboo poles, known as 'penjor' in front of their house compounds - just as Hindus do all over the island during Galungan & Kuningan.
The harmony between Balinese Christian and Hindus can be seen in Sawan Village, Buleleng Regency, in which the Christian people refer to Christmas Day as "Galungan Kristen" (Galungan Day for Christians). Moreover, on Christmas day, Hindus also visit Christian people and bring presents of sugar, rice, and other basic needs. Likewise, Christian people in Bali respect the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan by refraining from noisy celebrations in the presence of predominantly Moslem areas.
The religious harmony so prevalent in Bali is just one example of why the island has such a powerful reputation as a haven of peace in an otherwise turbulent world. |
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StephenB.
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:53 am Post subject: |
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| Christmas growing up for me was about the birth of Christ and Old Saint Nick...where only the children got toys...Now, it's a free for all...Mom, Dad, your accountant, your hairdresser receives gifts..screw the children and religion. What's going on today?? |
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yorbcbud
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Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:58 am Post subject: |
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| StephenB. wrote: | | Christmas growing up for me was about the birth of Christ and Old Saint Nick...where only the children got toys...Now, it's a free for all...Mom, Dad, your accountant, your hairdresser receives gifts..screw the children and religion. What's going on today?? |
When I was a kid, they never stressed the Christ part. We got presents, and went to church Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, but we never truly understood the meaning of Christmas. What kid can see beyond all the presents we shove in their faces? |
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StephenB.
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Joined: 18 Aug 2007
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| Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:15 am Post subject: |
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| yorbcbud wrote: | | StephenB. wrote: | | Christmas growing up for me was about the birth of Christ and Old Saint Nick...where only the children got toys...Now, it's a free for all...Mom, Dad, your accountant, your hairdresser receives gifts..screw the children and religion. What's going on today?? |
When I was a kid, they never stressed the Christ part. We got presents, and went to church Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, but we never truly understood the meaning of Christmas. What kid can see beyond all the presents we shove in their faces? |
I know, it's sad...I think the grown-ups are the worse. It's all about them for Christmas...especially the 20 something group...what jeans, what new CD's...it's like grow up.. |
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